Deputy Director Expert Services

The Role Overview

This high-profile leadership position holds significant influence, sitting right at the heart of our People and Places team. Reporting to our Chief People Officer, Christina Duncan, you’ll lead the way for HR Expert Services. Your focus will be on making genuine, lasting improvements across the Cabinet Office—helping us build HR functions that are as resilient, modern, and supportive as the people they serve.

Leading the Way and Getting Things Done

You’ll guide a talented team of about 20 specialists, providing the vision and support they need to handle a range of vital HR tasks. You’ll oversee everything from the big-picture strategy to the day-to-day operations, including:

●HR Policy & Casework: Developing and implementing robust HR Policy and expert Casework solutions.

●Pay & Reward: Designing competitive Pay and Reward strategies that attract and retain top-tier talent.

●Employee Relations: Cultivating productive Trade Union relations and overseeing critical workforce levers, including exit processes.

●Change Enablement: Acting as a key enabler for delivering organisational changes

Working Together and Finding Better Ways

We want someone who always keeps the "user" in mind. You’ll analyse digital trends and modern standards to streamline our processes and make them more efficient. By building strong relationships with colleagues across government, you’ll help ensure our services are truly world-class and ready for whatever the future brings.

Candidate Information Session

Session Overview

Wednesday 26th August 2026

The Cabinet Office will be holding an informal information session via MS Teams for potential applicants to find out more about the role of Deputy Director, Expert Services. Whether you are contemplating an application, or simply want more insight into the role and its potential impact, this session will provide a much better understanding of our environment and ambitions.

Please email cpo@cabinetoffice.gov.uk to register your interest, outlining the date you would like to join. We will then send you an MS Teams invitation.

How to Join Anonymously

If you wish to preserve your privacy, follow this step-by-step guide to join the MS Teams meeting without revealing your credentials:

1.Click on the MS Teams link

2.Select 'Join'

3.Choose pre-join settings

Select "Change" at the top of the meeting pre-join screen

4.Join without signing in

5.Type an anonymous name

Enter an alias or your preferred name in the designated field

6.Enter the meeting

Select "Join" to instantly enter the candidate information session.

Key Responsibilities

As the Deputy Director, Expert Services your key responsibilities will include:

• Providing essential HR services to drive the ‘Cabinet Office transformation ', with a focus on:

-Taking full ownership and accountability for workforce levers, including the expert management of exit strategies.

-Directing the strategy for Trade Union engagement and consultation.

-Collaborating with colleagues to offer HR expertise that informs and shapes organisational redesign.

• Pay and Reward: Leading the delivery of our strategic Pay and Reward framework.
• Employee Relations: Championing Employee Relations to build constructive, timely, and effective partnerships across the workforce.
• HR Policy Modernisation: Modernising HR Policy across the Cabinet Office, leveraging automation and AI to create an environment that is both fair and inclusive.
• Complex Casework: Leading the Complex Casework function as a high-quality centre of excellence driven by data and transparency.
• Future Operating Models: Partnering with the HR leadership team to design future operating models, supporting both the Cabinet Office and the wider Matrix cluster shared services vision.
• Wider Leadership: Playing a visible wider leadership role as a member of the People and Places leadership team and the Corporate Services leadership team.
• Deputising: Acting as a trusted deputy by standing in for the Chief People Officer, Deputy Chief People Officer and other Deputy Directors across the team when needed. Maintaining a strong leadership presence throughout the directorate and leading cross-team initiatives as required.

Chartered Membership of CIPD (or equivalent) or a willingness to work toward this professional qualification.

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.

Application process

To apply, complete the online process no later than 23:55 pm, Tuesday 1st September 2026

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) Maximum of 2 pages

Set out your career history, key responsibilities, achievements, and professional expertise.

Note: Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

2. Statement of Suitability - Maximum 1000 words

Outlining how your experience, expertise, and skills align with this role.

Important Note

Failure to complete both sections of the online application form (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

Diversity & Support

As part of the process, you will be asked diversity-related questions. If you wish, you may select 'prefer not to say'. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

For application issues, contact us via:

scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Shortlist

The Selection Panel

A professional panel will assess your application against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section to select those demonstrating the best fit.

Panel Members:

• Christina Duncan

Chief People Officer, Cabinet Office

• Simon Claydon

Director, Civil Service Workforce

• Elinor McDaniell

Strategy Director, Cabinet Office

Process & Timeline

• Acknowledgment

Your application will be acknowledged automatically when it is received.

• Outcome Notification

All longlisted and shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Expected Dates

The timeline later further down this page indicates the key dates by which decisions are expected to be made

Assessment

1. Staff Engagement Exercise

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 30-45 minute online staff engagement exercise. This is a focus group with a small number of staff where you will be asked to facilitate a discussion about a topic you receive in advance. An occupational psychologist will silently observe to write a report for the panel to consider before your interview.

2. Panel Interview

Successful candidates will attend an in-depth panel interview assessing Experience and Behaviours. Note: Interviews will be held in person in London.

Full details will be provided to shortlisted candidates. If you are required to prepare a presentation, the subject will be shared in advance.

Informal Information Session (not part of the assessment process)

The Cabinet Office will host an informal information session via MS Teams for potential applicants to learn more about the Deputy Director, Expert Services role. The session will be hosted by Christina Duncan, Chief People Officer.

Reserve List & Vacancies

If we receive more suitable applications than vacancies, candidates may be held on a reserve list for 12 months. Future Civil Service vacancies requiring the same skills and experience may be offered to candidates on this list.

Offer

Notification

Regardless of the outcome, GRS notify the candidates via the CS Jobs portal for shortlisted and interviewed candidates.

Feedback & Next Steps

Please note that feedback is only available to candidates who reach the assessment and panel interview stages.

Successful candidates will undergo standard Civil Service pre-employment security vetting prior to a formal offer being made.

Indicative Timeline

We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.

The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Candidate Info Session: 26th August - Info Session via MS Teams

Advert Closing Date: 23:55pm Tuesday 1st September 2026

Shortlist Announcement: 16th/17th September 2026

Staff Engagement Exercise (Online): 23rd or 24th September 2026

Panel Interviews: From 2nd October 2026 (In person in London)

Reasonable adjustments

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 at: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Reserve lists

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, which the Civil Service may use to fill future suitable vacancies across government for candidates who are considered appointable following interview.

Further information

Any move to Cabinet Office 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. Determine your eligibility here.

Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a civil servant at the point of starting in the relevant new post. If their contract ends (e.g. end of FTA contract or resignation) at any point during the recruitment/onboarding process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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