Strategy Director, National Security Secretariat

Join to apply for the Strategy Director, National Security Secretariat role at Cabinet Office

Strategy Director, National Security Secretariat

Join to apply for the Strategy Director, National Security Secretariat role at Cabinet Office

The role will be based in Whitehall, London.

Contract Type:

This role is being offered on 2 year Fixed Term Appointment, Loan or Secondment.

Work Pattern:

Full time

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.

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.

Person Specification:

It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement, that you provide evidence of the following Essential Criteria:

Strategic insight on national security:

• Experience of high-priority, complex strategy work in a high impact and fast-paced environment. Proven ability in strategy and policy development, resilience under sustained pressure, and working across internal and external organisations to deliver.
• Broad national security experience including on geopolitics and working with international partners.
• Consistently excellent judgement, with acute political antennae in complex settings, including an understanding of wider Government priorities in a changing context.

Personal impact at the heart of Government:

• Personal credibility as a thought leader and opinion shaper as well as a track record of providing trusted advice and challenge to the most senior stakeholders in organisations.
• Influencing, managing, and delivering through senior stakeholder relationships and partnerships (internally and externally, and in international environments).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, able to deliver impactfully at the highest levels.

Leadership in a complex system:

• Ability to lead long-term change across organisations. Setting a clear vision and ways of working; translating this into action and building broad networks of strong relationships.
• Experience of leading and operating within a complex stakeholder environment – with the proven ability to quickly secure the confidence of senior internal and external stakeholders, building and managing highly effective, influential and collaborative relationships across Government.
• Experience of leading, directing and motivating teams to deliver results, including building and leading high performing teams through changing and uncertain contexts. Making a tangible personal impact on improving inclusive practices, behaviours and culture.
• Ability to deliver at pace in a high-pressure environment.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Strategy/Planning and Other

• Industries

  Government Administration and Government Relations Services

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