About the job

Job summary

Homeland Security Group (HSG) is responsible for leading and coordinating the UK’s policy and approach on counter-terrorism as part of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. HSG supports the Home Secretary and Security Minister in the development, direction, implementation and governance of the UK’s overarching strategies for reducing the threat to the UK and its interests overseas from terrorism.

The Prevent Directorate sits within HSG at the Home Office. The Directorate, responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Prevent Strategy as part of CONTEST, covers policy development, national and international liaison, strategic communications and supports the local delivery of Prevent strategic objectives. Our work involves high Ministerial engagement and public interest.

The Strategy, Programme, Performance & International (SPPI) mission sits at the heart of the Prevent directorate and seeks to build a more effective Prevent programme; with insight-driven, evidence-based policy and programming that demonstrates impact, learning and value for money. The SPPI team achieve this by coordinating the development and implementation of the Prevent strategy; overseeing delivery of the £50m programme of activity; and leading on performance and evaluation across Prevent. The team works closely with the Prevent Director, Deputy Directors and the Senior Management Team.

Job description

We are recruiting a Senior Executive Officer (SEO) 5-Eyes lead within the Strategy, Programme, Performance & International team (SPPI). This role sits within a small but high-profile international team in Prevent, working to the head of Prevent International Team.

The Prevent International team aims to support ministers and senior officials engage with international counterparts on Prevent, proactively seek knowledge and expertise from like-minded partners to enhance policy making in the UK and support wider Counter Terrorism (CT) and diplomatic objectives. 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and shape Prevent International Team’s 5-Eyes portfolio, sitting alongside a Europe SEO at the heart of our international mission. You will have the opportunity to develop and update Prevent’s strategy towards the 5-Eyes and oversee engagement with 5-Eyes partners on counter-extremism through both bilateral engagement and multilateral forums such as the Five Country Ministerial (FCM) and G7. 

The role involves building and maintaining strong working relationships with stakeholders across the UK's counter-terrorism community, as well as with international partners. The post holder will have the opportunity to lead engagement with international partners and there will be opportunities for international travel. The costs associated with any work related travel will be met by the business area. 

This role may entail travel within the UK and the costs associated with this travel will be met by the business area.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). 

Candidates applying on Loan - The loan will be for a period of 24 months. Home Office staff applying will be on Detached Duty terms.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs).

Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Person specification

We are looking for a proactive and self-motivated individual having experience owning and cultivating key stakeholder relationships to deliver their objectives. This is equally important with internal and external stakeholders. 

You will need strong briefing and communication skills to deploy regularly with seniors and have some experience leading policy or strategy work. An ability to understand your own value quickly, and deliver this to customers and stakeholders, is essential. 
 
You should be comfortable working with subject matter experts and have a desire to learn in the role and develop new skills with mentoring from a supportive and experienced team. The post holder will be expected to develop a working understanding of the UK Prevent Programme. 

Essential criteria

• Experience of developing  and maintaining strong relationships with a range of stakeholders in an international context to enable effective delivery.

• A proven ability to think strategically and see the bigger picture to proactively identify opportunities which will advance the team’s objectives.

• Experience of working in fast-paced environments, responding to new developments and priorities with limited notice. 

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, including a proven ability to convey complex messages both verbally and in writing, taking account of the needs of a variety of customers and wider stakeholders.

• An interest in current affairs, conflict or radicalisation, and a desire to help identify how collaboration between countries can shape real-world outcomes.

• Clear demonstration of excellent organisational skills and an ability to work in an agile and flexible manner.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge or familiarity with counter-terrorism or counter-extremism context. 

• An interest in the UK’s CT landscape and/or the Prevent Programme would also be an advantage.

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.

As part of the application, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV (job history/qualifications/skills)
• Statement of Suitability (Personal statement) (1000 words maximum)
• Evidence of the behaviours 'Seeing the Big Picture' and 'Communicating and Influencing' (250 words maximum per behaviour).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The Statement of Suitability must be aligned to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the person specification.

The sift will be on the Statement of Suitability, the CV and the two behaviours listed above.

In the event where a high volume of applications is received, an initial sift will take place using the lead behaviour ‘Seeing the Big Picture’. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be either progressed to a full sift or straight to interview. 

Successful candidates shortlisted for interview will be tested on all the behaviours listed in the advertisement. 

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying of examples/answers from internet sources. If any is detected the application will be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

Sift and Interview dates

The sift is expected to take place week commencing the 29th January 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing the 12th February 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:

• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams

PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.

Further Information

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs).

Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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.

Please note: The successful candidates will be required to hold or be willing to secure Security Check (SC) clearance.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

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.