Head of Experimentation and Openness (G6)

Job summary

The Civil Service Strategy Unit (CSSU) is at the heart of the government's agenda for change, aimed at growing the economy and improving people's lives right across the United Kingdom. We are an active part of the Public Sector Reform & Efficiency Unit, whose mission is simple: to make it easier for people to get great things done across the civil service and wider public sector. With colleagues, we aim to improve speed, efficiency and innovation in improving public services, making them joined-up, resilient and effective in meeting the public's needs and expectations.

In CSSU we ensure that priority, cross cutting reform initiatives are developed, prioritised, delivered and scaled. With a direct link to the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and liaison with Ministers, we have the ability to champion reform issues at the highest levels of government. This is an ambitious role looking at all aspects of the Civil Service, it is focusing on how we can radically improve our people, organisation, and digital use in departments, functions, professions and public bodies. We are a delivery-focused "think-and-do" tank where you can iterate, test, and fail fast, learning lessons on the way to find what truly works. CSSU has been newly reshaped in order to be more agile to the key strategic issues. The Directorate consists of around 40 staff, located across the UK, who work together to deliver high quality strategic advice.

Job description

This is a pivotal and high-impact leadership opportunity for a creative and influential professional to drive the PAS (Productive and Agile State) agenda. As the Experimentation and Openness team’s leader you will be confident in bringing together and brokering between multiple interested parties. You’ll have energy and pace and you drive potentially abstract ideas into practical experiments.

You will be responsible for leading a team of 7 FTE to shape and deliver four key workstreams: PAS experimentation, international engagement, innovation, and Open Government. You will play a central role in generating robust evidence for scalable reforms, fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration, and ensuring the Civil Service learns from best practices, both domestically and internationally.

• Lead PAS Experimentation & Innovation: Lead the design and delivery of a series of experiments to test delivery ideas, identify bottlenecks, and validate new ways of working. This includes overseeing the innovation pipeline, from initial concept to evidence generation.
• International: Lead the strategic development and delivery of the team’s international engagement, with a particular focus on partners like the OECD and the Open Government Partnership, but with the aim of getting international best practice fed into reform work.
• Open Government Workstreams: Drive the team's Open Government agenda by championing new approaches to transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, and both shaping and driving tangible progress through the National Action Plan process (which requires significant input from civil society).
• Strategic Leadership & Team Management: Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team of 7 FTE, including 3 G7 direct reports. Set a clear strategic vision for the team, foster a high-performing and collaborative culture, and ensure all workstreams are aligned with the overarching PAS agenda.
• Senior Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of senior stakeholders across government and with international partners. Use these relationships to secure buy-in for experiments, share insights, and influence the broader reform agenda. This will include No.10 and very senior officials across Whitehall, as well as Ministers.

Communication & Dissemination: Translate complex insights and evidence from experiments and international engagement into clear, compelling, and actionable recommendations for senior leaders.

Person specification

A grade 6 role within the Civil Service Strategy Unit is a developmental and at times stretching role. We expect all our Grade 6 staff to have the following behaviours:

1. To be able to independently problem solve - bringing creative thinking and problem solving skills to bear;
2. To act beyond boundaries - bringing together partners from inside and outside government to achieve great outcomes;
3. To be creative and innovative in driving continuous improvement in the working and corporate environment of the CSSU and wider CO.
4. To contribute to the wider corporate agenda, helping to shape the way we work and our environment; being kind and inclusive, creating a team environment that builds resilience and wellbeing.

Essential criteria

The work of this team is highly dynamic and requires a proactive approach. The successful candidate must demonstrate

• Exceptional flexibility and agility, with the ability to respond to new and changing strategic priorities.
• This includes the ability to create clarity in ambiguity by working iteratively on proposals and solutions, often in a sprint-based approach.
• We require critical problem-solving skills to perform effectively in a complex environment and
• A proven capacity for influencing and delivering through others to ensure we achieve our strategic objectives.

This role demands a highly strategic, creative, and influential leader with a proven ability to deliver programmes and inspire change. The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Data-led analysis: Provide ability of using data to inform engagement and interventions
• Strategic Leadership: Proven ability to lead and shape strategic initiatives, translating high-level visions into deliverable programmes.
• Evidence-Based Reform: Strong capability in overseeing the design, execution, and rigorous evaluation of strategic experiments.
• Agile development mindset and skillset: You’ll be adept at working in an agile environment
• Communication & Influence: Exceptional skills in engaging with, influencing, and building credibility with a diverse range of senior stakeholders, including using strong storytelling skills.
• Team Leadership & Programme Management: A proven ability to lead, manage, and develop a multidisciplinary team, and to oversee complex workstreams from conception to delivery.

Please take a few minutes to watch an insightful video by Janet Hughes on the Civil Service Leadership Standard for effective leadership within the Civil Service. You can find it here:
The Civil Service Leadership Standard - Janet Hughes, Director General, Cabinet Office

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although 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:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £69,308, Cabinet Office contributes £20,078 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

As part of the application process, you will be assessed on your Experience and will be asked to complete:

• A name-blind (anonymous) CV which includes job history & skills and experience.
• A name-blind personal statement (up to 1000 words) is required. Please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the job advert by providing written evidence that clearly illustrates your suitability for the role. In your response, ensure you address the key behaviours below:
  
  • Managing Quality Service (lead behaviour)
  • Delivering at pace
  • Leadership
  • Communicating & Influencing

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

At sift stage, your CV and personal statement will be assessed.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the personal statement.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or directly to assessment/interview. We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.

At interview you will be assessed on:

• Presentation, topic emailed 72 hours in advance of interview
• 2 behaviour questions: Managing a Quality Service and Delivering at Pace
• 2 experience questions

Selection process

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

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – WC 02/02/2026 (tentative)

Expected interview date/s – 16/02/2026-18/02/2026 (tentative)

Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Reasonable Adjustment

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 via cabinetofficerecruitment.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.

Further Information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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

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.

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/Disclosure Scotland 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

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

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

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.

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

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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 : Chloe Brown
• Email : cssu-admin@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

Welcome Message Matt C Opens in new window (pdf, 322kB)Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)