A department head might have it (9)

I believe the answer is:

adeptness

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'might have it' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'a department head' is the wordplay.
'department' becomes 'dept'.
'head' becomes 'ness' (ness is a headland).
'a'+'dept'+'ness'='ADEPTNESS'

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(Other definitions for adeptness that I've seen before include "complete skill" , "Deftness, adroitness" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.

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