Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Deputy Director for Security Policy and Central Services
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Birmingham, Blackpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Pontypridd, Sheffield
Please note that for candidates requesting to work in Newcastle, this role will be based at Benton Park View, and then at 1 Pilgrim Place in Newcastle city centre by the end of 2027.
Job Summary
Lead the future of security across one of the UK’s largest government departments.
As Deputy Director for Security Policy and Central Services, you'll play a pivotal role at the heart of DWP's Security and Data Protection function, shaping security strategy, policy, standards and capability across the organisation and beyond. This is a rare opportunity to lead high-profile services, influence government-wide security thinking, and drive transformation that protects millions of citizens while developing the next generation of security professionals.
Hear directly from Mike Fell, Chief Security Officer, as he shares more about the role, the team and the impact you could have in DWP Security.
Job Description
Hear more about DWP
Role Responsibilities
- Leadership of a dispersed workforce - Lead large, diverse teams across multiple UK locations, building a unified culture, clear accountability and high performing operational and policy teams.
- Strategy, policy & standards - Identifying, designing, consulting on and delivering DWP-wide security strategy, policies and standards working closely across Security & Data Protection to ensure policy and awareness activity is risk informed, proportionate and effective.
- Security Profession - Act as Deputy Head of Profession for Chief Security Officer, leading development and delivery of capabilities and learning & development for DWP security community and influencing the development of the wider Government Security Profession.
- Cross-government delivery - Deliver and continue to develop the Government Cyber Security Academy and oversee, design, deliver and continuously improvement the DWP security education and awareness programme for all colleagues, and deliver high quality, cost effective services by the Security Education and Awareness Centre (SEAC).
- Business management - Oversee the effective management of the Security and Data Protection function’s business strategy, communications (including Parliamentary Questions), finances, resilience, workforce and risk management; and interaction with Group and Departmental initiatives.
- Security Strategy - Oversee implementation of the DWP Security Strategy and associated transformation within the directorate.
- Operational Management – Accountable for the efficient running of the team, including multimillion-pound budget, accurate forecasting and HR, finance and commercial compliance as well as management of specialist operational team.
Person specification
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their knowledge, experience and skills against the following essential criteria:
- Proven security leadership knowledge experience in large, complex organisations leading teams with an engaging, adaptable, leadership style, including the ability to empower and motivate geographically dispersed teams.
- The ability to build strong working relationships with diverse and sometimes senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries to influence strategic direction and delivery in DWP and across Government.
- Strong experience setting organisation-wide security strategy, business planning, reporting and business/financial management.
- Proven ability to develop and deliver innovative, continually improving security capabilities and services, addressing complex, dynamic requirements to deliver transformation and proportionate security outcomes.
- Experience in security policy development and implementation in complex organisation(s) with experience of leading teams delivering high-quality security policy advice.
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Desirable Criteria
Whilst not essential, it is desirable that the successful candidate should have Chartered Security/Cyber status or any of CISM, CRISC or CISSP. Where candidates do not already hold one of these, they should be able to achieve it within the 6 month probation period.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £86,000, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £24,914 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave – at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
If you have the experience and energy to take on this stretching and demanding role, we would be very keen to hear from you.
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process outlined below by no later than 12:00 Noon on 21st September 2026.
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A personal statement (maximum 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.
Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.
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Desirable criteria are not required for appointment. However, where a large number of applications are received, they may be used to inform short listing decisions. Desirable criteria may also be explored at later stages of the selection process where relevant to the role.
For more information about the roles and the applications process, please see the candidate pack attached.
Reasonable Adjustments
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, especially those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact senior.recruitment@dwp.gov.uk as soon as possible, before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what additional support or adjustments you might need during the recruitment process.
For further information regarding reasonable adjustments, please see following link: Reasonable Adjustments, Civil Service Careers
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (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. See our vetting charter.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals 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)
- 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 2020
- Turkish
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