Deputy Head of Vulnerability Knowledge Practice Programme (VKPP) within the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls & Public Protection

Job summary

This role is available as a designated homeworking role. Please note, regular travel will be required and hybrid working opportunities can also be discussed prior to you taking up your post.

This post is open to applicants who can meet the College’s nationality, UK residency and vetting requirements.

About us:

Our mission is: Leadership, Standards, Performance. This guides our work with individuals, forces, and policing partners towards our vision. We exist to support police officers, police staff and volunteers to deliver the best service to the public. Only through high quality leadership, consistent standards and continual performance improvement can everyone in policing reach their full potential. Our mission guides our work with individual, forces and partners towards our vision.

Although we are a relatively small organisation, our work has a big reach. We are uniquely placed to work both with national policing organisations and local forces to support frontline officers, staff and volunteers in their day-to-day roles.

We offer a supportive and inclusive environment for people to thrive. Our extensive flexible-working policy, employee wellbeing support, family friendly policies, employers’ network for equality and inclusion membership (ENEI silver award winners), and status as a disability confident leader means everyone can bring their whole self to work.

Additional Information:

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

Due to our status as Public Servants, we are not eligible to participate in the Civil Service transfer process. Therefore, while successful candidates can transfer in on their existing terms and conditions, any subsequent transfer out of the College to the Civil Service cannot be guaranteed on existing terms and conditions, and new starter/modernised terms may apply.

The College embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we comply with the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and apply the minimum selection criteria at sift stage of the recruitment process.

Our vetting

If you are successful at interview, you will be required to undertake pre-employment security checks. You will be sent a security questionnaire which must be accessed within 24 hours.

Please note, these checks can take up to 10 weeks. You will only be offered a start date after the checks have been completed. If the outcome of these checks is not satisfactory, your recommendation for employment will be withdrawn.

Job description

National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls & Public Protection

Would you like to join a skilled and dedicated team of professionals who are committed to reducing the prevalence of VAWG and Public Protection (PP) offences across England and Wales, as part of a wider-system approach?

This is an exciting and rewarding opportunity to join the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls & Public Protection (NCVPP) which provides support to forces in tackling the threat of VAWG and PP and improving our services to victims. You will also work with academics, victim groups and across Government to support our ambition.

We are working to continually train and upskill our officers and staff with the specialist knowledge and expertise required to carry out their roles effectively. We also continue to develop programmes, expanding on existing best practice with a focus on perpetrators and preventing life-long harm to victims.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a nationally significant programme with real-world impact.
• Work in a dynamic, supportive, and mission-driven environment.
• Contribute to shaping policy and practice at the highest level informed by the best possible evidence.

The NCVPP is hosted by the College of Policing in partnership with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC).

For more information about the NCVPP, visit: National centre for violence against women and girls and public protection , College of Policing

As Deputy Head of VKPP, you will provide strategic leadership, operational oversight and expert direction to ensure its functions meet key NCVPP delivery requirements and broader practice improvements. Working closely with the Head of VKPP, you will drive delivery of national priority workstreams which seek to build and improve the evidence base and the subsequent alignment of responses to ensure a victim centred, suspect focussed and context led approach.

Leading a senior management team, you will oversee and coordinate the work of multidisciplinary teams of analysts, researchers and subject matter experts, ensuring high‑quality outputs, strong governance, and effective stakeholder engagement and coordination across the VAWG and public protection landscape.

This role offers scope to influence strategic policy, develop national partnerships, steer large programmes of work, and champion improvements in VAWG and public protection at scale, shape the future direction of the NCVPP and contribute to the Governments ambition to halve VAWG in 10 years.

Familiarisation Session – Tuesday 17 February, 2:00–2:45pm (Virtual)
We’re hosting an informal virtual familiarisation session for anyone interested in applying for these roles. This is an opportunity to meet members of the team, get a feel for the work we do, and ask any questions you might have before submitting your application.

If you’d like to attend, please email Jane.Crockett@college.police.uk to book your place. We look forward to welcoming you and your queries.

Person specification

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Leading your teams to deliver strategic priorities, providing clear direction to make best use of resources, manage risk and achieve successful delivery
• Provide strong galvanising leadership for your senior team empowering them to drive forward change
• Engage, build and influence relationships with key senior stakeholders providing strategic vision, leadership and accountability

To be successful in this role you’ll need:

• Proven experience in providing effective direction, co-ordination and consultancy for the full life cycle of large organisational and/or national projects
• Experience of working with data and evidence, including with academics and analytical units to commission research and analysis, support production and ensure findings are accessible and utilised by a wide range of audiences
• Demonstrated experience of senior leadership, including leading change, people and managing performance with the ability to provide direction, co-ordination and motivation to the team engaged on a wide range of developmental activities

Please see the attached job description which contains full details of the role.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• Experience of working with data and evidence, including with academics and analytical units to commission research and analysis, support production and ensure findings are accessible and utilised by a wide range of audiences.
• Knowledge of issues facing policing of VAWG, Public Protection & Vulnerability. Specialist knowledge in intelligence/research capabilities, child/adult safeguarding, strong grasp of national/strategic landscape across policing/partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience of senior leadership, including leading change, people and managing performance with the ability to provide direction, co-ordination and motivation to the team engaged on a wide range of developmental activities.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £66,360, College of Policing contributes £19,224 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

College staff have Public Servant status. As a Public Servant, you are eligible to join the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.

