Deputy Chief of Staff

Job summary

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

Immigration Enforcement is responsible for enforcing the government’s immigration laws, tackling illegal migration, removing foreign national offenders and immigration offenders from the UK. It also aims to disrupt the organised criminal groups that exploit the vulnerable for their personal gain. Learn more on our careers pages.

This role provides strategic leadership support to the Director General and their senior management team, ensuring effective delivery of the command’s strategic objectives. The post holder plays a pivotal role in managing executive communications, facilitating high-level decision-making, and overseeing multiple high-priority projects to ensure timely and effective outcomes for Ministers and cross-government stakeholders.

Job description

The successful candidate will be resilient, flexible and calm under pressure, with a proven ability to support high‑performing teams and foster an inclusive, collaborative culture. They will bring strong line‑management experience and be energised by operating at the centre of a complex, high‑stakes portfolio. The role requires someone who can provide clear and timely insights to senior leaders, support the Director General in progressing their strategic priorities, and take forward actions decisively. Strong judgement, the ability to prioritise effectively, and excellent briefing skills are essential.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the line management of 2 direct and 1 indirect reports, ensuring effective performance outputs.

This post may involve undertaking similar responsibilities across different teams, where business needs require, and usually within reasonable travel distance of your base location. With appropriate training and support, this offers valuable opportunities to broaden experience and develop new skills.

Due to the nature of the role, flexible working is not available. The successful candidate will be required to attend the office 100% of the time, with early starts from 7:30am expected on at least two days each week.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for, but not limited to:

• Serving as a trusted advisor to the Director General and senior leadership, providing strategic insights and well‑grounded recommendations.
• Overseeing the daily operations of the Director General’s Office, including leadership of the Boards managed by the Senior Business Support Manager.
• Providing analysis and high‑quality briefing materials to support senior‑level decision‑making.
• Coordinating and driving forward command‑wide projects and initiatives to ensure alignment with organisational priorities.
• Managing communication flows between the Director General and internal or external stakeholders, including preparing reports, presentations and correspondence.
• Facilitating effective decision‑making by planning and coordinating meetings, setting agendas, and monitoring progress on action items.
• Leading and nurturing a high‑performing team culture, reinforcing Home Office values, and managing direct and indirect reports to support strong performance.
• Building effective cross‑departmental relationships, including close collaboration with Ministerial and SCS Private Offices, while maintaining oversight of key portfolios such as Immigration Detention and Enforcement, Crime, and Compliance.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Proven experience operating within a Private Office at executive or leadership level
• Proven track record of leading or coordinating initiatives across multiple departments
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to deliver challenging messages and handle sensitive information the utmost professionalism
• Ability to manage a heavy workload, using risk management skills and sound judgement to prioritise effectively
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills to address complex challenges
• Experience in leading a team and fostering a high performing culture to deliver outcomes

Desirable criteria

• Strong drafting skills and ability to maintain high standards of written work
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to adapt one’s communication style according to the audience, build strong relationships with others, and deal appropriately with sensitive and/or high-level matters

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
• Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.

See more of our benefits on our careers website.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.

1. Application – by 6th April 2026

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

• CV
• Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).
• Evidence of the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing (maximum of 250 words).

Your CV should consist of your career history and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.

The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.

For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviours), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.

2. Sift – week commencing 6th April 2026

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement, CV and Behaviour Communicating and Influencing.

An initial sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement and CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will consist of all the remaining elements submitted (Lead Behaviour). Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the initial sift will not have their remaining submitted elements scored and will only receive a sift score for that assessed at the initial sift.

3. Interview – week commencing 27th April 2026

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Strength based questions.

In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation question will be disclosed closer to the interviews.

The presentation will be assessed against 'Behaviours' on the 'Success Profiles' and will be specifically assessed against the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing.

The interview will take place in person at 2 Marsham Street, London.

For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.

Problems during the application process

If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.

Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.https://careers.homeoffice.gov.uk/reserve-lists

Standards

All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.

Integrity Check

As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, you will also be subject to an additional Integrity Check, as part of the pre-employment process, to determine your suitability to work for Border Force or Immigration Enforcement. For further information on what this involves, please visit our website.

Further Information

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.

If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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 undergo a criminal record check.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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamIE@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

2025-11-17 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) Opens in new window (pdf, 231kB)candidate_information_v16_January_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)