Head Codes of Conduct, Ethics & Integrity Commission

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join a new organisation at the heart of the standards landscape.

The Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC), established on 13th October 2025, promotes the highest standards in public life and reports to the Prime Minister on matters concerning ethical standards.

Under Part 2 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, more commonly referred to as the Hillsborough Law, the EIC also has specific duties in relation to ethical Codes of Conduct.

The EIC’s Codes of Conduct team will lead on these duties, led by the Grade 7 team leader, shaping the national conversation on what effective Codes of Conduct look like in practice and how ethical standards are sustained within complex public institutions.

The team will lead the Commission’s work to become a ‘centre of excellence’ on codes of conduct, advising public authorities on the development of clear, effective codes of conduct with robust oversight arrangements.

The priority work in year one will be to lead an evidence-based inquiry into codes of conduct and their adoption, which will result in a report and best practice materials. Following the production of the report, the team will be responsible for designing and leading a programme of engagement with public sector bodies.

The post holder will report to the Chief of Staff and will have direct line management of 2 SEOs and an HEO.

The successful applicant may also be asked to work on areas beyond the responsibilities described above, according to the team’s needs and the Commission’s priorities.

To note: the EIC is an advisory, non-departmental public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office. All officials working in EIC roles are employed by the Cabinet Office.

Job description

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the Commission’s Codes of Conduct workstream, working with the Lead Commission Member to set intellectual direction, delivery milestones and quality standards.
• Design, commission and lead a comprehensive review of what constitutes an effective Code of Conduct, including scope, terms of reference, analytical framework, methodology and evidential thresholds.
• Lead delivery of a high-quality, evidence-based review outcomes report, including clear recommendations and adaptable good practice models suitable for a wide range of public authorities.
• Oversee comparative research, stakeholder evidence gathering and synthesis of academic, regulatory and operational insight.
• Translate complex analysis into authoritative, accessible outputs capable of shaping national standards practice.
• Brief the Chair and Commission members at monthly Commission meetings, providing clear, evidence-based advice and handling challenge with confidence and authority.
• Liaise closely with the Lead Commission Member for this thematic area, maintaining constructive working relationships while safeguarding analytical rigour and independence of advice.
• Convene roundtables and other events for external stakeholders, positioning the EIC as a credible centre of expertise on codes and ethical standards.
• Establish and lead a high-performing Codes team from inception. Create a collaborative, resilient team culture capable of operating credibly with senior stakeholders across the public sector.

Person specification

• Experience embedding ethical standards across complex public bodies.
• Experience, or knowledge of, culture-change initiatives and of translating the theory of organisational change principles into practical guidance.
• Strong analytical capability to assess systemic risk, behavioural dynamics, and institutional incentives,
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to produce high-quality reports and to brief senior stakeholders.
• Sound judgement, stakeholder relationship management and ability to influence at senior levels without compromising the independence of the Commission.
• Ability to communicate the Commission’s work to external stakeholders, including at events.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,988, Cabinet Office contributes £18,247 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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 and Experience.

Application process

Candidates who wish to be considered for this vacancy should submit the following:

• Anonymised CV (maximum 3 A4 pages) detailing your experience, skills and subject expertise.
• Statement of Suitability (up to 750 words) setting out evidence of how you meet the person specification.

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

All applications will be evaluated against the person specification. It is critical that your application sets out your experience, skills and subject expertise clearly. In particular, we are looking for:

• subject knowledge in a field which is relevant to this role;
• previous examples of things you have achieved which are relevant to this role; and
• evidence of team leadership and development.

Selection process

Candidates who are successful at the initial sift will be invited to interview, where you will be assessed against the following Civil Service Success Profile behaviours

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating & Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Information about Civil Service Success Profile behaviours can be found here: Civil Service Behaviours

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – Week commencing 23rd March
Expected interview date/s – Week commencing 6th April
Interview location - virtual via Google Meets or Microsoft Teams

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put 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 at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you 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.

Further information

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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.

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years' UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

Depending on how the Commission's work progresses, there is a chance that SC checks may be required in the future.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Any move to Cabinet 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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 counter-terrorist 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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Stuart Sterling
• Email : stuart.sterling1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 344kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)