About the job

Job summary

The Euro-Atlantic Security Directorate is responsible for policy formulation and advises on Defence aspects of major Euro Atlantic multinational institutions (e.g NATO), bilateral relationships with countries in Europe and Canada, the UK response to Russia and devolution issues and relations with devolved governments within the UK.

The Head of Euro-Atlantic Security Policy role is a superb opportunity for you to work across some of the highest profile national security issues in Government, leading a large vibrant and energetic civilian and military team in the unique environment of a joint unit to deliver high level and challenging projects and programmes.

Are you adept at strategic policy thinking in ever-changing contexts, with the capability to lead and inspire a team to deliver? Then we would love to hear from you.

Job description

The current responsibilities of the role include:

• Leadership of a team of 50, including civilian and military staff from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Ministry of Defence (MOD).
• Delivery and updating the His Majesty's Government's NATO strategy, drawing on the UK’s own Integrated Review Refresh and the Defence Command Paper 2023, coordinating closely with the UK Delegation to NATO.
• Responsible for NATO Defence and Foreign Policy including our approach to military capability development and industrial engagement and wider European Security issues involving the EU and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
• Financial oversight of common funded budget for NATO, including military and civilian contribution, and oversight of overall footprint in NATO institutions.
• Advising Ministers in both departments and at the centre of Government on our overall strategy for NATO as it continues to transform and adapt.
• Leadership within both departments of the UK’s approach to engaging with the EU on defence and security including opportunities and impacts and thinking on future cooperation as a third country. Regularly participate in cross-Government coordination meetings on EU matters.
• Development and delivery of the UK’s strategy on conventional arms control, in close co-ordination with the UK Delegation to the OSCE.
• Representational duties for the UK as a senior figure on Euro-Atlantic security at international meetings and public events.
• Wider contribution to the corporate life of both departments as a senior member of the leadership teams.
• As well as UK Delegation to NATO you will be responsible for building close working relationship with the UK Missions to the EU, the Delegation to the OSCE in Vienna, and posts across the Euro-Atlantic area.

Person specification

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria:

• Excellent leadership skills with experience leading a complex policy areas while inspiring a sense of common purpose, driving inclusion, and ensuring levels of high delivery across the Unit.
• Highly motivated and able to deliver high quality work at pace on difficult issues, for demanding customers.
• Strong communications skills and ability to clearly and effectively communicate UK policy and influence outcomes. The courage and skills to tell the truth to power.
• Ability to build strong relationships and a strategic thinker able to see the big picture, prioritise, be proactive and innovative across government and with international stakeholders.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this role. This should be completed no later than 23:55 Sunday 5th May 2024 and will involve providing the two documents outlined below via the Civil Service Jobs portal:

• A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role. 

Both documents are weighted equally in their scoring, so it's important to consider this when uploading your application. Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. 

For further information about the role and full application process, please refer to the candidate pack attached below. If you wish to receive any material in a different format for accessibility, then please contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk.

Joanne Hamer will be offering an online Q&A session with her FCDO counter-part, Matt Baugh, on the 29th April 2024 at 12:00 - 12:45pm to provide an overview of the role and welcome any questions you may have. Candidates can access the meeting by clicking here.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.