Deputy Director for Security Policy and Central Services​

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.

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. ​

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.

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.

​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.