Deputy Director, Head of The Office of the Intelligence and Security Committee

If successful for this role you will be based in London. Occasional travel may be required.

Working Pattern:

Full time, Flexible working, Job share

Job Summary:

The Intelligence and Security Committee

The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) was established under the Intelligence Services Act 1994. Its powers were reinforced in the Justice and Security Act 2013. Under the Justice and Security Act 2013 and the accompanying Memorandum of Understanding, the ISC has statutory responsibility for oversight of the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of MI5, MI6, GCHQ, Defence Intelligence, the National Cyber Force, the Joint Intelligence Organisation, the National Security Secretariat (NSS) and Homeland Security Group.

The Committee consists of nine Members, drawn from both Houses of Parliament. The members are nominated by the Prime Minister and appointed by parliament. The Chair of the Committee is elected by its Members. The Members are subject to Section 1(1)(b) of the Official Secrets Act 1989 and are routinely given access to highly classified material in carrying out their duties. The Committee takes evidence from Ministers, the Heads of the intelligence and security Agencies, senior officials, experts, and academics as it considers necessary. The Committee’s evidence sessions are held in private due to the classified nature of the subject matter. Its Inquiries tend to concentrate on current events and issues of concern, and therefore focus on operational and policy matters, while its annual reports provide consideration of administration and finance.

The Office of The Intelligence and Security Committee

The Committee is supported in its work by the Office of The Intelligence and Security Committee, a team of analysts and investigators (including legal, technical and financial expertise where required). The Office of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament is currently a Cabinet Office Business Unit for administrative purposes, but the staff work directly for, and under the direction of, the Committee. (The Cabinet Office and Parliament are currently considering whether this administrative arrangement provides appropriate independence and whether alternative administrative arrangements would be appropriate.)

Job Description:

The Head of the Office of the Intelligence and Security Committee is responsible for supporting the committee in undertaking their statutory responsibilities, through:

• assisting the committee in determining its programme of enquiries;
• ensuring appropriate access to evidence and witnesses, including through providing or supervising the provision of policy analysis and background briefs;
• arranging and supporting formal and informal meetings of the committee, capturing appropriate records of discussions and ensuring follow-up;
• organising and accompanying the committee on domestic and overseas fact-finding visits where determined useful by the Committee;
• leading or supervising the preparation, drafting, and editing of final committee reports before they are formally presented to Parliament and the Government;
• managing relationships between the committee and its key external stakeholders, including the organisations overseen by the Committee;
• providing authoritative, politically impartial advice to the Committee Chair and Members regarding the statutory responsibilities of the Committee and parliamentary rules, privileges, and Standing Orders.

The Head of the Office is also responsible for ensuring appropriate management of the Office and the supporting infrastructure, through:

• recruiting and managing the staff to support the full range of the Committee's work (up to a ceiling of 30 FTE); fostering an inclusive, resilient team culture; and actively supporting staff wellbeing and professional development within a high-pressure, secure working environment;
• managing the Budget for the Office, which has recently been increased to c£3.2M to ensure the Committee can undertake its work; and
• working with Cabinet Office corporate teams and specialist IT providers to ensure the Committee has access to appropriate high classification estate and communications.
• working with Cabinet Office and Parliament to ensure the Office of the ISC has the appropriate Governance arrangements to support the Committee's independent status.

Person Specification:

It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement, you provide evidence of the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post.

• Communication: Exceptional written English skills, with a track record of distilling vast, complex technical jargon into concise, accessible policy papers under tight deadlines.
• Relationship Management: Strong interpersonal skills to deal directly with high-ranking military officials, ministers, and international dignitaries.
• Personnel Management: A demonstrated ability to effectively lead strong, multi-skill teams, promoting team welfare, psychological safety, and workload resilience, particularly within fast-paced stressful operating environments.
• Impartiality: Demonstrated ability to work in a strictly non-partisan, objective environment, supporting politicians across all political spectrums.
• Excellent knowledge of, or a proven ability to rapidly master, complex areas within the responsibility of the Committee; and/or experience working within policy and experience of parliament or of the areas overseen by the Committee.

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