Principal Security Architect

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.The Local Digital team sits within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and supports councils across England to deliver more secure, user-centred, cost-effective local public services through open, collaborative and reusable work.

We are looking for an inspiring leader to join the Local Digital leadership team and work on some of local government’s highest-priority digital challenges to next-generation, secure, local public services.

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 Principal Security Architect, you'll:

• Lead a team of technologists, cyber security advisors and risk managers, both Civil Servant and from third party suppliers to work on projects with high strategic impact
• Work closely with Service Owners to identify priorities and shape important business and architectural decisions to ensure they deliver a quality service by providing high-quality and current specialist technical and cyber security advice
• Provide specialist advice and recommend approaches, interacting with senior stakeholders and influencing a wide range of people across larger teams and communities to support the development of, and execute, security and technical standards, policies and principles
• Support the strategic response to cyber incidents in the local government sector and provide technical policy advice
• Operate at scale by building and maintaining strong relationships with local authorities, vendors and partners such as National Security Secretariat, National Cyber Security Centre, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Local Government Association, techUK and teams within MHCLG
• Demonstrate and share best practice with others and participate in the local government security and technical communities
• Work with the broader Local Digital senior leadership team to deliver a successful Local Digital programme and support teams to deliver a quality service, considering user needs, organisational goals, financial constraints, security, cross-government strategy, commercial considerations and team capabilities

Person specification

As a Principal Security Architect, you'll have:

• Experience working with local government or wider public sector particularly from a digital and/or cyber security perspective
• Experience designing and building technology including the team needed to deliver, and be able to use this to build credibility with others, evaluate proposals and risks, and decide an execution approach
• Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and industry/HMG standards including NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework, API technical and data standard, Cyber Essentials and ISO27001, with a strong understanding of information security principles, concepts, and best practices
• Relevant technical and cyber professional certifications
• Experience engaging with suppliers/vendors both formally and informally
• Experience of working with senior stakeholders, both technical and non-technical, from across a range of organisations to inform decisions, embed a cohesive approach to delivery across partners and deliver policy outcomes
• Experience of managing high performing teams, delegating decision making to the most effective level, and empowering teams to autonomously deliver to the best of their abilities

This role will be aligned to the Principal Security Architect from a Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework perspective

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £66,620, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £19,299 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

Application and Selection

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

Behaviours , Experience , Technical

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.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)

Experience: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: "Delivering at Pace", "Working Together", "Changing and Improving", "Developing Self and Others"
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 6th April 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 27th April 2026 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Group 1 Digital & Data Roles

MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.

MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only.Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.

Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.

Grade 6 Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be between £73,423 – £85,727 (London), £66,620 - £78,907 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale.
• A digital allowance may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating.
• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.

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

National Office: + SC with a commitment to apply forDV clearance

London Office: + SC with a commitment to apply for DV clearance

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