NCSC Strategic Planning & Speakers Engagement Manager

Job summary

About us

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity and partnerships to identify, analyse and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks and espionage. At GCHQ you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is the UK Government’s lead authority on cyber security. The organisation is at the heart of the Government’s cyber security strategy and has the aim of making the UK the safest place to live and work online.

Job description

This role will support the development of close, effective working relationships across the organisation and wider government. This includes regular engagement with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Cabinet Office, and the Home Office. The role will support the NCSC’s engagement with the Number 10 Planning function, including representing the organisation at weekly meetings at Number 10 as required and helping to ensure work is aligned with cross‑government priorities.

You will support the preparation of briefings and recommendations for senior leaders on key speaking engagements and will work with Number 10 to help coordinate the delivery of high‑profile announcements. The role operates at the centre of the intelligence agencies’ communications activity, working closely with internal stakeholders to ensure speaking engagements align with NCSC and wider GCHQ priorities. You will also support the use of proportionate evaluation measures to help assess impact.

Reporting to the External Affairs Manager, you will work closely with colleagues across digital, media, advice and guidance, strategy, and internal communications teams to support integrated activity and consistent messaging. You will contribute creative ideas, manage communications tasks and timelines, and balance competing priorities. The role also involves supporting senior leaders and engaging with cross‑government stakeholders on high‑profile issues, providing clear and well‑evidenced advice as required.

What will the successful candidate be doing?

Key responsibilities

You will manage the day‑to‑day running of the NCSC Speakers’ inbox – receiving, logging and coordinating responses to external speaking requests. You will support delivery of the NCSC Speakers’ Engagement Programme by coordinating senior leaders’ participation at public‑facing events, including managing the CEO’s speaking invitations and providing clear recommendations on engagement opportunities.

The role includes maintaining and updating the Speakers’ Submission to ensure accurate visibility of upcoming domestic and international engagements and coordinating engagement with Number 10 to support the planning and delivery of key NCSC announcements. You will support the organisation’s strategic planning activity by enabling forward planning of internal and external communications and helping to ensure announcements align with organisational priorities.

You will also undertake horizon scanning to identify potential clashes or sensitivities across government and external events, work closely with colleagues across digital content, media, guidance and events teams and with partners across wider government to gather, share and align communications activity, and build effective working relationships across the organisation to support the delivery of clear and consistent messaging to the right audiences.

Person specification

The successful applicant will need to have:

• Experience delivering external communications activity, with the ability to help align communications outputs with organisational priorities and wider government objectives.
• Experience of horizon scanning to identify risks, opportunities and potential clashes across government and external events, and to support effective deconfliction.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience building and maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues and partners across Whitehall and central government.
• Experience working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams, including digital, media, events, policy and guidance, to coordinate activity and support consistent messaging.
• The ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment, managing competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Sound judgement and political awareness, particularly when supporting high‑profile or sensitive communications activity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting clear submissions, briefings and supporting material for senior leaders.
• A proactive and solutions‑focused approach, with the ability to anticipate issues, take initiative within defined responsibilities, and progress work independently.
• A commitment to working as part of a collaborative and supportive team, valuing a positive and inclusive working environment and contributing to high‑quality delivery.

GCHQ Competencies

As part of the selection process, the NCSC will assess you using competencies aligned with those used across the UK Intelligence Community and the Government Communications Service (GCS). These are closely based on the Civil Service Behaviours, so if you’re familiar with those, you’re already on the right track.

At Level 3, we’ll be looking at how you demonstrate the following:

• Seeing the Big Picture (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Seeing the Big Picture)
• Driving Innovation and Change (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Changing and Improving)
• Working Collaboratively (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Working Together)
• Making Effective Decisions (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Making Effective Decisions)

Further information on Civil Service Behaviours

Benefits

Benefits and rewards

At NCSC and GCHQ, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment which is designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we are committed to helping you fulfil your potential. With comprehensive training and development opportunities, tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we will enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities.

You’ll receive a starting salary of £45,796 (including a concessionary payment of £2,758). For roles based in London, you’ll receive an additional £6,250 London Allowance.

Other benefits include:

• 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days’ public and privilege holidays
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
• Paid parental and adoption leave
• Excellent pension scheme - Civil Service pension

Equal opportunities

At GCHQ diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website

Disability Confident

GCHQ is proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. As a Disability Confident Leader, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential minimum criteria for this position, will be offered an interview, if it is practical for us to do so. (This is known as Offer of an Interview.) To secure an interview for this role, the minimum criteria, which will be assessed at the CV sift stage:

• Demonstrate previous experience of supporting communications activity and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with a range of stakeholders, including senior colleagues when appropriate. (Assessed at application sift.)
• Show a willingness to work collaboratively by building positive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders. (Assessed at application sift.)
• Evidence the ability to organise and prioritise work, manage competing demands, and deliver tasks to agreed deadlines in a busy environment. (Assessed at application sift.)

There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, see our website for information on reasonable adjustments we can offer.

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

What to expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

1. Online Application.
2. Online Situational Judgement Test (SJT) rating the appropriateness of your response to a series of short scenarios. The SJT tests criteria important for all roles in our organisation.
3. Application sift.
4. Interview.
5. If successful, you’ll receive a conditional offer of employment.

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before you apply

To work at NCSC, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

Before you apply, recommend setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more securely.

The role is based in London, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.

We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-person appointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided with your interview or assessment invitation.

Reimbursement is discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel, using the most economical option, and provide original hardcopy receipts for reimbursement.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.

The closing date for this role is: 20/04/2026 at 23:55

Right to withdraw statement

Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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.

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

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 : NCSC External Affairs
• Email : ExternalAffairs@ncsc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : ncscrecruitment@ncsc.gov.uk