JOB SUMMARY

The National Security Secretariat is recruiting for a Strategy Director to lead thinking on national security and international security strategy within the Cabinet Office and Whitehall coordination of strategy projects. The role would provide support to the National Security Advisor, Deputy National Security Advisors, and the Prime Minister on the UK’s national security and international security strategy.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the UK’s national security strategy in an era of increasingly complex and growing international challenges. The role requires significant leadership capability and excellent communication skills to deliver their responsibilities in a fascinating, energising and challenging policy context. Given the breadth of the portfolio, the post-holder will work closely with the Deputy National Security Advisors and National Security Advisor.
The Strategy Team provides the secretariat for the National Security Council (NSC), leads cross-cutting NSS Work, and runs a programme of projects to advance key strategic questions for the UK. The work ranges widely and the post-holder will play a key role on both the development and delivery of difficult and high-profile national security strategy issues. This includes: leading the development and implementation of a single national security strategy and an ongoing programme of work; ensuring effective delivery and reporting systems, managing the flow of critical decisions through the National Security Council; and developing or coordinating policy across a number of different departments.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The role requires close coordination with the rest of the NSS leadership to deliver the best possible, joined up service to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. This is a significant leadership role which involves leading and supporting a talented team often working under intense pressure. The post-holder will actively contribute to the wider NSS corporate agenda including to follow up on the areas of focus identified by last year’s People Survey.
This is a significant leadership role which involves leading and supporting a talented team often working under intense pressure. The post-holder will actively contribute to the wider NSS corporate agenda including to follow up on the areas of focus identified by last year’s People Survey.
The role requires significant cross-Whitehall working, the ability both to think strategically and lead on reactive issues, and to find solutions with departments. There will be a premium on crystallising the key strategic policy questions for No.10, the NSA, and the Cabinet as well as identifying where the HMG system as a whole needs to do further work and/or manage/mitigate risk.
To protect the UK and its interests, we need and value a truly diverse team that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations, those with disabilities and different ways of thinking, We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce.
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the very centre of the Cabinet Office and the national security community, where you will deliver transformational change in the way the Government thinks and operates in a contested and volatile global environment.
You will need the ability to provide high quality insight and advice on strategy, inspire and coalesce others around a clear vision, work collaboratively and build load-bearing relationships inside and outside of Government.
The director will be responsible for leading two teams within the National Security Secretariat which will work together to develop and then implement a single national security strategy and maintain a steady rhythm of strategic insights to the NSA. You will need to set direction and empower your senior leadership team/teams to deliver high-quality work across some of the most complex and sensitive issues across government.
You will work closely with the rest of the NSS leadership team to avoid siloing of issues and provide effective corporate leadership, strengthening links across the organisation and role-modelling best practice and positive behaviours in everything you do. You will be an exceptional leader and value challenge and diversity.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

Open to UK nationals only.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide exceptional strategy advice to the NSA and DNSAs across national security and international policy in the broadest sense;
• Provide inclusive, empowering and resilient leadership to a high-performing team;
• Maintain excellent relationships across and beyond government, championing a culture of collaboration to support delivery of high quality insights and effective challenge to the delivery of policy work;
• Deliver an effective National Security Council and its sub-committees which serves the needs of the Prime Minister and efficiently provides answers to the most challenging and urgent issues of the day;
• Encourage increased join up between domestic, security, economic, and international policy-making across government;
• Design and run a programme to assure the delivery and implementation of the Government’s strategic priorities and the National Security Foundation, working closely with No.10 and other departments to deliver the strategic objectives;
• Oversee the governance of national security and foreign policy decision-making through NSC, it’s sub-committees and encourage and increase join-up between domestic and international policy-making across government; and
• Be an integral part of NSS’ senior leadership team and own and drive forward work that contributes to an engaged, inclusive and kind working culture.

A PANEL, INCLUDING THE HIRING MANAGER, WILL ASSESS YOUR APPLICATION TO SELECT THOSE DEMONSTRATING THE BEST FIT WITH THE ROLE BY CONSIDERING THE EVIDENCE YOU HAVE PROVIDED AGAINST THE CRITERIA SET OUT IN THE ‘PERSON SPECIFICATION’ SECTION. FAILURE TO ADDRESS ANY OR ALL OF THESE MAY AFFECT YOUR APPLICATION.

If you are shortlisted, you may be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise assessment. This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. For more information about the assessment process, please follow this link.
If you are successful at the application stage, you will also be invited to attend a panel interview, in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. We will be assessing against the Success Profile Experience at interview.
If shortlisted, you will have the opportunity to attend a foreside chat discussion with Jonathan Prior. Commissioner Martin Spencer will also be present in the discussion. This will be held prior to the final interview and is an opportunity to learn more about the role and organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.
Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. If you are required to prepare a presentation for the final interview you will be given the subject in advance.