Location
City of Westminster

Hours
37 hours per week (unless part time)

Salary
£61,630 per annum

About the Role
The Defence Intelligence Policy and Secretariat team is a small but extremely busy team providing critical support to Defence Intelligence (DI) business. This includes engaging with parliamentary oversight, assuring DI operates within defined legal frameworks, and managing DI’s engagement with external bodies.

We are seeking a proactive, highly organised and effective leader for our Parliamentary and Disclosures sub-team. This team manages Parliamentary Engagement, obligations to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) and Subject Access Requests (SAR), and Legal and other Disclosures.

As a vital member of the Policy and Secretariat leadership team, you will ensure high standards of output, support other team responsibilities, and lead projects to help the team adapt to a changing landscape. Alongside line management duties, you will provide effective support, guidance and development opportunities to all staff within the Policy and Secretariat team.

In Defence Intelligence, our people solve problems, create understanding and provide perspective on complex Defence threats and challenges. The successful candidate will lead the Parliamentary and Disclosures team to ensure DI fulfils its parliamentary, statutory and disclosure obligations.

Key responsibilities include managing DI parliamentary business and correspondence, maintaining the relationship with the ISC, compiling reports and redactions, managing visits to and from Parliamentarians, answering Parliamentary Questions, and clearing Ministerial Submissions.

The role also covers DI disclosure matters such as commissioning requests for holdings, ensuring appropriate clearance and permissions, managing statutory and legal duties including Public Inquiries and FOI requests, handling public disclosures, and managing Employment Tribunal Disclosure.

The Policy Secretariat team is central to DI business, and the team leader will set direction and scope, ensure robust governance and compliance, manage competing priorities while supporting staff well-being, and role-model effective agile working.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to diversity and inclusion, offering flexible working arrangements and a supportive workplace culture.

Experience
- Experience dealing with Private Offices, Ministers, and handling parliamentary and/or disclosures casework
- Good understanding of Parliamentary and legal frameworks such as the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and Parliamentary Committees
- Demonstrable experience handling complex FOI requests and/or Parliamentary Questions
- Ability to create high-quality written content, translating complex technical language into clear messaging
- Proven ability to develop strong relationships and coordinate activity with stakeholders
- Ability to make effective decisions and demonstrate good judgement on sensitive or politically significant issues
- Keen eye for detail with the ability to analyse and present complex information accessibly

About you
- Supportive leader and line manager who champions development and diversity
- Exceptional organisational skills with the ability to manage and deliver multiple, wide-ranging tasks
- Strong team player, willing to support colleagues and work collaboratively
- Committed to maintaining high standards and adapting to change in a dynamic environment

Qualifications
- Demonstrable technical skills aligned with the Policy Profession Framework, including:
• 2.2 Parliament and Law - Practitioner Level
• 3.2 Governance and Project Delivery - Practitioner Level
- Evidence of these skills should be included in the application as specified
- Security clearance to Developed Vetting level is required
- Open to UK nationals only