Principal Private Secretary to the National Security Adviser
| Posting date: | 09 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £81,000 to £117,800 per year |
| Additional salary information: | An additional Private Office Allowance of £12,160 (non-pensionable) is also payable. Non civil servants will be expected to start at the salary minimum if successful. Standard pay rules apply for existing civil servants. |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 30 December 2025 |
| Location: | London |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | 439504/1 |
Summary
The National Security Secretariat keeps the UK safe, secure and prosperous by bringing together the UK’s national security community, providing high-quality support to the Prime Minister and National Security Council and maintaining centre-to-centre relationships internationally. We assist the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in the development, coordination and implementation of its highest priority objectives.
The post holder will lead the National Security Adviser’s Private Office, which sits across No10 and National Security Secretariat (NSS), and will be an integral part of the No10 Foreign Affairs Team. The post holder will support the National Security Adviser (NSA) in delivering his priorities, represent the NSA in No10 and beyond, and provide visible, kind and effective leadership to NSA’s private office team enabling and empowering the PSs in the team. The post holder will also lead on the US portfolio for NSA’s private office.
Key responsibilities include:
- Support the NSA in advising the Prime Minister, implementing the National Security Strategy, delivering policy objectives through and with the Deputy National Security Adviser (DNSAs), NSS and the National Security Council (NSC) structures, working closely with Economic and Global Issues Secretariat (EGIS) and EU Relations Secretariat (EURS), maintaining a strong international network, and responding swiftly and effectively to both crises and opportunities.
- Through providing strategic advice, maintaining agile processes, and ensuring timely information flows, ensure the NSA is able to prioritise his time and deliver maximum impact. Challenge existing thinking and offer innovative ideas where appropriate.
- Establish a strong network across No10 teams, including the political team, domestic Private Office, Press Office, Policy Unit, Business Team, and others, to ensure the NSA’s work can best support the full breadth of Prime Ministerial priorities.
- Represent the NSA credibly and effectively at senior levels across Cabinet Office and wider Whitehall. Establish strong networks with departmental counterparts to ensure a coordinated approach across the national security portfolio.
- Lead the NSA’s US portfolio, working closely with BE Washington, facilitating his regular engagement with a range of senior interlocutors, and building personal networks to support this.
- Ensure effective and regular information flows between NSS and No10, encouraging a ‘One Team’ culture and a way of working where collaboration is the default. With the Deputy Principal Private Secretary (DPPS) you will act as the bridge between No10 and NSS.
- Demonstrate visible, kind and supportive leadership to the NSA Private Office team across No10 and NSS. Directly line manage the NSA’s Deputy Principal Private Secretary and Office Manager, and counter-sign for the heads of the wider NSS Private Offices.
- Take responsibility for the smooth running of the NSS Private Offices of the NSA and DNSAs, including management of resources and responsibility for ad hoc constitutional or parliamentary matters as needed.
- Lead within No 10 on specific projects or policy issues that have a significant NSA element e.g. National Security Strategy, and provide ad hoc cover in the Foreign Affairs Private Office team providing support to the Prime Minister.
- Contribute actively to the corporate objectives of No10 and NSS as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
- Seek opportunities to continuously improve coordination and ways of working between No10 and NSS.
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