Cyber Secure by Design Lead

Job summary

The MOD's digital teams ensure we remain among the most technologically advanced Armed Forces in the world. We develop and lead in cutting-edge data science, automation, and cyber security solutions to protect the UK and its interests, at home and abroad.

Our mission also goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving innovation that impacts lives across the globe.

▶ Watch to find out more about what we do.

Job description

The Cyber Service Delivery and Practice Management Team is at the forefront of building and maintaining cutting-edge cyber security services, assessing specialist Information and Communication Technology (ICT), providing assurance, support and advice across the organisation.

As Cyber Advisory Services Secure by Design Lead, you’ll lead a diverse team of cyber security professionals, delivering a generational change programme in Secure by Design, providing effective advice and guidance on cyber security policy, governance and technology; using your experience and expertise to help shape the team’s development, ensuring that it is equipped to tackle any challenges.

You’ll lead on key aspects of strategic development and process improvement, and the growth and publication of high-quality analytical reports.

Responsibilities

• Manage a programme of activities to continue delivery of Secure by Design, as a major change programme across Defence.

• Enable an efficient and effective team through the facilitation of timely, impartial, and consistent assurance, assessment and advisory services, across the Department.

• Contribute to the future development of business processes and portfolios, aligned and prioritised to deliver strategic objectives.

• Build and strengthen relationships with other Cyber Security bodies and business functions across Defence.

• Lead and line-manage a team.

• Deliver comprehensive end to end task management, from enquiry through to completion.

• Play a leading role in delivering communications and awareness activities relating to key cyber security initiatives and services, including to senior boards and stakeholders.

• Provide contingency support for security queries, collating and communicating necessary policies, procedures and guidance to deliver a ‘front door’ and service desk.

Person specification

We would expect to see some previous experience in cyber security risk, information assurance, project / portfolio management, within a digital services environment.

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

1. Describe your working experience of practice or portfolio management, including business development and reporting activities, in the context of a digital environment. (personal statement)

2. Tell us about your experience of working in a cyber security assurance or risk environment, aligning with organisational strategy/priorities. (personal statement)

3. Demonstrate your ability to build and maintain strong working relationships at multiple levels, within an organisation.

4. Describe your experience of leading and/or line managing a team within an organisation.

5. Demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences, using a variety of methods.

You’ll need the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, to foster improved understanding of cyber security policy, governance, technology and implementation and experience of prioritising and managing a complex portfolio of varied tasks. You’ll also be able to quickly assess information, producing and presenting credible recommendations.

You’ll have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to represent, accurately and clearly, complex technical, procedural and governance issues to a variety of audiences, including senior stakeholders. You’ll also need experience or knowledge of leading, supporting, coaching and mentoring colleagues.

Additional information

This post is eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £11,400 per annum. Eligibility for this allowance will be assessed at interview against 4 core technical skills only and reviewed annually in line with MOD policy.

If not held already, opportunity will be provided to gain the following when in post:

• Certificate in Information Security Management Principles (CISMP)

This position can be based at either RAF Wyton, Huntingdon, Main Building, London or MOD Corsham, Wiltshire. Work location will be agreed once the successful candidate has been selected.

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (the permanent duty station, which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Dependent on the business need, there may be a requirement to travel to meetings within the UK (or potentially occasional overseas visits).

If not already held, successful candidates will be required to undergo DV clearance.

Please note, this position is open to sole UK nationals only.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Information risk assessment and risk management
• Applied security capability
• Protective security
• Threat understanding

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role with a dedicated minimum of 5 days per year
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (by 1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of five years’ service
• Ability to roll up to 10 days annual leave per year
• In addition to eight public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• A Civil Service pension
• Parental and Adoption Leave
• Discounts on a range of services within and external to the civil service – Defence Discount Service, Civil Service societies for Sports and Leisure, Healthcare, Insurance, Motoring, Company discounts with Virgin, Vodafone, and Microsoft Office.
• In year rewards and ‘thank you’ schemes such as vouchers and gift cards
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Find out more here - Discovermybenefits

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.

Defence operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing.

Defence is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way it conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts are/will be subject to review and potential changes, as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout the transformation programme, Defence is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with personnel and Trade Unions.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At application, candidates will be required to provide:

• A CV detailing your job history and previous skills and experience. Review the essential criteria above and evidence how you meet them with clear and relevant examples.
• A personal statement (no more than 500 words). Applicants should use their personal statement to demonstrate how their skills, knowledge and experience align with essential criteria 1 & 2, as detailed in the Person Specification.

The sift will be conducted on your CV and personal statement. To progress beyond the sift stage, applicants must achieve a minimum score of 4 on every essential criterion. This means that even if your overall average score is 4 or higher, you will not progress if you score below 4 on any individual essential criterion.

Interviews

We’ll assess you against these behaviours and technical skills during the interview process:

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

• Information risk assessment and risk management
• Applied security capability
• Protective security
• Threat understanding

The Government Security Profession Career Framework and the Cyber Security Advisory - Risk Manager professional role, used in this vacancy, can be found at: Government Security Profession career framework (publishing.service.gov.uk)

In the event of a tied score at interview, the order of merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed Behaviours and Technical Skills, in the order listed above.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : NAD Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : alexander.penny102@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : NAD-TalentAcquisition@mod.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact the department via email: NAD-Recruitment-Complaints@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)