Head of Strategy, Policy and Partnerships - Chemical, Biological and Radiological Security

Job summary

This is a fantastic opportunity to work on an exciting, high-profile and intellectually challenging area of national security policy. You will play a crucial role driving forward policy, strategy and partnerships on Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Security. As a senior leader in a specialist unit based in the National Security Secretariat (NSS), you will have the opportunity to help shape the future direction of a critical policy area, enable and oversee the implementation of government-wide priorities, work closely with ministers (including NSC), and establish a strong domestic and international network.

The CBR Security Team sits within COBR Directorate and and oversees implementation of the UK Biosecurity Strategy on behalf of the lead minister (Chief Secretary to the PM) and SRO (DNSA), and coordinates cross-government policy, investment and engagement on CBR Security. We are a centre of expertise in this fascinating area of policy, working with up to 18 different departments and agencies, and extensively with international allies and partners to deliver system wide improvements. Policy spans defence, security, health, science and tech and the environment, and regularly commands the attention of senior officials, ministers, parliament and the media.

This is a significant system and team leadership role. You will lead, develop and nurture your team of 8 FTE. You will be responsible for the full extent of the team’s policy, strategy and engagement work - including the implementation of the UK Biological Security Strategy, government biosecurity investment, the new Integrated Security Fund Biosecurity Portfolio, as well as domestic and international partnerships.

This is a complex policy area, requiring knowledge of CBR issues and confident engagement with senior stakeholders and experts (inc Chief Scientific Advisers and scientific and medical experts) across government and internationally.

We are a warm and inclusive team, passionate about our purpose and mandate, and committed to building a thriving CBR community inside and outside government - as an integral part of the wider COBR directorate.

Job description

Leadership

• Lead the policy, strategy and partnerships team (8 FTE), including providing highly effective line management to five direct (G7) reports.
• Nurture and develop the capability of the team, which includes a mix of staff with specialist, policy and programme skills - permanent staff, fast streamers and inward secondments.

Strategy and portfolio implementation and investment

• Ensure the successful implementation of the Biological Security Strategy (BSS), reporting of progress (incl. annually to parliament) and monitoring of impact.
• Establish and ensure smooth and effective running of senior official and ministerial CBR Security governance forums across government.
• Ensure the SRO and lead minister receive timely scientific advice through the effective running of the CBR Chief Scientific Advisors Subgroup with GO-Science.
• Ensure the delivery of advice to CDL, HMT and No10 on biosecurity spending, and prioritise new investments (including the new National Biosecurity Centres announced in the NSS).
• Oversee the running and growth of the new Integrated Security Fund (ISF) Biosecurity Portfolio, including obtaining funding, ensuring the Portfolio is appropriately resourced and that its projects are strategically aligned to policy requirements and wider investment objectives.

Partnerships and engagement

• Lead CBR Security scientific and policy engagement with ministers, parliament, international partners and the sector. Including with the US, EU and bilateral partners (‘centre to centre’ engagement).
• Ensure the CBR community across government is nurtured and developed, and that progress, issues and risks are escalated and addressed.
• Develop new strategic partnerships, public-private and international to support CBR Security policy development and BSS delivery.

Policy development and delivery

• Ensure a consistent view of CBR threats facing the UK and our interests.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a portfolio of counter Chemical and Biological Weapons threats and technology policies, including CO’s role in AI enabled biorisks, biodata, biosafety, counter state and counter terrorism.
• Oversee health protection and pandemic preparedness research and policy, working with DHSC, UKHSA and Defra, including AMR and infectious diseases.
• Ensure the SRO (DNSA, Matt Collins) and lead minister receive timely scientific advice to support strategic decision making.

Person specification

Essential behaviours (Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace).

• Strong leadership experience, able to cultivate an inclusive and high performance environment, including bringing together technical specialists with policy and programme generalists.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the capability to distil complex information into clear, high quality outputs for diverse audiences, represent interests across government and influence senior stakeholders.
• Proven experience in CBR Security or a similar technical area, including in the development and delivery of complex/scientific policy.
• A strong understanding of and experience operating across the machinery of government, particularly in spending review and Green Book approaches.
• Experience developing and sustaining high profile strategic partnerships (eg private-public and international), and proven ability supporting senior stakeholders and ministers in their engagement.
• Experience leading large/complex programmes or projects, with strong strategic planning skills.
• Good understanding of National Security issues and geopolitics, and experience working with the National Security community.

Essential knowledge, skills and clearances

• A degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject for CBR Security and/or equivalent experience.
• Experience working in a Chemical, Biosecurity, Radiological or a similarly technically complex policy area.
• This is a reserved role, DV STRAP is required.

Additional information:

A minimum of 60% of your working time will be spent in office at your principal workplace.

Qualifications

A degree or postgraduate qualification in a relevant subject for CBR Security and/or equivalent experience.
Experience working in a Chemical, Biosecurity, Radiological or a similarly technically complex policy area.
This is a reserved role, DV STRAP is required.

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £73,690, Cabinet Office contributes £21,347 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, and significant opportunities for involvement in wider national security policy and crisis response.
• A culture encouraging high performance, 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 should provide written examples against the behaviours expected for the role (max 250 words each): Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing and Delivering at Pace. Plus a covering personal statement (no more than 750 words) setting out your vision for the role, and how your knowledge, experiences and motivations will ensure success.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour "Leadership". Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview process

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to an in-person panel interview at 70 Whitehall, London. Applicants will be assessed at interview against the five behaviours expected for the role, and on the essential knowledge and skills set out in the role profile.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 2nd Feb
Expected interview date/s – w/c 16th Feb
Interview location - 70 Whitehall, London

Further Information

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.

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.

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 DV clearance.

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

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

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.

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

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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.

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

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 developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : Keely Robinson
• Email : keely.robinson@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, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 94kB)