Job Description
Head of Government Preparation
Location: Westminster (primarily office-based, with some ability to work remotely)
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Contract: Full-time
About the Centre for Government Reform
The Centre for Government Reform (the Centre) is a newly established organisation dedicated to preparing the next generation of serious leaders for roles in government: prospective ministers, MPs, Peers, CEOs/Permanent Secretaries and Directors General of government departments, heads of quangos, NEDs and senior Special Advisors.
We believe the country requires radical reform, especially of the machinery of the state. Delivering such reform will require an influx of experienced leaders, including from business, science, technology and other professional fields, ready to step into positions of public responsibility with an unambiguous reform mandate.
The Centre will act both as a training institute and as a conduit for talent, working in close partnership with aligned political parties. We will provide a route for high-calibre individuals who wish to enter government or public service, and equip them with the practical preparation necessary to succeed once elected/appointed.
The Role: Head of Government Preparation
The Head of Government Preparation will be responsible for designing and delivering the Centre’s training programmes in the ways of government, public administration and government reform. This is a critical role with responsibility for teaching, curriculum design, trainer recruitment and management.
You will personally deliver training modules to senior candidates, ensuring content is practical, rigorous, engaging and grounded in real-world government experience. You will also need to identify and bring on board experienced people who can act as external trainers.
This role combines teaching, programme leadership, curriculum development and team management.
Key Responsibilities
1. Deliver the Centre’s Training Programmes
* Personally deliver training sessions to candidates on the workings of government, public administration and reform, to provide a firm preparation for government.
* Ensure training is accessible, practically relevant, intellectually serious and aligned with the Centre’s mission.
* Tailor delivery to senior, experienced audiences, adapting content to their backgrounds and expertise.
* Line manage other in-house trainers and oversee external trainers, guest lecturers and consultants brought in to deliver specialist content.
2. Curriculum Development & Lesson Planning
* Lead on the design and development of the Centre’s overall training curriculum.
* Construct individual modules, including learning objectives, teaching materials, case studies and reading lists.
* Work closely with the Senior Researcher and other team members to ensure all training materials are aligned with the evolving public conversation, emerging priorities of aligned political parties and the Centre’s guiding principles.
3. Pipeline Management
* Work with the CEO and others to assess candidate suitability and readiness for training to ensure the overall quality of each cohort.
* Support the Head of Recruitment in identifying and selecting high-calibre individuals for training and ensuring a steady flow of participants into the Centre’s programmes.
* Support the Head of Recruitment in maintaining ongoing relationships with all individuals who undergo the training programmes to build an experienced and committed alumni network.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
* Deep knowledge of how government works: ministerial roles, departmental structures, parliamentary procedure and policy delivery, ideally from first-hand experience as an ex-official, SpAd or legislator.
* Clear alignment with the Centre’s guiding principles.
Skills & Attributes
* Exceptional communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage senior professionals confidently.
* Outstanding curriculum development and instructional design capability.
* Ability to evaluate and select high-calibre candidates for training programmes.
* A thorough familiarity with AI, and readiness to use it competently to research and develop preparation plans.
Desirable
* Experience working in Westminster, Whitehall, think tanks, leadership training, consultancy or academic institutions.
* Experience delivering training, teaching or professional development programmes, ideally related to government, public policy, political training or public administration.
* Proven ability to design detailed training modules and lesson plans for senior professional audiences.
* An existing network within Westminster’s political, media or think tank circles.
How to Apply
Please submit:
* CV
* Covering Letter (max 2 pages) explaining your suitability, experience and alignment with the Centre’s guiding principles
Send to: enquiries@govtreform.com
Closing Date: 10 May 2026
* Please note applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so you are encouraged to apply early.