Deputy Director – Devolution (Job-Share)

HM Treasury; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days+

Flexitime

Parental leave

Pension scheme 28.97%

Cycle-to-work

Staff networks

Job summary

HM Treasury is seeking an experienced policy leader to shape devolution strategy affecting Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The role will coordinate with departments and devolved governments to influence policy and funding decisions and will lead a mid-sized, high-performing team across multiple locations.

You will engage senior partners, provide clear strategic advice to Ministers, and drive priority policy work ahead of the 2027 Spending Review, ensuring delivery of impactful outcomes

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of high-performing policy teams.
• Strong judgement on complex or sensitive policy issues.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Devolution team, promoting a strong, inclusive, and creative team culture while sustaining excellent performance across a busy portfolio.
• Handle senior interactions across the UK Government, the devolved governments, and external organisations, establishing trust and influencing efficiently.
• Offer strategic counsel and clear briefings to Ministers, special advisers, and senior officials regarding funding and handling matters related to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Coordinate policy packages during fiscal events and manage six funding settlements involving the three devolved governments and the three Secretary of State-led Offices for the Nations.

Skills

Leadership

Policy strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Devolution knowledge

Job description

Are you an experienced policy leader who can provide clear strategic advice, develop positive relationships, and lead a high-performing team? This is an opportunity to build HM Treasury’s approach to devolution and influence policy affecting Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

About the Team

The Devolution team is a friendly and high-performing group of about 15 people located in London, Darlington, Belfast, and Edinburgh. We coordinate HM Treasury’s strategic approach to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Our team works closely with devolved governments, Whitehall departments, and Treasury colleagues. Our responsibilities include managing funding arrangements for the devolved governments and Offices for the Nations. We lead all aspects of fiscal frameworks, advise on UK Government policy interventions, and strengthen devolution capability across the department. You will join the team just before the 2027 Spending Review and share the role with one of the current postholders.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the Devolution team, promoting a strong, inclusive, and creative team culture while sustaining excellent performance across a busy portfolio.
• Handle senior interactions across the UK Government, the devolved governments, and external organisations, establishing trust and influencing efficiently.
• Offer strategic counsel and clear briefings to Ministers, special advisers, and senior officials regarding funding and handling matters related to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Coordinate policy packages during fiscal events and manage six funding settlements involving the three devolved governments and the three Secretary of State-led Offices for the Nations.

This important, cross-functional position sits at the centre of government activity. You will coordinate with teams across HM Treasury and the wider UK Government to ensure policy development supports Ministers’ priorities in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Your leadership will be vital to achieving our strategic aims and delivering exceptional results.

About You

You will be an inclusive and effective leader with strong policy judgment and the ability to set direction across complex or politically sensitive issues. You will have experience of maintaining a high-performing team culture and developing positive relationships with a wide range of senior partners. You will be able to work collaboratively, communicate and influence with credibility, and provide clear advice and briefing to Ministers and senior officials. You will also bring experience of working in complex policy environments. Public spending experience will be particularly valuable given the relatively short lead-in to the 2027 Spending Review.

Our Benefits

• Annual leave starts at 25 days and rises to 30 after 5 years. You also receive 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday off, unless you have a legacy Civil Service arrangement. Flexitime allows employees to take up to 2 additional days off monthly.
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension plan featuring employer contributions of 28.97%
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice program and season ticket loans
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity