Job sharing Deputy Directors of Counter Terrorism named in Timewise Power List
GCHQ’s Deputy Directors for Counter Terrorism have been named in this year’s Timewise Power List, which identifies those challenging perceptions about reduced hours working and pioneering flexible working.
As job-sharing, working mothers, Emily and Vicky are passionate about flexible working. Between them they have over 30 years’ experience in national security and intelligence which they use to deliver insights that support military operations, enable the government to respond to shifting geo-politics and ultimately reduce the terrorism threat in the UK. They achieve all this while working a part-time job share of 28 hours per week. This working pattern was negotiated while one helped look after the other’s child during an assessment day for the role, one of the first jobshares in an operational intelligence position at this level. Its success has enabled GCHQ to model top-level flexible working to the workforce, setting the example of what’s possible.
They’ve told us what it’s like sharing such responsibility:
“We’re two mothers sharing a role of such importance to keep the country safe. We hope others will see the success of this jobshare and be inspired to pursue a career in national security and demonstrates how organisations can benefit from two sets of talent more effectively to tackle some of the most complex and challenging threats our country faces.”
Work-life balance is important to us at GCHQ. We provide many flexible working arrangements and part-time opportunities to help fit work around personal lives.
