Location:



The role will be based at New Scotland Yard, but you will be expected to work flexibly at multiple locations across the MPS estate as required at least 3 days per week (60% of working time).




Overview:



The Met is the UK's largest police force, dedicated to safeguarding over 9 million people across 620 square miles in London's territory. London is one of the world's great global cities - a centre of culture, commerce and international influence, defined by its diversity, scale and capacity for continual reinvention. Home to over nine million people, the capital's dynamism and complexity create both opportunity and challenge. Policing a city of this stature demands adaptability, foresight and an unwavering commitment to public service.



The Metropolitan Police Service carries this responsibility on behalf of London. Operating at a scale unmatched elsewhere in the UK, the Met safeguards the capital, underpins national resilience and responds to threats that often extend far beyond the capital's borders. The breadth and intensity of this mission require professionalism, sound judgement and operational excellence of the highest order.



The Met is in a period of pivotal transformation. We face significant pressures: shrinking resources and a shrinking workforce, rising demand and increasingly complex policing challenges. We remain resolutely committed to improving the service we provide to Londoners, strengthening public confidence and modernising our approach. Our transformation is grounded in our core values of Integrity, Courage, Accountability, Respect and Empathy, and guided by the New Met for London strategy as we enter its second phase.



Policing London today requires not only operational capability, but strategic clarity, long-range thinking and the ability to invest wisely in the capabilities that will keep the public safe for years to come.




Role overview:



The Chief Business Services Officer (CBSO) will serve as a full member of Management Board and is a vital member of the executive leadership team, accountable for shaping and executing a comprehensive strategy for operational and business services excellence.



This role oversees a broad spectrum of functions, from People (HR and Learning & Development) to Property Services, Operational Support and Business Services. The CBSO plays a critical role in fostering workforce development, optimising operational processes, and driving commercial success from a complex outsourced supplier base, ensuring alignment with the organisation's strategic objectives



This role provides strategic direction and oversight of all business services, enabling frontline policing by creating a resilient, efficient, and high-performing directorate that meets current needs and anticipates future challenges.




To succeed, you will bring the following:

• Extensive experience providing visible leadership within a large-scale organisation, with a proven ability to build mutually supportive, motivated, and high-performing teams.


• Experience managing the full range of functions for which the Business Services function is responsible.


• In-depth understanding of people, learning, estates, operational support services within large, complex organisations.


• Experience of delivering shared services, outsourced service management and large scale operational and logistical services.


• Knowledge of governance and accountability frameworks in the public sector and regulated environments.


• Awareness of operational excellence principles, including process optimisation, vendor and third-party management, and business services outsourcing and delivery.


• In-depth understanding of human capital management, including talent acquisition, employee engagement, organisational design, and diversity & inclusion strategies.

You will have:

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities, with experience engaging interdisciplinary teams and C-suite peers supporting whole-organisation alignment.


• Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills, with political acumen to influence at the highest levels while providing constructive challenge and navigating sensitive discussions


• Highly developed relationship-building skills for engaging senior and board-level stakeholders as well as being a confident decision maker.


• Education to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent senior leadership experience in a large, complex organisation.

The Met is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications form widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority groups and females.



As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations. If you consider yourself to have access, workplace or reasonable adjustments requirements that need to be accommodated, we ask you to include this information in the application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence and will not affect any recruitment decisions.



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Recruitment Timetable



Closing date

23.55 on Monday 2nd November 2026



Longlist Meeting

Monday 9th November 2026



Preliminary interviews with GatenbySanderson

from w/c 9 - w/c 16 November 2026



Shortlist Meeting

Monday 23rd November 2026



Online psychometric assessments

w/c 23 November 2026



People's Panel

Monday 30 November 2026



Informal chats for selected FP candidates

Thursday 3rd December 2026



Final Panel Interviews

Monday 7th December and Thursday 10th December 2026




How to Apply



The MPS has engaged an executive search agency, GatenbySanderson, to support with this recruitment campaign.



To apply for this role, you will need to complete your application no later than
23.55 on 2nd November 2026. Note that we cannot provide extensions to this date and time.



As part of selection process, you will be asked to submit:

• CV - setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements.


• Personal statement - explaining how you consider your personal skills, knowledge and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

Diversity information will be collated by the executive search agency.



Background checks will be completed on shortlisted candidates; they will be asked to complete additional information form and confirm their personal details. This will be requested via agency.



The Metropolitan Police Service is working with executive search partner Gatenby Sanderson on this appointment. To apply, or for a confidential discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained executive search partner:



Duncan Collins at GatenbySanderson by e-mail: duncan.collins@gatenbysanderson.com or by phone: 07586 705475