About the job

Job summary

Are you a highly organised, self-motivated individual who wants to make a critical contribution to an organisation as it emerges from a change programme which saw the merger of two offices based across three sites? We are looking for an innovative G6 to take on the new Head of Policy & Planning role, offering leadership and direction upwards to the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and Chief Executive, but also across a multi-disciplinary team based across three sites. If you feel this is the job for you, then we would love to hear from you. 

Who we are

The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 established the office of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPC) and provides for the appointment of Judicial Commissioners (JCs) to approve and oversee the use of investigatory powers by public authorities.

The current IPC is Sir Brian Leveson.

The IPC and JCs have the important function of balancing the public interest and the rights of the individual independently of Government, in particular reviewing whether public authorities’ interference with those rights is justifiable.

The IPC and JCs are supported by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO), an independent arm’s length body of the Home Office that provides oversight and authorisation of the use of investigatory powers by intelligence agencies, police forces and other public authorities. IPCO is based in London and is made up of around 50 civil servants headed by a chief executive, supported by a full secretariat including legal and communications functions, technical experts and inspectors.

The IPC is also responsible for the work of the Office of Data Communications Authorisations (OCDA). OCDA considers applications for the acquisition of communications data from law enforcement and public authorities. The team, which comprises around 100 members of staff, is located across two offices in Birmingham and Manchester.

We are merging the two organisations. This will best ensure the provision of consistent advice to the IPC and JCs, making the most effective use of the skills and experience we have across the team. 

IPCO and OCDA are committed to creating an increasingly diverse and inclusive workplace. Our people are our greatest asset and so we aim to foster a safe environment where diversity of thought is welcomed, work-life balance is valued and opportunity for growth is encouraged.

Job description

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will be responsible for leading the newly combined Policy & Planning Team, ensuring policy and business support functions are delivered to the highest standard with appropriate management, assurance and performance arrangements in place.

This is an exciting time to be joining us as we are in the process of merging IPCO and OCDA. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the full merger of functions for the new office, run across three sites, and will have a crucial role in helping the Chief Executive set the future direction for the organisation. This is a new post, reflecting the change in organisational structure as a result of the merger.  

The Head of Policy & Planning will oversee all policy and business support functions of the organisation. This includes:

• Policy
• Finance
• HR, including recruitment and learning and development
• Knowledge and Information Management
• Security
• Risk Management
• Planning and governance
• Estates
• Managing the sponsorship relationship with the Home Office

The Head of Policy & Planning will have a key role in driving the organisation forward. The successful candidate will encourage innovative thinking within the Policy & Planning team whilst also supporting the Chief Executive and IPC in ensuring delivery of efficient processes for all core functions. They will be a key support to the Chief Executive in achieving the vision, values and objectives for the organisation.

The role is only available on a full-time basis, due to business needs. 

Person specification

The key responsibilities will include:

• Leading a multi-disciplinary team working across three sites.
• Working collaboratively across the organisation to support the implementation of the strategic direction set by the Chief Executive and Executive Board.
• Developing and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships, including with the Home Office and other departments across Whitehall and the law enforcement community. Building an effective network to support both the day-to-day operational running of the organisation and longer-term strategic planning.
• Maintaining an overview of all key issues, working closely with colleagues within the senior leadership team and the wider organisation to ensure issues are addressed and escalated as appropriate.
• Anticipating problems and actively resolving matters across the Policy & Planning team, providing the Chief Executive with the support and advice that they require on appropriate matters.
• Working with colleagues across the team and within Government to embed the policy function across all areas that have an impact on the role of the IPC, ensuring timely, accurate and concise advice is provided to the IPC, JCs, Chief Executive and Executive Board.

Essential criteria

• Proven ability to anticipate, identify and handle potential issues and risks, demonstrating negotiation skills to resolve issues and sound judgement in your advice to senior leaders.
• Proven ability to take a strategic view of wider departmental, political, and economic contexts, including being able to recognise how these could impact on your area of work.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to maintain collaboration with external colleagues on potentially difficult matters, and prepare accurate and concise briefing papers for a range of different audiences.
• Well-developed leadership skills, providing supportive and inclusive leadership across a diverse team with a wide range of functions.
• An eye for detail and an ability to work at pace, to calmly ensure effective delivery even during the busiest times.

DV clearance or a willingness to undergo DV clearance is an essential requirement for this role. Successful candidates will be permitted to start with SC clearance whilst they undergo the DV clearance processes. Further information relating to security vetting can be found at United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). 

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

At sift you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement (max limit: 1000 words) and two behaviour examples: Leadership and Working Together.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Your personal statement should be aligned to the essential criteria set out in the person specification.

The sift will be held on the Statement of Suitability and the two behaviour examples. The CV is for illustration purposes only and will not be marked.   

At interview you will be assessed using behaviour-based questions on all behaviours listed in the job advertisement.

Sift and interview dates

Sift will take place week commencing 29th January 2024.  

Interviews will take place week commencing 5th February 2024.

This timeline may change subject to business needs.

In person interviews will take place in London. Further information will be provided to those who progress to this stage of the process.

Further Information

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to  bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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.