Senior Cyber Security Adviser

Job summary

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 are seeking a Senior Cyber Security Adviser to lead our direct support to councils and drive meaningful reduction in cyber risk. In this role, you will work hands‑on with councils to advise on and support the delivery of improvement plans, identify where MHCLG can add the most value, and determine when different forms of intervention may be needed to best support risk reduction across the sector.

Job description

As a Cyber Security Adviser you'll:

• Provide effective line management and leadership to a team of cyber security advisers (both Civil Servant and from third party suppliers), setting priorities, supporting their development, and ensuring high‑quality, consistent delivery for councils.
• Lead direct support to councils, offering advice, regular check‑ins and monitoring progress on cyber improvement activities, while identifying where additional support may be needed to help councils improve in line with the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) for Local Government.
• Work closely with risk managers to understand the most significant risks across the sector and shape how MHCLG can guide councils to focus on and improve these priority areas.
• Collaborate with the Senior Community Manager to scale support effectively, ensuring insights from one‑to‑one engagement benefit the wider sector.
• Facilitate and lead sector‑wide teach‑ins, briefings and knowledge‑sharing sessions, helping councils build capability, understand emerging risks and adopt good practice aligned with the CAF for Local Government.
• Act as a subject matter expert, clearly defining what “good” looks like and supporting councils to implement best‑practice approaches through advice and guidance.
• Stay up to date with guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre, Government Cyber Unit and other authoritative sources, translating national expectations into practical advice that councils can adopt.

Person specification

As a Cyber Security Adviser you'll have:

• Experience working in a cyber security role within a complex organisation or a multi-stakeholder environment (local government, national government, critical infrastructure, wider public sector, or similar).
• Experience assessing cyber security risks, including understanding threats, vulnerabilities and controls, and offering clear, proportionate advice on mitigation.
• Practical experience applying recognised frameworks such as the NCSC’s Cyber Assessment Framework or ISO 27001, and translating them into achievable actions for delivery teams.
• Experience reviewing organisational cyber maturity, analysing gaps and shaping realistic improvement plans.
• A good understanding of common enterprise technologies (including cloud, networks, identify and access management) and how to evaluate their security.
• The ability to communicate complex or technical cyber issues clearly to non‑technical stakeholders, including senior leaders, and experience facilitating workshops or briefings to support adoption of new approaches or guidance.
• Experience leading, coaching or managing teams, setting priorities and ensuring high quality delivery.
• Relevant security certifications such as CISSP, CISM, CISMP or ISO 27001 Lead Auditor/Implementer, and a commitment to ongoing professional development and staying current with emerging threats and good practice

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,167, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £16,271 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

We are MHCLG

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.

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

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

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 sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Lead sift question (Experience):Tell us about your experience communicating complex cyber security advice and guidance to different audiences (e.g. executives, delivery teams, partners).

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, Changing and Improving
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

• Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.

Candidates will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place from 30th March 2026. with interview dates to follow.

Interviews 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 7 Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be between £61,745 – £72,112 (London), £56,167 – £66,581 (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.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• 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:DV

London Office: DV

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

Security

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

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