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20633 Head of Joint Extremism Unit
Job Location:
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
30 July 2026 (30+ days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
27 October 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
General Information
Working Pattern
Full Time Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
London
Region
London
Closing Date
08-Aug-2026
Post Type
Expression of Interest
Civil Service Grade
SCS 1
Number of jobs available
1
Job ID
20633
Descriptions & requirements
Job description
The Role
The Joint Extremism Unit (JEXU) is jointly run by HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and the Home Offices Homeland Security Group (HSG) - and is the strategic centre for all counter terrorism (CT) work with offenders in England and Wales. The Unit provides vital strategic coordination and threat leadership to the prison and probation sector as well as having responsibility for a high-performing network of specialist counter terrorism staff and operational capabilities with a local to national scale.
Leading a function of c.250 staff the postholder will set the direction for counter-terrorism policy and operational capability across HMPPS ensuring consistent standards and effective delivery across a complex and geographically dispersed system. This includes oversight of core counter terrorism capabilities and functions including leadership support to the Joint CT Prison and Probation Hub (JCTPPH).
The role operates at the heart of Directorate of Security priorities requiring close working with Ministers senior leaders and external partners across law enforcement and national security. It demands confident leadership in a high profile and fast moving environment with responsibility for managing critical incidents shaping strategic responses and driving continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership to JEXU (c.250FTE) ensuring effective delivery of CT standards across prisons and probation.
- Lead the national response to CT and emerging national security threats.
- Set and drive the direction for CT policy and operational capability across HMPPS
- Advise Ministers and senior leaders on highrisk highprofile CT issues ensuring robust and timely decisionmaking
- Work in close partnership with operational services and external agencies (including law enforcement and national security partners) to strengthen systemwide CT capability.
- Ensure effective management of major CT incidents and crises providing visible and decisive leadership.
- Drive continuous improvement and innovation including modernisation of CT systems and capabilities.
- Oversee budgets programmes and contracts to ensure value for money and delivery against strategic priorities
- Champion high standards of professionalism integrity and inclusion across the Directorate
Additional Information
Throughout the selection process you should provide clear evidence and examples that demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role.
Later in this pack you will find details of which elements will be assessed at each stage of the process helping you focus your application and prepare effectively.
Essential Experience:
- Proven track record of senior leadership including leading large geographically dispersed teams and delivering organisational change at scale
- Significant operational experience within custodial or security environments with a strong understanding of risk public protection and complex system delivery
- Expertise in national security and managing highrisk threats
- Strong strategic capability with the ability to set direction and translate priorities into deliverable plans in a fastmoving environment
- Experience of operating in highprofile politically sensitive contexts including advising senior leaders and/or Ministers
- Highly developed influencing and collaboration skills with the ability to build effective partnerships across organisational and agency boundaries
- Proven ability to lead through crisis and manage complex incidents with sound judgement
- Strong track record of overseeing budgets programmes and contracts to deliver value for money
- Commitment to inclusive leadership and embedding equality diversity and inclusion in both workforce and service delivery
Successful candidates will be required to have or obtain DV Strap level clearance
Contact Information
If you require any assistance please contact us on. Please quote the job reference in your email to enable us to support you more quickly.
Job Description Attachment
- (SCS1) EOI Candidate Information Pack Template May 26 (Job Description Attachment)
Application form stage assessments
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
To apply for this role please express your interest by submitting a statement of suitability setting out clear evidence of how you meet the essential experience and/or ability and/or technical skills (no more than 500 words) via email to explaining how you meet the experience and attributes for this role and submitting to: marked EOI Head of JEXU Directorate of Security.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History Statement of Suitability
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates
WC 17th August 2026
Behaviours
Leadership
Seeing the Big Picture
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing
Level of security checks required
Developed Vetting (DV)
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application however all examples and statements provided must be truthful factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others or generated by artificial intelligence as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary see ourcandidate guidancefor more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Required Experience:
Director
About Company
The Ministry of Justice’s Office of the Deputy Attorney General (International Law) handles a broad range of issues in the field of international law, including public international law, economic law and international humanitarian law. The Office is also at the forefront of advocating ... View more
