Deputy Director HR People Strategy

Closing Date - 23:00 on Monday 4th May 2026

Corporate Services

You will receive a minimum salary of £100,133 plus a non-concessionary payment of £3,144 (subject to security compliance) and London Pay Addition of £6,250 if contracted to a London work location. The yearly Pay Award is currently pending. The role can be based in Cheltenham, London or Manchester, but the successful candidate would be expected to spend time in each of the three locations. This is a full-time or minimum 30 hours per week role that can be based at any of our large sites and will require frequent travel to Cheltenham for leadership presence. It is a hybrid role with approximately 20% homeworking, along with office attendance and working in a collaborative team space. Requests for flexible working patterns will be considered and should be discussed with the Hiring Manager upon application.

About us

GCHQ is the nation’s intelligence, cyber and security agency. We work to make the UK the safest place to live and work online; connect the national security community securely; and provide insights and counter threats through SIGINT and effects. Our people work closely with MI5 and MI6 as well as defence, international, and industry partners across a variety of locations, with major hubs in Cheltenham, London and Manchester as well as other sites in the UK and overseas. We live by the values of ingenuity, integrity, impact and teamwork as we work to keep the UK safe, resilient and prosperous in an uncertain world. A role with us means you will do unique and challenging work in a supportive environment, making a meaningful difference to national security.

The role

Reporting to the Chief People Officer, this is an exciting and broad opportunity. We are seeking a HR Professional to act as Deputy Director to lead the delivery of key HR initiatives across the organisation, focusing on Pay, Pensions, and Careers and Skills. The successful candidate will be a strategic HR professional with a proven track record of delivering complex projects and managing stakeholder relationships. This post will work closely with the leadership team in GCHQ and across UKIC HR; as a team you will cover all HR functions, so the ability to work with others to drive genuine transformation is critical to success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Pay: Lead the development and implementation of the organisation's annual pay award remit, ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulations; negotiate with trade unions and other stakeholders; analyse and interpret data to inform pay decisions and ensure fairness and equity across the organisation.
• Pensions: Oversee policies and administration of the organisation's pension schemes, ensure compliance with regulations, develop and implement pension strategy, and collaborate with administrators to resolve issues and improve processes.
• Careers and Skills: Lead the design and development of career pathways for specific professional groups, align careers and skills across UKIC, and identify skills gaps with stakeholders to develop targeted interventions.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

EDI is critical to our mission. We encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds to reflect the society we serve. Senior roles include engagement with Safety, Health and Wellbeing processes and management of resourcing and compliance, including liaison with the Wellbeing team and the Management of Psychological Risk tool (MPR).

About you

You will be an experienced HR professional with relevant skills, a strong leader with resilience, and a commitment to collaboration and professional development. You should demonstrate GCHQ’s values of Integrity, Ingenuity, Impact and Teamwork, work inclusively, and communicate clearly, both in writing and in person. You should be able to explain complex issues and identify practical solutions for the business.

You will have:

• Professional HR qualification: CIPD Level 7 and significant experience in a senior HR role.
• Proven track record of delivering complex HR projects and managing stakeholder relationships.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, pensions, and pay practices.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with data interpretation for decision-making.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to work at a strategic level and influence organisational decision-making.
• Experience of working in a large or complex organisation.
• Knowledge of careers development and talent management principles.

SCS Competency Framework

The role is broad and varied, focusing on the SCS1 Competencies (Level 5): Driving Innovation and Change; Leading Inclusively; Providing Customer Value; Working Collaboratively; Delivering Outcomes.

Selection Process

To apply for this role, complete the relevant sections of the application and copy and paste your Suitability Statement (limit to 2 sides of A4) and CV into the required fields. The process includes:

• Initial sift against essential criteria.
• If longlisted, telephone interview with recruitment partners (scheduled week commencing 25/05/26).
• If shortlisted, Staff Engagement Session (virtual). Full details will be provided for shortlisted candidates (scheduled week commencing 15/06/26).
• Panel interview in London to assess motivation, values, competency evidence and technical experience (scheduled week commencing 06/07/26).

Please note you must pass each stage to progress. Applications may take 6–9 months to process including vetting; consider staying in current employment until final offer.

Rewards and Benefits

You will receive a minimum salary of £96,981 plus a non-concessionary payment of £3,030 and London Pay Addition of £6,250 if contracted to a London work location. Other benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days after 5 years, plus 10.5 public/privilege holidays
• Performance recognition through our employee scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Excellent pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• On-site facilities such as gym, restaurant and coffee bars (where available)
• Paid parental and adoption leave

GCHQ is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds. We are Disability Confident and provide reasonable adjustments in recruitment; details available on our site. To work at GCHQ, you must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. This role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. For more information about eligibility, vetting, and the recruitment process, visit our site. We advise applicants to use a separate email address for correspondence. The role can be based in Cheltenham, London or Manchester, with travel to all locations as required; relocation costs are not provided. Please ensure you understand travel implications before submitting an application.

Additional Information

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website. We are committed to safeguarding and protecting the UK and its interests.