The College is a great place to work. We're passionate about our people and offer a wide range of benefits, including (but not limited to):

• Defined benefit pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Up to 31.5 days holiday (this is in addition to 8 public holidays and 1 privilege day)
• Continued professional development and structured career paths
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Flexi-time (for certain grades)
• Benenden Healthcare
• National Dental Plan
• Discounts for on-line shopping
• Free employee support line
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Rewards and recognition scheme
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.

We also have a number of thriving staff networks that provide the opportunity for advice, support and to drive change. A place to get your voice heard, share experiences and challenge our working practices to ensure equality of opportunity for all.

For more information about our benefits and staff networks, visit What we offer as an employer , College of Policing

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, Experience and Technical skills.

This role is available as a designated homeworking role. Please note, regular travel will be required and hybrid working opportunities can also be discussed prior to you taking up your post.

This post is open to applicants who can meet the College’s nationality, UK residency and vetting requirements.

Vacancy reference: 7067

Anticipated interview dates: Week Commencing 9th March 2026

An initial sift based on the lead Technical Skill 'Knowledge of issues facing policing of VAWG, Public Protection & Vulnerability. Specialist knowledge in intelligence/research capabilities, child/adult safeguarding, strong grasp of national/strategic landscape across policing/partnerships’ may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

This role is available until 31st March 2027 as a fixed term appointment or as a secondment opportunity to:

• colleagues employed directly by the College or the Civil Service. Please note you will be required to obtain the written support of your line manager prior to submitting your application.
• serving police officers substantive in the rank of Superintendent. All applicants must have the support of their Chief Officer which must be of NPCC rank, i.e., CC, ACC or DCC and this must accompany an application.
• serving police staff at the equivalent rank of Superintendent who have their chief officer's approval. Chief Officer’s approval must be of NPCC rank, i.e., CC, ACC or DCC. Approval for a secondment must accompany an application.

Central service conditions may apply.

Please note applicants applying from force must have approval for a secondment, without this you application will not progress beyond sift, even if you are successful.

Please ensure you return the attached secondment approval form either as an attachment when submitting your application or via email to recruitment@college.police.uk.

For further information on applying for a secondment please visit the “Secondments into the College” page.

For fixed Term contracts:

Whilst this fixed term contract is offered on the understanding that it will only last as long as the stated contract length, there could be a possibility that it could be extended or made permanent should circumstances allow.

Internal applicants who are at risk of redundancy or in need of redeployment and pass the recruitment process, will be given priority over other applicants.

How to apply and contact information:

For further information visit our ‘Work for us’ page.

What it's like working at the College of Policing

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail please contact Gareth Edwards (Gareth.Edwards@college.police.uk), Head of the VKPP.

Familiarisation Session – Tuesday 17 February, 2:00–2:45pm (Virtual)
We’re hosting an informal virtual familiarisation session for anyone interested in applying for these roles. This is an opportunity to meet members of the team, get a feel for the work we do, and ask any questions you might have before submitting your application.

If you’d like to attend, please email Jane.Crockett@college.police.uk to book your place. We look forward to welcoming you and your queries.

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

We believe that a diverse workforce brings many benefits to the organisation including diversity of thought and improvements to the way we work internally and with partners and communities. We strive to be fully inclusive but we know there is more to do. We genuinely encourage people from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups to apply for this role.

We want to continually improve our recruitment processes and to remove any barriers to equal opportunities that could disadvantage those from particular backgrounds. In order for us to have the information to do this, we ask you to please complete the diversity section of the online application process. We use a “blind” shortlisting process and we hope that by using this method we will be able to promote greater diversity in our workforce and remove any subconscious decisions based on biases.

The College is committed to support the Greening Government Commitment and reducing our Environmental impact. We have a dynamic Environmental Management Plan in place which encompasses various objectives, including our pledge to reduce business travel. To support our green agenda we have, in phase one, installed Electric Vehicle Charging Points at our sites in Ryton (12 points) and Harperley Hall (4 points) alongside two at our Harrogate office. We encourage employees to become an Environment Champion to help with promoting and delivering our Environmental Management Plan. Our One Step Greener approach encourages all College staff to make small changes to create a better future for everyone.

Please note that in order to work for the College of Policing you must have the Right to Work in the UK with indefinite leave to remain. In addition, you will also be required to provide an address history in the UK for the preceding 5 years.

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

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.

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 : College of Policing Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@college.police.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@college.police.uk

Attachments

T319_JD_VKPP_Deputy_Head_v2.0_Final_February2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 209kB)Secondment approval form Opens in new window (docx, 81kB)