Cyber Policy Adviser

Job summary

We are MHCLG

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time. We have over 3,500 staff who are based in 20 offices across the UK.

We’re looking for a talented policy professional to join our team, working to increase the cyber resilience of local government. The Local Digital team has been working with local government since 2018 to increase the cyber resilience of local government and enable and embed digital transformation within councils. We are working towards achieving the ambitions as set out in the Government Cyber Security Strategy and Government Cyber Action Plan.

As Cyber Policy Adviser, you will be responsible for leading elements of work looking to improve the cyber health of the local government sector. This could include looking at what more we can do to encourage the adoption and implementation of the Cyber Assessment Framework for local government (https://www.localdigital.gov.uk/cyber/cyber-assessment-framework-for-local-government/). The post-holder will work in a high-profile policy area with a dynamic multi-disciplinary team, delivering work that is in direct support of the government’s national security priorities.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

Job description

As a Cyber Policy Adviser, you'll:

• Lead on elements of MHCLG’s cyber policy to increase the cyber resilience of the local government sector. This role sits within a multidisciplinary team so the postholder would be required to lead on providing the ‘policy voice’ within workstreams, taking ownership of actions that would support the wider team in progressing work and delivery of the cyber programme
• Work with the cyber policy team to ensure buy-in of senior stakeholders, including Ministers, representing the programme of work across central government and the local government sector
• Work collaboratively with central government departments, sector stakeholders and councils
• Work on scoping out policy options to support the implementation of the Government Cyber Action Plan(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-cyber-action-plan), using information gathered from the sector. This could include shaping user research and developing advice in response to emerging issues: assessing evidence, consulting experts and stakeholders, proactively formulating options for consideration
• Provide high quality advice to Ministers and senior officials through verbal and written briefings, being able to describe complex and technical matters in a clear and concise manner
• Keep up to date with developments across the policy area: building your own understanding of local government and cyber security trends
• Work collaboratively with the wider Local Digital policy team on cross-cutting policy work as and when needed. This is not a technical role, and you don’t need a cyber security background, but we’ll expect you to demonstrate an interest in cyber resilience and local government and a motivation to learn

Person specification

As a Cyber Policy Adviser, you'll have:

• Evidence of strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Strong collaboration and stakeholder management skills
• Experience in providing high quality verbal and written briefings for senior leaders on complex policy issues
• An interest in and enthusiasm for learning about cyber security, cyber threats, local government and the legislative and policy context

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,444, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £13,744 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours , Strengths

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Stage 1: Sift (Behaviours)

• Behaviour: Seeing The Big Picture (Lead Behaviour)
• Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
• Behaviour: Leadership

There is a 250-word limit per question.

When writing your application, remember:

• the assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially
• do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers
• if talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

If you run into any technical problems when applying through Be Applied (for example, trouble logging in or submitting your application), their support team can help. Please contact them at hello@beapplied.com.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: "Seeing The Big Picture", "Leadership", "Communicating and Influencing", "Making Effective Decisions" *
• Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.

*We will also be conducting a written exercise at interview stage to test how candidates can summarise complex issues and communicate these to non-technical audiences.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 11th May 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 1st June 2026 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here..

• Applying
• Sifting
• Interview
• Interview Results & Feedback
• Reserve List
• Near Miss
• Civil Service Grades
• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

• Security Clearance Requirements
• Civil Service Nationality Requirements
• Right to Work
• Artificial Intelligence
• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
• CV Declaration
• Sponsorships
• Salary and Grade
• Existing Civil Servants
• Conflict of Interest
• Location and Flexible Working
• Fixed Term Contracts
• Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
• Appeals and Complaints
• Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

London Office: + SC With a commitment to apply for DV

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Digital Data Jobs
• Email : Digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk

Further information

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - Recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:
•a procedural irregularity
•an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy
•exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.
It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at Recruitment@communities.gov.uk.
If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk