West Midlands Police
Head of IT and Security - Counter Terrorism Policing
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Closing Date: 26/08/2026, 23:59
Salary: £78,417 – £85,353
Grade: 12
Forming an integral part of the national Counter Terrorism Policing network, the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (CTPWM) is a collaboration between Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Mercia, and West Midlands Police Forces working to help protect the public and our national security by preventing, deterring and investigating terrorist activity.
The role
As a key member of the Strategic Leadership Team, the post holder will be responsible for the leadership of a multi-disciplined department incorporating functions such as IT, Information Security, National Security Vetting, personal security, and the physical security of all CTPWM infrastructure.
The post holder will act as a trusted advisor to the Head of CTPWM, wider Command Team, and key partners on all matters relating to technology and security, ensuring all issues are understood and appropriately managed.
As this role has a broad and varied portfolio, it allows the post holder the ability to set strategy and direction and engage key stakeholders across policing, the wider CT Network, and external partners.
This role is based in our modern offices near the Birmingham International Airport. You will work Monday to Friday 0800 - 1600, but an element of flexibility is necessary to meet business needs, including travel around the region and nationally when required.
Overarching Responsibilities
- Develop and execute an IT and Security strategy ensuring it is effectively aligned with the vision and objectives of the wider counter terrorism unit, host force, as well as National CT headquarters.
- Act as a strategic advisor to the Head of CTU, wider command team, and partners on strategic matters within the portfolio, recommending solutions to both existing and forecasted strategic risks or problems.
- Develop and enforce policies, procedures, and standards to protect the organisation's data, systems, personnel, and infrastructure against internal and external threats.
- Lead on IT and Security change and transformation projects and programmes, collaborating with key stakeholders to successfully deliver technology and non-technology-led change.
- Work closely with key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory laws and standards.
- Develop and maintain appropriate governance that supports the needs of the organisation.
- Oversee CTPWM accreditation processes, including penetration testing for physical site security, IT systems, and Information Security purposes, ensuring compliance with the relevant industry and security regulations and standards.
- Provide reassurance to the Head of Unit and key external partners that all systems, procedures, and policies are compliant.
- Act as the senior representative for the unit with regards to information technology and security at local, regional, and national governance, developing and maintaining collaborative strategic relationships.
- Responsible for the department's Risk Management framework which seeks to identify, assess, manage, and mitigate risks around Information, Personnel, Technological, and Physical infrastructure.
- Lead, motivate, engage, and develop a team of professionals and provide leadership to a significant area of responsibility, protecting and promoting workforce wellbeing and professional standards.
- Lead the assessment of future demands and emerging threats within IT and Security, developing and adapting plans to ensure that these demands/threats are effectively anticipated and met.
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For further details of the specific role responsibilities relating to the Security and IT elements of the role, please read the attached job description.
Skills and competencies
Essential
- Educated to degree level or have a minimum of 5 years experience in a relevant field.
- Extensive leadership experience in leading a multi-skilled team.
- Experience of negotiating effectively with a wide range of executives both internally and externally.
- Experience of working closely with senior executives to develop organisational strategy.
- Proven track record in managing and coordinating complex ICT transformation projects.
- Proven experience in developing and implementing IT and security strategies and plans.
- Evidence of proactive business change management and delivery of service with a good understanding of existing and emerging technology together with the ability to identify the wider implications and interdependencies of any change.
- Delivery of innovative solutions that support improvement initiatives to achieve organisational excellence and support the business plan.
- Experience in Information Security, creation, and compliance to policies and standards.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex security and technology-based matters.
- Financial experience and budget management.
- A good knowledge of IT Infrastructure, current IT Industry trends, and Communication technologies.
- A good knowledge of provision of security, including physical, personnel, assets, information handling, and communications.
- Customer focus and an ability to develop key stakeholder relationships to enhance operational performance and develop the business.
- Skilled in planning and objective setting to medium and long-term cycles, coordinating a complex range of activities.
- Able to make operational and business decisions, applying appropriate frameworks, models, and risk management processes and anticipating the implications of decisions.
- Able to use a range of communication and influencing techniques and methods to successfully negotiate, collaborate, and/or effect change.
Desirable
- An awareness of ITIL.
Security Clearance
⚠ This post requires British nationality (some dual nationalities may be ineligible) and a Developed Vetting clearance.
You will need to undergo additional security clearance checks, with the offer of employment being conditional on obtaining all of the necessary security clearances.
There are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries once in post.
Diversity & Inclusion
We maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities, whilst protecting them from harm.
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Counter Terrorism Policing is always working to build upon our diverse workforce to reflect the country we serve. An inclusive culture enables us to do things differently, working in ways that meet individuals’ needs to ensure work-life balance is healthy so that we deliver the best for the organisation.
We are a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment, we operate a Disability Confident Interview Scheme - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.
It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal, and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.
Advertisement Closing Date
We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if the maximum volume of applications has been reached. Candidates with unsubmitted applications will not be informed prior to the advert closing.
Please do not attach a CV/covering letter as these will not be used during the application process.
Counter Terrorism Policing is a collaboration of UK police forces working with the UK intelligence community to help protect the public and our national security by preventing, deterring, and investigating terrorist activity.
Join Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands CTU for a unique opportunity to play your part in keeping the West Midlands region safe. Every day offers a variety of exciting challenges and exceptional opportunities played out on a national and international stage.
Most of what we achieve may never see the light of day but be assured that we have the very best and brightest working around the clock in an effort to keep us all safe. These ordinary men and women do extraordinary things in an effort to thwart terrorist planning; to safeguard those who are at risk of radicalisation; to protect our critical national infrastructure, institutions, and crowded places, and to pursue and bring terrorists to justice.
Our Counter Terrorism Unit aims to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where all our people feel a strong sense of belonging and are able to reach their full potential. With a range of roles available, you don’t need a background in security, and we are always looking for different skills and experiences to join our talented team.
Work with us, and you will be joining a world-class Counter Terrorism Policing network.
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