Deputy Director, Policy, Analysis & International, Investment Security Unit (ISU)

Position description

This post is an important leadership role in the Investment Security Unit (ISU), in the National Security Secretariat of the Cabinet Office. The ISU screens mergers and acquisitions for risks to national security and provides the Deputy Prime Minister with properly informed advice on how to exercise his powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021. It is an exciting time to join the ISU – having been fully operational for two successful years, we are continuing to establish ISU as a centre of excellence in investment security domestically and internationally, working closely with partners across Government to strengthen the UK’s overall economic security.

The post holder leads a number of teams within the ISU which collectively play vital roles supporting and enabling the more operationally-focused teams to successfully screen transactions for national security risk. The full job title is Deputy Director, ASPIIRE – Analysis, Secretariat, Policy, IT, International Relations and Engagement.

Job description

Specifically the role involves:

• Policy: leading a team that ensures the legal and policy framework is fit for purpose, well understood by stakeholders, and supports the efficient operation of the NSI Act.
• International: leading a small team, and playing a personal leadership role, to advance the UK’s investment screening system on an international stage, and continuing to learn from others.
• IT: via a small in-house function, working with other Civil Service digital teams and external suppliers to ensure the continued and effective delivery of and support for the IT platforms that support casework, planning for their continued resilience and evolution.
• Analysis: ensuring delivery of high-quality analysis that supports and advances ISU policy and operations.
• Secretariat: ensuring smooth running and continuous development of the ISU’s governance and corporate function.

The post holder will be a member of the leadership team of the Investment Security Unit. Working closely with the Deputy Director Risk Identification, Compliance and Enforcement, and Deputy Director Risk Assessment, you will ensure that your teams support an effective case-working function, and that the ISU is collectively drawing insights from individual cases to improve the policy and legislative basis for investment screening, strengthening the UK’s overall investment landscape and national security. 

The post holder will need to work effectively and collaboratively with the other parts of Government that have roles on national security, promotion of inward investment and sector expertise, in particular with No 10, the wider Cabinet Office, Ministry of Defence, Home Office, Foreign Office, HM Treasury, Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Person specification

It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement, that you provide evidence of the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post. The successful candidate will be a strong, credible leader, and will need to show evidence of their capability in the following areas:  

Essential Criteria:

• An inspiring, confident and engaged senior leader, with a track record of leading through others and motivating teams to deliver high quality outputs at pace, maintaining a supportive, inclusive workplace culture.
• A strategic thinker, able to lead and manage a complex agenda, maintaining a grip on the bigger picture while demonstrating understanding of the underlying detailed policy issues and legal questions. 
• Excellent evidence-based policy skills, able to distil complex information into clear recommendations, and with experience of using legal and policy frameworks to underpin sound decision-making. 
• Highly developed communication skills, able to engage confidently with a wide range of senior, expert stakeholders domestically and internationally, and to brief on complex issues to a variety of senior audiences.
• A collaborative team player, able to work effectively with others including through periods of ambiguity, in response to shifting priorities or threats. 

Desirable Criteria:

• While there will be opportunities to grow and develop your capabilities in post, relevant national and/or economic security experience at senior levels will be very helpful; as will experience of engaging internationally at senior levels.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net