Policy Advisor, Security Protection Team

**Policy Advisor, Security Protection Team - 69759**
**£31,265 - £34,446**
**Belfast**:
**Who we are**:
Passionate about Northern Ireland: flexible, empowering, inclusive

**Inclusion and diversity**:
The Northern Ireland Office strives to be an inclusive employer and is recognised by its staff and externally as being an employer where Diversity and Inclusion are valued.

We hold a Diversity & Inclusion Charter Mark and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader organisation.

In March 2018 we won the award for Best Employer for Diversity & Equality in Northern Ireland (small employer category) in a Gala Award ceremony hosted by Legal-Island, a multi-award winning workplace compliance company based in Northern Ireland.

We have an active D&I network supporting colleagues through D&I Advocates, championed by our Directors.

We want all our people to feel valued for who they are and we are confident that you will find the NIO a warm, welcoming and inclusive place to work.

**What we do**:
**Background**:
The Northern Ireland Office represents Northern Ireland interests at a UK Government level and UK Government interests in Northern Ireland. We have a wide range of responsibilities, including: underpinning political stability in Northern Ireland; overseeing the Northern Ireland devolution settlement; leading on national security policy in Northern Ireland; addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past; delivering elections and constitutional reform in Northern Ireland; playing a key role in rebalancing the NI economy; representing NI interests, including on the border with Ireland,following the exit from the EU. Our small size and diverse portfolio create a stimulating, fast-paced and challenging working environment, with regular engagement with a range of Ministers and senior officials. We support flexible working and have a modern, flexible IT system which helps enable this.

**About the Role**:
Keeping people safe is one of the UKG’s strategic aims and the Security & Protection Group (SPG) in the NIO delivers this through core teams working on: Policy, Strategy, Operational Delivery, Casework and Protection.

We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality work on issues that matter, at pace and often in challenging circumstances. All SPG colleagues have an anchor within one of the core teams, allowing them to build specialist knowledge, expertise and relationships. Everyone, regardless of grade or experience, also has the opportunity to get involved in project-based work across the group and the wider department beyond their core teams. This approach ensures we add more value, are agile enough to deliver on key departmental priorities and give everyone in SPG a wide range of developmental opportunities. We are committed to using every opportunity to continuously improve ourselves and our business outcomes. You can expect diverse, interesting and rewarding work that goes to the heart of public service and you can expect to do this in a safe space where individuals and teams are supported to deliver and encouraged to innovate, stretch, challenge and learn.
We are currently looking to recruit a Policy Adviser within the Security and Protection Group.

In this role you will work on one of the UK Government’s highest priorities - national security - and gain a broad range of policy, strategy, project management, and briefing skills within a supportive and focused team.

You will work closely with other group members in London and Belfast to ensure that Ministers are fully briefed on national security matters, and owing to the Department’s relatively small size this will mean more exposure to Ministers than might otherwise be the case in a larger Department.

You will work closely with partners in Number 10, the Cabinet Office, Home Office and other government departments, a range of security and law enforcement partners, and colleagues in the NI devolved government.

As a policy adviser you will help to develop strategic policy direction and use your policy and project management skills on a range of high-profile, complex and challenging national security issues. You will be ready to take on challenges with enthusiasm and commitment and move flexibly between policy and operational roles.

You will be responsible for working on long term policy priorities and may also work on a short to medium term basis on key policy and national security related casework priorities across the Security and Protection Group where there is a priority business need for additional or new skills.

Building and maintaining a strong and extensive network of business critical relationships with policy and operational partners in Northern Ireland and in Whitehall will be key. Good communication and relationship management skills will be essential.

**Duties and Responsibilities**:

- Specific responsibilities may include:
- National security related policing, counter-terrorism and prisons policy
- Working with partners an