Deputy Director - Head of Police Performance Improvement Unit

Job description
Location

Please note, this is a national role, however will require regular attendance to our Home Office hubs in Manchester or London.

About the job

Job summary

The Public Safety Group (PSG) in the Home Office is responsible for a set of outcomes which are fundamental to our national life. Our role is to keep the public safe by cutting crime (including by disrupting the highest harm criminals), protecting the vulnerable and ensuring that our critical police, fire and rescue services are as efficient and effective as they can be in delivering front line public services.

To deliver on our mission, we develop and deliver policy, provide funding, deliver legislation, and make the most of innovation, data, and partnerships to prevent crime, protect the vulnerable, and tackle the highest harm crimes. The Safer Streets mission leads on keeping people safe.

A new Police Standards and Performance Improvement Directorate (PSPID) has recently been created within the Public Safety Group. The Police Performance Improvement Unit is a new unit within this directorate.

Job description

This role provides a unique opportunity to shape and lead a new Home Office unit to improve police force performance across England and Wales. It will be a key part of delivering the Government’s Safer Streets Mission.

You will advise the Home Secretary and Ministers about police force performance against a new Police Performance Framework being developed for a Police Reform White Paper.

The successful candidate will work closely with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to implement a new tiered performance system, building on existing systems and structures. And you will work in partnership with the College of Policing and others to provide performance improvement support to police forces where it is required, as part of a renewed ladder of support and intervention. This may include establishing turnaround teams, in consultation with police system partners and the force, to problem solve and address concerns.

You will be required to provide strategic, decisive leadership across the policing system through the development of strong, collaborative working relationships with senior policing leaders, including HMICFRS, the College of Policing, National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), Chief Constables, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), and others.

You will need high quality performance analysis skills and be able to use data and qualitative insight to both support and challenge police forces, whilst building strong foundations for a trusted presence in the policing system.

The post holder will lead a team of multi-disciplinary professionals, provide critical senior leadership and urgently moving forward this exciting new function.

You will report to the Director for Police Standards and Performance Improvement and be required to work collaboratively with the Policing Policy Director, Director of Strategy Capability and Resources, and other colleagues across the Public Safety Group, Home Office, and partners in the wider criminal justice system.

Key Responsibilities:
• Supporting work to design a system-wide policing improvement programme through problem and benefit realisation, data and evidence mapping the current policing landscape, and building in lessons learned from previous improvement frameworks.
• Leading and motivating a diverse team of experts (including police secondees, technical experts and analysts) to deliver performance analysis and assessments and determine the need for performance support.
• Working collaboratively with forces and policing system partners to provide performance improvement support to police forces where it is required, as part of a renewed ladder of support and intervention.
• Ensuring the Home Secretary’s Police Reform strategic priorities are reflected in improvement activities and delivery outcomes.
• Working with all Home Office UK Police Forces and law enforcement agency colleagues to establish and develop a data strategy, including significantly improved access to, and availability of, consistent police data for Ministers and Home Office officials.
• Managing your unit's budget, resource plans and, ensuring the effective use of public spending and maximising value for money.
• Being an active and corporate member of the Public Safety Group senior strategic leadership team and specifically supporting the development of the wider reform of policing.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:
• Wide ranging operational law enforcement experience with proven operational competence in policing, with a demonstratable track record of successful experience working at a strategic level. The candidate will also have a strong understanding of the law enforcement system, knowledge of relevant policing local, regional and national policies, strategies and initiatives and an understanding of the implications within the policing context.
• Experience of gathering, using, and analysing evidence/data to inform decision making and the ability to evaluate its impact, specifically within a law enforcement context.
• Excellent personal impact, resilience, and interpersonal skills, with experience of successfully engaging with and influencing a diverse range of partners.
• Strong leadership skills and experience of delivering at pace and getting things done under pressure whilst driving a culture of performance and improvement.
• A significant track record of visible, inclusive and results focussed on direct and matrix managed leadership which builds resilience and motivates staff to deliver and thrive.

Desirable Criteria:
• Experience and/or understanding of Programme and Project Management to support the governance and assurance framework for your work-stream.

Online Application:

Please follow the job advert instructions on the Civil Service Jobs website and apply online by 23:55 on 07 August 2025.ills

United Kingdom
England
Sheffield Show on map Get directions