Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service

Job summary

This role leads the FCDO, which is the Government’s lead Department for international affairs and acts as the Head of His Majesty’s Diplomatic Service. Previously the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, which merged to create a unified Department in 2020. It is supported by 12 agencies and public bodies, employing around 17,000 staff across 280 locations overseas and in UK offices in London, East Kilbride and Milton Keynes.

As the pace of geopolitical change intensifies, the work the FCDO does is even more vital. The FCDO’s priorities are focused on protecting UK security, promoting UK prosperity and upholding UK values – guiding the Government’s approach to evolving global opportunities and threats. Together these priorities advance an international strategy that pursues the UK’s long term national interest and strategic advantage, reflecting a foreign policy determined to deliver for people at home.

You can find out more about the organisation by looking at the FCDO page on gov.uk.

Job description

The post-holder is the lead adviser to the Foreign Secretary and her ministerial team, and supports them to deliver their ambitions for the Department and they represent the FCDO at the highest level. They will be line managed by the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service.

Working alongside the FCDO Second Permanent Under-Secretary they will:

• drive delivery of the FCDO’s top priorities (security, growth and resilience, migration, development and climate, women and girls, and developing agile alliances) and the Department’s enduring responsibilities including supporting British nationals overseas;

• lead the Department to deliver the ongoing FCDO 2030 transformation programme, maintaining the momentum necessary to deliver long-term structural and cultural change to ensure the UK has a strong international strategy, and has the right people and digital innovation to deliver strategic advantage in an increasingly volatile and contested world;

• be the principal adviser to the Foreign Secretary, providing support, counsel and challenge in setting the overall strategy and policy for the Department, ensuring they are cost effective, evidence-based and achievable;

• provide strong leadership to the department by translating the Prime Minister’s and Foreign Secretary’s ambitions into a clear vision to staff, setting a clear direction and ensuring the Department is organised, resourced and motivated to support Ministers effectively – including delivery of their key priorities;

• be a role model for values of the Department. Manage, motivate and engage staff to develop their capability, reinforcing and supporting a culture of continuous improvement, improved workforce capability, the drive for excellence in delivery and diversity of background;

• as the Accounting Officer, and alongside the second Permanent Under-Secretary as the Accounting Officer for ODA and non-ODA programming, be answerable to Parliament for managing the FCDO’s budget. Acting to ensure that effective systems and processes of financial accounting are in place, to ensure that resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible to deliver on the Office’s aims;

• be a dynamic and confident leader who will work collaboratively with Permanent Secretary colleagues and across other Departments to act as a joined up partner in delivering the Government’s cross-departmental priorities as well as making a strong contribution to the corporate leadership of the Civil Service and the wider reform agenda, including it supports delivery through HMG’s international workforce;

• champion an organisational culture that prioritises delivery, strategy, cutting edge technology, innovation, openness and excellence; and,

• as Head of the Diplomatic Service, lead the continued investment in the professionalism of the UK’s representation overseas, including the security of our overseas’ network, building the Service’s expertise and delivery on behalf of Government internationally as well as acting to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Crown Servants working abroad across HMG’s global platform.

You can find out more about the organisation by looking at the FCDO page on gov.uk.

Person specification

The successful candidate will demonstrate these critical strengths:

• extremely well-developed political sensitivity and the ability to secure the confidence of Ministers. You will have experience of working closely with senior stakeholders such as Ministers, including providing constructive challenge and candid advice. You will have experience of successfully developing and translating complex policy and high-level strategy into successful and sustainable delivery;

• outstanding leadership qualities. You will be a confident, inclusive and compassionate leader with a deep understanding of organisational design and change (in a large, complex and dispersed organisation). You will have a track record of enthusing others, sustaining their motivation, championing diversity, and leading people through large and complex transformation;

• a sharp intellect, exceptional communication skills and high personal impact, enabling you to build deep collaborative working relationships with diverse partners, and command credibility with senior politicians and colleagues across Whitehall and internationally;

• confidence and resilience under pressure. You will be used to operating under high levels of scrutiny. You will have a track record of operating and negotiating effectively in a complex political environment with multiple participants, and representing a large organisation to senior stakeholders such as Ministers, Parliamentarians, senior business leaders, international leaders and other external partners;

• you will have a passion for, and deep experience of, international affairs and diplomacy coupled with a strong understanding and knowledge of foreign and international development policy; and,

• you will also understand and clearly articulate the domestic implications of foreign policy - and vice versa - enabling you to work with your Permanent Secretary peers and within your department to ensure policy and decision-making on international and domestic affairs is well joined up and that meaningful delivery is prioritised.

The Civil Service is committed to equality for all and welcomes applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds. You will demonstrate a strong commitment to the Civil Service values of impartiality, honesty, integrity and objectivity.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £200,000, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £57,940 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 with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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

To apply please submit the following documents to permsecappointments@cabinetoffice.gov.uk copying in joanne.whitehead1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk by no later than 23:55 on Sunday 7 June 2026:

• Your CV, with educational and professional qualifications and full employment history, including an explanation of any gaps in your employment history, and details where possible of budgets and numbers of people.

• A short covering statement of no more than one A4 sized page (500 words) explaining why this appointment interests you and how you can evidence your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the ‘experience required’ section.

• A Diversity Questionnaire. The Civil Service is committed to achieving a workforce that reflects the society it serves, at all levels including the most senior. Collecting this information enables us to identify whether we are recruiting from the widest possible pool of talent and check that all groups are being treated fairly throughout the process. This form will not be disclosed to anyone involved in assessing your application. Please complete the attached form at Annex A. Please note that applications will not be accepted unless the form is returned. If you do not wish to provide a response to a particular question, you should complete the ‘prefer not to say’ option.

• A completed Declaration of Interests form - please complete the form attached at Annex B. Please note that applications will not be accepted unless the form is returned.

• We operate a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). We are committed to making reasonable adjustments in order to support disabled job applicants and ensure that you are not disadvantaged in the recruitment and assessment process. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not affect your application in any way. If you wish to make an application under the DCS, please complete the form at Annex C.

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 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 : Jo Whitehead
• Email : joanne.whitehead1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : joanne.whitehead1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, which can be found here: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitme….

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Jo Whitehead in the first instance. joanne.whitehead1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at the address below: info@csc.gov.uk

Attachments

2026 - 05 Candidate pack FCDO PUS v0.2 OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE.docx (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 523kB)Annex - Declaration of Interest form Opens in new window (docx, 209kB)Annex - Disability confident Opens in new window (docx, 146kB)Annex - Diversity Form Opens in new window (docx, 15kB)

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