Head of National Intelligence Unit (Ref: 21853) in Sheffield

Location: Staffordshire, UK; City of Westminster; Wales, UKSalary: 91,540 - 105,912 per yearEmployment: FlexibleCategory: ManagementPosted: 2026-09-04Valid to: 2026-09-18Apply: https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/21853?entityId=21853Employer: HM Prison & Probation ServiceJob summaryThis is a Nationally based roleJob descriptionHMPPS Band 11We are seeking exceptional senior leaders to join our organisation at a pivotal time of transformation. These influential roles will play a key part in delivering strategic alignment projects, providing visible leadership through change, and shaping the future direction of the organisation. Working across complex stakeholder environments, successful candidates will build and maintain strong partnerships, drive operational improvement, and ensure the delivery of high-quality outcomes that support our long-term ambitions. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact, leading people, performance, and change at the highest level.The National Intelligence Unit (NIU) is part of the National Security Group (NSG) within the Directorate of Security and comprises approximately 280 staff. The Unit is responsible for ensuring that intelligence relating to terrorism, serious and organised crime, corruption, public protection and wider security threats is effectively collected, analysed, shared and acted upon across HMPPS. NIU is continuing to expand its capability to deliver regional and national intelligence operations directly in support of prisons and probation, helping to identify, assess and manage threats that impact the safety, security and effectiveness of HMPPS services.NIU works collaboratively with other areas of the Directorate of Security to develop and deliver operational and policy responses to terrorism, organised crime and corruption. Operating as HMPPS's centre of excellence for intelligence, the Unit provides strategic leadership, professional standards, capability development and operational support for intelligence practitioners across the organisation.As a recognised partner within the wider UK intelligence community, NIU works closely with policing, the National Crime Agency, Regional Organised Crime Units, Counter Terrorism Policing and other law enforcement agencies to strengthen intelligence sharing, support operational activity and deliver a coordinated response to emerging and evolving threats.As Head of the National Intelligence Unit, the post holder will provide strategic leadership to a complex, nationally dispersed intelligence function, ensuring that intelligence capabilities, resources and operational activity are aligned to HMPPS priorities and emerging threats. The role is responsible for leading the development of intelligence capability across HMPPS, maintaining the intelligence operating model and ensuring intelligence products and services support effective decision-making, risk management and public protection outcomes.This is a nationally based role with the standard HMPPS expectation around hybrid working and a minimum 60% office attendance. There will be frequent travel to London, occasional national travel and possible international travel.This is a nationally based role with the standard HMPPS expectation around hybrid working and a minimum 60% office attendance. There will be frequent travel to London, occasional national travel and possible international travel.Although the Head of Intelligence, Head of Corruption, Crime and Policing Unit, and Head of Change are NSG roles, they are being advertised as three separate campaigns, they all sit within the National Security Group.If you would like to be considered for more than one of these roles, please apply for each vacancy that interests you. We will conduct a joint sift across the campaigns, and candidates applying for multiple roles will only need to attend one interview.We will share further details and guidance on the process in due course.Developed Vetting standards are required with a further STRAP accreditation.The presentation question will be sent to candidates once they have been invited to interview. Person specificationPlease refer to the Job DescriptionBehavioursWe'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:Communicating and InfluencingLeadershipSeeing the Big PictureBenefitsAlongside your salary of 91,540, HM Prison & Probation Service contributes 26,519 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).Access to learning and developmentA working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balanceA working culture which encourages inclusion and diversityA Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%Annual LeavePublic HolidaysSeason Ticket AdvanceFor more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page. Link: Things you need to knowArtificial intelligenceArtificial 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 detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) 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.Nationality requirementsThis job is broadly open to the following groups:UK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServiceThe 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 InclusionThe 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 informationThis 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 applicantsJob contact : Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries TeamEmail : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.ukTelephone : 0345 241 5358Recruitment teamEmail : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.ukFurther informationAppointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: