At Serco, we support the delivery of critical public services that help protect and strengthen our society. Across defence, justice, immigration, healthcare, and citizen services, our 50,000 people are committed to improving outcomes through innovation, collaboration and deep public sector expertise.
As Head of the UK Resilience Academy (UKRA), you will play a central role in shaping and delivering the future of resilience learning and leadership across the UK. Reporting to the Director of Training and Resilience, you will lead a high-impact, strategically vital partnership with the Cabinet Office to grow the reach, relevance and influence of the UKRA.
This is a senior leadership role with both operational and strategic responsibility. You'll be accountable for the performance of the UKRA contract, and for building the Academy's role at the heart of a complex national and international network of public, private, and academic partners. From shaping product strategy and overseeing programme delivery to strengthening key stakeholder relationships and driving innovation, you will ensure the UKRA remains a vital enabler of national resilience. You will be a visible leader — shaping the direction of the Academy, advocating for its mission, and identifying opportunities for growth and societal impact across the broader resilience landscape.
What you'll need to do the job
- A strong track record of leadership in complex, multi-stakeholder environments — ideally across public service, national security, or resilience sectors.
- Deep experience managing strategic partnerships, including engagement at senior levels within government or across the broader public sector.
- A commercial mindset with the ability to grow revenue, shape services and develop new markets, while maintaining operational and contractual excellence.
- Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills — capable of uniting diverse stakeholders around shared goals and delivering influence at national and international levels.
- Proven ability to lead and inspire teams, manage performance and build a high-engagement, high-performance culture.
- A systems thinker who brings creativity, energy and strategic insight to complex challenges.
- A commitment to innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement in service of whole-of-society resilience outcomes.
What we offer
- A competitive salary
- Performance-related bonus up to 30%
- 10% contributory pension
- Company car or car allowance
- 25 days annual leave
- Private medical insurance
- Serco discounts and benefits
To discover more about our careers in Defence, meet our team, and to find out more about what we offer, please follow this Link. We're also a signatory of the UK Governments Women in Defence Charter, to find out more please click here.
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens, we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.
At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. As a proud Disability Confident Leader and holder of the Silver Inclusive Employer Standard, disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.
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