Drug and Alcohol Surveillance Team Policy Lead

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Drug and Alcohol Detection Team within the Drug and Alcohol Group (DAG), playing a vital role in tackling illegal drug supply and substance use across the criminal justice system. Drug misuse and supply undermine rehabilitation outcomes, present serious safety risks, and contribute to cycles of debt and violence, directly impacting [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’ core objectives.

The Drug and Alcohol Detection Team has responsibility for the oversight and delivery of six complex drug and alcohol detection contracts, with a combined annual value of circa. £13 million. The job holder will lead key workstreams across this portfolio, working in close partnership with colleagues across DAG, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] Commercial and the Directorate of Contracted Operational Delivery (DoCOD) to ensure the effective management and delivery of the contracts. This includes supporting re-procurement activity for key capability areas such as trace detection and alcohol testing.

The role will lead the development and implementation of key [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] drug and alcohol testing policy frameworks that are evidence-informed and aligned with ministerial, operational and organisational priorities. Acting as a subject matter expert, the post holder will provide advice and briefings to Ministers, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] policy colleagues, senior leaders and operational staff.

Main Responsibilities

• Liaise across government and with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective information flow and collaborative problem-solving.
• Work closely with the Senior Intelligence Analyst to monitor and interpret emerging threats, including synthetic opioid trends.
• Manage the cross-agency action plan for the synthetic opioid threat, coordinating delivery and tracking progress.
• Design strategies, policies, and interventions to mitigate risk, informed by intelligence and evidence-based harm-reduction approaches.
• Collaborate with Safety colleagues to analyse data relating to drug- and alcohol-related deaths.
• Lead communications for the Key Threat Team, producing clear products and messaging.
• Deliver bitesize learning events to educate staff on key threats and mitigation approaches.

Behaviours and Technical Requirements

We’ll assess you against these behaviours: Communicating and Influencing (Lead), Delivering at Pace, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Bigger Picture.

Technical requirements: IT literacy; understanding of the process of Government, including the workings of Private Office; experience of writing briefings, submissions, and PQs.

Working Arrangements

[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] offers Hybrid Working arrangements. This role requires 60% office-based working. The successful candidate will be appointed to a [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office.

Additional Information

Benefits include annual leave, pension, season ticket advance, childcare vouchers, and training. Security checks: DBS Standard. All candidates subject to security and identity checks. For further information contact Annie McLoughlin via [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal].