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Job summary

The MOD's digital teams ensure we remain among the most technologically advanced Armed Forces in the world. We develop and lead in cutting-edge data science, automation, and cybersecurity solutions to protect the UK and its interests, at home and abroad. Our mission also goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving innovation that impacts lives across the globe.

Watch our video to see what we do!

37 Hours Weekly.

Job description

This role places cyber security at the heart of UK Defence. This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior cyber leadership role with real national impact. You’ll shape and lead cyber risk strategy for key digital capabilities, influencing outcomes across Defence while focusing on delivery within your specific remit. Working at the centre of decision-making, you’ll engage senior leaders, embed secure-by-design principles, and strengthen the resilience of systems that support the UK’s security today and into the future.

Working under the National Armaments Digital & Data Chief Information Security Officer (NAD D&D CISO) mandate, you’ll drive accountability for secure capability delivery in support of the Defence Cyber Resilience Strategy. This is a high-impact role where you’ll shape cyber direction, influence senior leaders, and manage risk across a complex organisation, acting as a trusted advisor to enable innovation while strengthening resilience and cyber culture.

What you’ll be doing

• Set and lead cyber risk strategy across a complex digital environment, driving secure-by-design across programmes and services.
• Establish and embed effective governance, risk and compliance frameworks, ensuring alignment with Defence policy and evolving threats.
• Provide assurance on audit, compliance and reporting, while ensuring consistent application of core security principles.
• Use data and tooling to strengthen cyber insight and assess risk across NAD D&D capabilities, informing the wider Defence picture.
• Act as a key cyber security lead within the wider Defence community, influencing stakeholders and building strong partnerships.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing cyber workforce, promoting a strong security culture across the organisation.

You’ll lead cyber incident response and risk management, ensuring effective oversight of high-risk systems and driving continuous improvement in mitigation and resilience. The role is responsible for holding delivery programmes to account for the development, testing, and maintenance of robust incident response plans, working closely with Defence incident reporting teams. It plays a key part in strengthening organisational readiness by assuring, challenging, and enhancing response capabilities across NAD-D&D.

More information on the role can be found on The Government Security Profession Career Framework: Government Security Profession career framework.

Person specification

We’re seeking a confident, credible cyber leader with a proven track record of strengthening security in complex, high-stakes environments. You’ll bring deep experience in Cyber and Information Security, with the ability to design and embed effective risk management frameworks that drive continuous improvement. You’ll excel at engaging and influencing senior audiences, translating complex technical risks into clear, actionable business insight, and shaping strategic decisions on risk posture, investment and compliance. You’ll champion a positive cyber culture, helping the organisation meet its obligations while delivering a secure, high-quality service.

With strong analytical thinking and sound judgement, you’ll bring clarity to risk, set direction and drive plans through to impact. You’ll also lead responses to incidents, audits and remediation activity, ensuring robust plans are in place and effectively delivered.

When submitting your CV, please highlight your career history and experience relevant to this role. Additionally, refer to the "Things You Need to Know" section of the advert and provide a personal statement (max. 1250 words) demonstrating the essential criteria listed below

• Describe your experience of managing cyber security governance, risk and compliance aspects within an organisation.
• Provide an example of when you have managed a Cyber Security incident, the approach used and the outcome.
• Describe your experience of leading, managing and developing a team and of resources not owned by the organisation.

Want to learn more? Join our Candidate Brief

Get a real insight into the role by joining an informal session with senior members of the team, where they will share what we’re looking for and give you the opportunity to ask questions. The session will take place on the date listed below and to register, please email ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk with the CSJ reference number, your name and email address, and we’ll send you a Microsoft Teams invite.

• 27/07/26 at 5pm

Please note:

• This role is open to UK sole nationals only.
• Developed Vetting (DV) clearance is required. If you do not already hold this, you will need to obtain it if appointed to the role.
• There will be regular travel to other sites (approximately 2–4 times per month), in addition to attendance at the MOD Main Building.
• At the time you will be assessed under the relevant criteria to ensure you meet the Digital Skills Allowance eligibility. Allowance values are determined by capability level and your substantive grade: Level 1 (Developing) £6,000, Level 2 (Proficient) £12,000and Level 3 (Accomplished) £18,000. London locations may attract an allowance of up to £3,300 per annum.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Information Risk Assessment and Risk Management
• Applied Security Capability
• Protective Security
• Threat Understanding

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £72,840, Ministry of Defence contributes £21,101 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).

• Flexible working options- we understand the importance of adapting work to your life.
• Inclusion and diversity- our culture celebrates uniqueness and encourages collaboration of diverse thought.
• Generous annual leave- starting with 25 days and growing to 30 after just 5 years.
• Pension contribution: 28.97%
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to volunteer for military or emergency service reserve commitments.
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms.
• You can read more here: Civil Service Employee Benefits , Civil Service Careers

Professional Framework Statement

NA-D&D operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. NA-D&D reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing. Within NA D&D each profession is led by a Professional Head of Community who will lead professional development and support the Continuous Professional Development path for their group.

Learning & Development

We have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional skills development
• Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning
• Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by MOD

Hybrid Working Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this 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. Some roles will involve regular travel within the UK to various Defence and partner sites. In addition, certain positions will require office attendance at least 3 days per week. Please note that there will be regular travel to other sites (approximately 2–4 times per month), in addition to attendance at the MOD Main Building.

Defence is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Defence Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with personnel and Trade Unions.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply, please upload your CV in the relevant section on the Civil Service Jobs application section, ensuring it clearly demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. You must also submit a personal statement (maximum 1,250 words) providing evidence of how you meet these criteria.

Please find a link to our video, which gives you helpful tips and guidance, on the CS Jobs application process: How to apply for roles on Civil Service Jobs

If you are invited for an interview, it will be held face-to-face atMOD Main Building, London, SW1A 2HB, where you will be assessed against the behaviours and technical skills listed below. You will also be asked to prepare and deliver a 5-minute (maximum) presentation on a topic related to the role. Further details will be provided prior to interview.

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical Skills:

• Information Risk Assessment and Risk Management
• Applied Security Capability
• