Assistant Director – Intelligence & Targeting

The Insolvency Service is a leading government agency which plays a crucial role in providing essential services to the public and to business. The work we do is important to the proper functioning of markets, the economy in general and support for thousands of people each year who are in financial difficulty.

The Insolvency Service is entering an important new phase, with our Investigation and Enforcement Strategy 2026-2031 setting out an ambition to become the UK's leading authority in enforcing corporate and insolvency standards and tackling economic crime.

As Assistant Director leading the agency's intelligence function, you will shape how we identify threats, target the most harmful behaviours and deploy our enforcement powers for maximum public impact.

This is a high-profile senior leadership role requiring strategic vision, strong leadership and the ability to influence across organisational boundaries. You will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, strengthen leadership across the function, and build an inclusive culture that supports innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.

You will also drive the use of intelligence, data, build effective partnerships, and ensure the capability, capacity and skills are in place to deliver lasting outcomes for the public, businesses and the wider economy.

Inclusive and diverse teams are important to us. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups underrepresented in our workforce. The Insolvency Service strives to ensure that the agency is a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for everybody to bring their true self to work and to help the agency to achieve its diversity objectives. We have 9 active employee network groups available to join or become an ally, these include, Carers Network, Disability network group, Employee Assistance, Representatives, FACES Network Group, LGBT+, Mind Matters, Part Time Workers, The Shed - Men’s Network Group and Women’s Network Group.

We offer full-time, part-time, job share and flexible ways of working. We value capability, technical skills and experience and we place great emphasis on lifetime development to support our people. We encourage our employees to become more involved in areas they feel strongly about, whether it be for the benefit of the agency, through our Engagement network or in their own local communities via volunteering opportunities.

The Insolvency Service is a great place to work, learn and grow your career!

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior leader to lead the Intelligence and Targeting function at the heart of the agency's Investigation and Enforcement Strategy. Working as part of the Enforcement Group Senior Leadership Team, you will set the strategic direction for how the agency identifies threats, prioritises activity and uses intelligence to inform decisions on investigation and enforcement activity with the greatest public impact.

You will use insight, evidence and professional judgement to strengthen the agency's intelligence capability, helping the organisation identify emerging economic crime threats and target its response effectively. Working closely with senior leaders and key stakeholders, you will shape priorities, influence decision-making and ensure intelligence-led approaches are embedded across the agency.

You will be accountable for the performance, capability, governance and continuous improvement of the function, ensuring resources are used effectively to deliver operational and strategic outcomes.

This is a demanding, influential and rewarding leadership role with significant responsibility for supporting the agency's mission to tackle economic crime and protect the public.

Responsibilities

You will:

• set the strategic direction for Intelligence and Targeting, translating the Investigation and Enforcement Strategy into clear priorities, measurable outcomes and a high-performing, inclusive culture
• ensure intelligence drives operational decision-making, delivering high-quality strategic and tactical products that inform prioritisation, targeting, resource allocation, and the identification of civil and criminal enforcement opportunities
• lead and develop a large function, strengthening capability, resilience, professionalism, and leadership to deliver sustained performance through change
• champion innovation in data, digital and emerging technologies, enhancing intelligence collection, analysis, targeting, and performance insight
• provide strategic leadership of governance, assurance, risk and performance, delivering clear, evidence-based advice and briefings to Directors, Boards, senior officials, and external stakeholders
• build and influence senior partnerships across government, law enforcement, regulatory and private sector organisations, enabling richer intelligence sharing and a more coordinated enforcement response

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) (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 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the sift process, you will be asked to complete:

• CV
• Personal Statement

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV, assessing candidates against the essential criteria. Only those who meet the essential criteria at this stage will proceed to a full assessment of their application. If a candidate does not meet the minimum requirements during the initial sift, the remainder of their application will not be reviewed. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Where high volumes of strong applications are expected or received, we may raise the ‘benchmark’ minimum score required at the sift stage. If a high volume of candidates meet the benchmark score, we may further raise the score required for interview selection. Scores will be applied fairly and consistently. Applicants eligible under a recruitment scheme may, where appropriate, continue to be considered against the agreed ‘benchmark’ score, to support the purpose of the scheme.

Your CV should provide a clear overview of your employment history, key responsibilities, relevant qualifications, and the skills and experience you’ve gained throughout your career including any notable achievements.

Note: Your CV will be scored as part of the assessment process and will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the job advert.

Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words and must demonstrate how your personal skills, qualities, and experience align with the requirements of the role. Please ensure your statement references the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

If successful at the sift stage, at interview, you will be assessed on the following:

• Experience
• Behavioural Competencies - assessed through: Behaviour 1 – Leadership
• Behaviour 2 – Changing and Improving
• Behaviour 3 – Delivering at Pace
• Presentation

Experience will also be assessed through the presentation at interview. Details of the presentation will be provided to candidates who are successful at sift stage.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Sift – from 21 September 2026

Interview – 16 October 2026

Location - MS Teams

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of this if you are selected for interview. Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Visa Applicants

To sponsor a candidate under the Skilled Worker visa, a sponsorship licence is required. The Insolvency Service does not currently hold this licence and therefore, cannot legally sponsor Skilled Worker visa applicants.

Queries and Support

When contacting us or the Government Recruitment Service (GRS) using the contact details at the bottom of this advert, please include the 6-digit Vacancy ID, job title, your full name and, where applicable, your 8-digit Applicant ID in the email subject line. This will help us process your enquiry more efficiently.

Hybrid Working

Insolvency Service operates a hybrid working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.

Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending a minimum of 60% in the workplace, which includes the office, site visits, court etc.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Insolvency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via InsolvencyRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.