Senior Insider Risk Strategy Manager

Job summary

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department, we operate on a scale that is almost unmatched anywhere in Europe and most people in Britain come into contact with us at some point in their lives.

Personnel Security & Insider Threat Monitoring Group (PSITMG)

PSITMG is a nationwide, multidisciplinary team working together to deliver our strategic objective: to proactively monitor, analyse and investigate insider risks and threats. In doing so, we directly support DWP Security’s mission to safeguard an effective national welfare system and embed government security in ways that protect people, services and wider society.

We sit within the Cyber Resilience Centre in DWP’s Security and Data Protection Directorate and bring together a range of specialist functions, including personnel security maturity, national security vetting, overseas assurance, leak investigations, internal abuse monitoring and Private Office Security partnering. As a single integrated function, we provide the insight, capability and operational resilience needed to protect the Department from insider activity and strengthen its overall personnel security posture.

Job description

The Insider Risk Strategy Team

The Insider Risk Strategy Team plays a central role in strengthening DWP’s ability to prevent, detect and manage insider risk. The team works across the organisation to build personnel security maturity, improving compliance with standards, strengthening governance, and driving improvements that help the Department operate securely and confidently. Our work brings together capability development, proactive risk management and close collaboration with operational and corporate teams to ensure that personnel security is embedded throughout the employee lifecycle.

There are two Senior Insider Risk Strategy Manager roles which report to the Head of insider Risk Strategy Team. The Senior Insider Risk Strategy Manager may lead/manage a team of Civil Servants and 3rd party contract resources. They undertake a range of activities that support and develop activities undertaken across PSITMG.

These roles play a central part in strengthening DWP’s personnel security maturity and enhancing the Department’s ability to prevent, detect and manage insider risk. As practitioners within PSITMG, you will help shape and drive a coherent personnel security programme, supporting effective governance, assurance and new initiatives that align with NPSA and cross‑government best practice.

Success in the role relies on building trusted relationships across DWP and the wider security community, ensuring that personnel security activity is well‑connected, understood and consistently applied. You will help the group operate as a unified, resilient and capable function by supporting the development of a collaborative team culture, encouraging shared learning and enabling staff to work flexibly across disciplines.

Key Responsibilities include:

Programme & Assurance

• Lead and coordinate DWP’s Personnel Security Maturity Programme to enhance insider risk management, applying programme and project approaches to improve service delivery and embed lasting improvements.
• Drive and coordinate the delivery of Role-Based Risk Assessments (RBRA), using a structured, data-driven approach to identify high-trust roles and implement proportionate, evidence-based insider risk controls in partnership with stakeholders
• Oversee PSITMG’s assurance agenda, integrating key assessments and audit recommendations into a coordinated delivery approach.

Governance & Reporting

• Lead secretariat activity for personnel security and insider risk governance boards, ensuring they are well‑planned, well‑run and decision‑focused, with clear actions that support programme delivery.
• Ensure governance structures follow personnel security and insider risk best practice, including establishing and supporting new groups where required.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and help develop a community of professionals with shared objectives, strengthening collaboration and consistency across DWP.
• Oversee the coordination and refinement of insider risk management information for senior leaders, enabling informed decision‑making across the Department

People & Capability

• Support career pathway development and oversee training and learning activity to ensure staff have clear progression routes and appropriate opportunities to build expertise.
• Help build a positive, collaborative group culture by encouraging open information‑sharing, coordinating activities that bring the team together, and turning feedback (including People Survey results) into meaningful improvements that strengthen how we work.
• Support an environment that encourages innovation, continuous learning and staff wellbeing, contributing to the development of people and process capabilities and the effective use of technology to improve PSITMG service delivery.

Business Operations

• Manage and coordinate Information Asset Management and related asset requirements for PSITMG, ensuring compliance with organisational and security standards.
• Support the development of data‑use strategies and Data Protection Impact Assessments that underpin service improvements and strengthen PSITMG’s investigative and monitoring capabilities.
• Manage and develop business cases, financial requests and procurement activity for PSITMG, ensuring strong governance, compliance and accurate reporting.
• Lead PSITMG’s end‑to‑end resourcing activity by coordinating recruitment campaigns and maintaining the group’s resource baseline and associated activities

Resilience & Surge Support

• Build resilience across PSITMG by developing cross‑functional knowledge and providing surge support during peaks in demand, staff absence or vacancies.
• Support priority activities and contribute to wider security tasks as needed such as vetting, investigations and Private Office security business partnering when required.

Person specification

EssentialCriteria

• Knowledge or experience of personnel security and insider risk management best practice.
• Experience of working with security teams and external stakeholders
• Previous experience in a Strategy/Delivery role with the ability to demonstrate methods, techniques and tools for planning, organising, resourcing, directing, co-ordinating and monitoring ongoing in a project or non-project environment
• Experience of building strong working relationships with senior stakeholders
• Experience of analysing plans/data/documents and challenging information and opinions where needed
• Experience of reviewing complex requirements/documents and making sound evidence based accurate decisions
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills

Qualifications are desirable but not essential because DWP has a comprehensive Security Profession learning and accreditation offer and prioritises investment in building skills and experience as part of our wider employee value proposition.

The successful applicant must have or be willing to work towards:

• Professional Personnel Security Accreditation – Register of Security Engineers and Specialists (RSES)
• NIST Cyber Security Professional: Foundation
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Certification
• BCS Certificate in Information Security Management Principles (CISMP) or equivalent Security qualification
• CERT Insider Threat Program Manager Certificate
• LDR433: Managing Human Risk SANS Institute
• NPSA Foundation Course
• An appropriate Business Management or Project Management qualification

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving

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

• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,447, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £12,876 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

DWP Employee Benefits: Discover what we offer

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

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, Strengths and Experience.

Stage 1: Application

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV & personal statement (750 words). All applications will be assessed and sifted based on the essential criteria in the responsibilities section of the advert, using the information you provide in your completed application form.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Applications must include:

1. A completed Personal Details application form.
2. A curriculum vitae* with education, professional qualifications and full employment history, giving details of key achievements relevant to the skills and experience outlined in this job description.
3. A personal statement. In no more than 750 words, please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria, outlined in the 'Person Specification' section of the job advert.
4. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Changing and Improving. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift.

Stage 2 – Interview Information

The final stage of the selection process will consist of a structured interview with three elements:

1. Presentation

You will be asked to prepare in advance and deliver a 10-minute presentation, supported by visual materials, on the following topic:

“If you were designing a ‘gold standard’ personnel security and insider risk approach for DWP, what would it include? What challenges would you expect in a large organisation, and how would you address them?”

This will be followed by a short Q&A discussion with the panel.

Behaviour-Based Questions

You will be assessed against the following Civil Service behaviours:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

1. Strength-Based Questions

You will also be asked a series of strength-based questions. These are designed to explore what you enjoy doing, how you naturally approach situations, and where you are most likely to perform at your best.

Interviews will be conducted in person, at a DWP hub where this role can be based - dates and locations will be confirmed.

Only candidates that have been successful at the previous stage will be invited to attend an interview.

Further Information​

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.

Important

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Any move to DWP 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 the Childcare Choices Website.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

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

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 : Steve Welch
• Email : steve.welch@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

_DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 17kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window (pdf, 635kB)