National Cyber Force - Strategic Lead for Industry Function

Job summary

Established in 2020, the National Cyber Force (NCF) is responsible for operating in and through cyberspace to counter, disrupt, degrade and contest those who would do harm to the UK or its allies, to keep the country safe and to protect and promote the UK's interests at home and abroad. The UK will use cyber operations as part of its diplomatic, economic and military activities.

The NCF is at the heart of this, extending the UK's competitive edge as a responsible, democratic cyber power, by countering threats from terrorists, criminals and states using the internet to operate across borders in order to do harm to the UK and other democratic societies. This may involve countering threats which disrupt the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and services in cyberspace (i.e. supporting cybersecurity), contributing to UK Defence operations, or helping deliver the UK's foreign policy agenda (for example intervening in a humanitarian crisis to protect civilians). In addition to GCHQ and the Ministry of Defence, the Secret Intelligence Service and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory are core partners, bringing cutting edge espionage and research techniques.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is to have an empowered, productive, personally and professionally fulfilled workforce. Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously. We want to enable you to build a successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. We are committed to understanding, respecting, and representing as broad a range of views and backgrounds as we have in UK society. An inclusive culture is critical to our success in the Partnership. We are dedicated to building a world class force by championing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and providing the tools and resources that enable greater collaboration and strengthen team performance.

The Strategic Lead for Industry function will be required to shape the strategic commercial direction for the partnership. Working alongside UKIC colleagues to ensure demand coherence and adherence to good procurement practices.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Strategic Lead for Industry function will be required to shape the strategic commercial direction for the partnership. Working alongside UKIC colleagues to ensure demand coherence and adherence to good procurement practices. This role requires strong leadership and an ability to build long term relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Experience delivering change in a complex environment would be beneficial and a strong awareness of procurement practices in a defence and security environment would be advantageous. The successful candidate will:

Act as strategic and demand coherence lead for commercial requirements across the partnership

Set strategic direction by drafting, in collaboration with UKIC partners, a robust commercial strategy bespoke to the force

Represent the force at wider commercial steering groups and forums to ensure we are demonstrating value for money and a commercially mature approach to all our requirements

Support the Head of the Industry Function to effectively challenge and support requirements at the portfolio build stage

Lead a team of circa 5 personnel at various grades to ensure that the force is being adequately supported with its procurement requirements, and that all procurement activity is conducted in line with the sourcing principles

Ensure adherence to the sourcing principles at working level across the force, by supporting training on the Induction Course and attending relevant upskilling days to bring this knowledge back in house

Support creation and implementation of the commercial maturity matrix that enables wider elements of the force to reach a level of commercial maturity required of them to ensure the whole force is an intelligent customer to industry and commercial partners

Support management of a wider team of contract managers with their requirements before escalating to commercial where appropriate and required to do so

Person specification

Essential: Experience of delivering change in a complex stakeholder environment. Awareness of procurement process is essential; this can be from working in a procurement team or closely alongside one. Ability to coordinate, cohere and align multiple lines of effort to achieve a single aim is required for this role. Candidates will need to demonstrate strong leadership qualities and an ability to deliver multiples lines of effort concurrently with a diverse workforce.

Desirable: Commercial qualifications would be desirable but not essential as this post does not require a commercial delegation. Contract requisitions will be undertaken by commercial officers; this role is to deliver demand coherence and coordination into the commercial stakeholders. Awareness of commercial frameworks and relevant regulations would be advantageous but not essential.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is enhanced developed vetting, further to the DV as listed below.

The post holder must be a UK national. You must hold or be willing to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.

Clearance level required for role is DV plus screening. Checks involved include, but are not limited to:

Successful completion of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard
Completion, by the individual, of a DV Security Questionnaire
A departmental/company records check which will include personal files, staff reports, sick leave returns and security records
A check of both spent and unspent criminal records
A check of credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
A check of Security Service records
A full review of personal finances
A detailed interview conducted by a trained Investigating Officer
Further enquiries, including interviews with referees conducted by a trained Investigating Officer
Checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire
The full review of personal finances will include an assessment of an individual's assets, liabilities, income and expenditure both on an individual basis and taking into account the joint position with a spouse or partner.
Additionally, candidates will need to meet the business validation standard and pass a drug test prior to appointment.

Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more discretely.

While the existence of NCF is not a secret, its people are, and discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or close family. You should also make them aware of the importance of discretion. You should not mention your application on social media or discuss it with anyone else at this stage.

If successful at sift, the interviews will be held week of 7th December. Interviews will be conducted remotely via Teams. Once set, we will not be able to reschedule the dates.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,630, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,854 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).

• National Security payment £2,500
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Due to the nature of the role, significant attendance in the office will be required. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will count towards office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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 and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Please provide a Personal Statement explaining your interest in the role and the relevant experience you bring in no more than 250 words.

At sift, candidates will be assessed against their CV, Personal Statement (250 words maximum) and the following behaviours:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving

At interview, candidates will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Further information:

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.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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 : CSOCPeople-HRGroup@mod.gov.uk
• Email : CSOCPeople-HRGroup@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam5@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)CSOC Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1777kB)