Principal Cyber Security Analyst (4385)

Job summary

At Social Security Scotland, security is fundamental to delivering trusted public services. We're looking for an exceptional Principal Cyber Security Analyst to lead our Security Operations capability, helping us defend critical systems, protect sensitive data, and respond to an evolving cyber threat landscape. This is an opportunity to combine strategic leadership with hands-on technical expertise while making a genuine difference to the lives of people across Scotland.

As a senior technical leader within the Security Operations function, you will lead a team of Cyber Security Engineers and Analysts, providing both strategic direction and hands-on technical oversight. You will take ownership of the organisation’s core security tooling estate, driving continuous evolution and optimisation to ensure our capabilities remain effective against an evolving threat landscape.

You will be accountable for the design, implementation, and operation of key security technologies and services across a cloud-first environment, including:

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
• Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR)
• Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR/XDR)
• Network Detection and Response (NDR)
• Vulnerability and Exposure Management
• Security Incident Management and Response
• Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI)
  

This role requires deep technical expertise across modern security operations tooling and architectures, with a strong understanding of how to operate and optimise these capabilities within a complex, cloud-native environment. You will be expected to articulate and influence security strategy, manage technical risk, and ensure the effective implementation of controls to mitigate cyber threats.

If you are passionate about security operations and eager to make a real difference in public services, we invite you to join our talented team and take the next step in your career.

GDD Pay Supplement
This post is part of the Government Digital and Data (GDD) profession and currently attracts a £4,000 annual GDD pay supplement, which is paid monthly. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly.

Job description

• Lead and develop the Security Operations team, establishing governance, standards and performance measures that drive effective threat detection, incident response and continuous improvement, aligned to organisational risk appetite and a cloud-first strategy.
• Own and optimise the organisation's security tooling and detection platforms, ensuring they are effectively integrated, maintained and continuously enhanced to deliver scaleable, automated security operations.
• Build and influence relationships with senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted adviser and key point of contact on all aspects of cyber security.
• Provide expert cyber security leadership and authoritative guidance on the implementation and operation of security controls across the organisation and wider government community.
• Understand user and business needs, identifying emerging technology trends and usage patterns to help shape effective, risk-based security policies and controls.
• Deliver strategic cyber security initiatives that support the Cyber Security Strategy and strengthen the management of business risk, information security and data protection.
• Lead and continuously improve incident management, investigation and response processes, ensuring effective preparation for and response to cyber security incidents.
• Manage the assessment and response to cyber threats, maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, availability and compliance of organisational systems and information.
• Lead security testing activities, overseeing the design, delivery and assessment of exercises and reviews while ensuring compliance with relevant policies, procedures and standards.
• Develop and maintain cyber security policies, standards and guidance that meet business, technology and legal requirements, and reflect industry best practice.

Person specification

Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here.

For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience

1. Experience of leading and developing cyber security teams, with the ability to design, implement and continuously improve Security Operations capabilities, including threat detection, automation, orchestration and the development of security processes and procedures to meet evolving business and threat requirements.

2. Experience of advising on organisational and technical responses to cyber security incidents, with responsibility for developing and driving incident investigation, response policies, processes and procedures.

3. Expert knowledge of system architectures, with the ability to assess and articulate the impact of vulnerabilities on existing and future systems, services and designs.

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing (Level 4)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here

Technical / Professional Skills
This role is aligned to Principal Cyber Security Analyst within the Government Digital and Data Profession.

Please review the following to understand the skill expectations:

These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will not be assessed at application stage.

Benefits

Annual Leave - You will receive 25 days annual leave on joining us. This will increase to 30 days after four full years of service. You will also have 11.5 public and privilege days of leave every year. We also offer Flexi-time. Any extra hours you've worked can be taken as leave when suitable.

A Civil Service Pension - This job comes with a Civil Service pension. New joiners to the Civil Service will join a career average pension scheme as standard. Read more here - www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk.

Healthy work life balance - We can offer the possibility of full-time, part-time, term-time, and job shares. We also encourage flexible working.

Discounts - You can enjoy a vast range of retail, travel and lifestyle discounts through our benefit scheme.

Personal support for you - Our Employee Assistance Programme gives you confidential, independent information and guidance 24/7.

Volunteering special leave - Up to six days paid special leave a year for volunteering. We support our staff to help causes important to them.

Great locations - Our bright and modern offices in the heart of Dundee and Glasgow have been designed with staff in mind. Both locations are ideal for public transport.

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

Expected Timeline (subject to change)
Sift - week commencing 27th July
Interview – week commencing 10th August
Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow

To apply please submit an application form by clicking on the ‘Apply at Advertisers Site’ button.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Resourcing Team
• Email : recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot
• Telephone : 08001577194

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot

Further information

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/working-with-us/help-with-your-application