Cabinet Office’s UKSV looks to recruit leader to help redesign the way the unit works

UK Security Vetting (UKSV), the Cabinet Office unit that carries out national security vetting checks across government and beyond, is recruiting a digital transformation director who will help redesign the way the unit works. 

UKSV, which processes 300,000 to 400,00 applications a year, moved from the Ministry of Defence to the Cabinet Office in 2020 and is designing a new target operating model, including introducing four new vetting levels. 

The role is in SCS pay band 2 with a salary of £95,000 to £130,500. UKSV says it is “totally open-minded on the background/sector of the right candidate” who should be an experienced leader with significant expertise in delivering service transformation and commercial and stakeholder management.

The successful candidate will be accountable for the Vetting Transformation Programme, leading the design and implementation of a new digital platform for the revised vetting levels. 

“This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of delivering the most fundamental change to our nation’s vetting services,” writes Patricia Dreghorn, UKSV chief executive, in the candidate pack. “The organisation is transforming and modernising its culture, systems, processes and ways of working. The UKSV digital transformation director is pivotal and will lead the transformation of the future of vetting into a digital and data-driven organisation over the coming years.” 

Candidates must hold UK, Irish, Commonwealth, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationality and either have or be willing to obtain a security check level of clearance. Applications for the post, which can either be permanent, a secondment of up to two years or an 18-month fixed term appointment with potential for extension, close at 11.55 pm on Wednesday 6 September. UKSV expects to hold interviews on 30 October.