Dr Robert Arnott was appointed a Director in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in February 2023. Before this, he was Director of Strategy, Social Mobility and Disadvantage in the Department for Education from July 2019, having previously worked at the Home Office for nineteen years, most recently as strategy director. During the 1990s, Robert was a neurophysiology PhD student, followed by postdoctoral fellowships.

At Education, Robert led on cross-organisational strategy (early years through to higher education), and on social policy related to children's behaviour, special educational needs and the Social Mobility Commission. 

Outside work, he was chairman of trustees of the Cardinal Hume Centre, a local charity in Westminster focused on improving life chances amongst vulnerable people, including young people who are homeless.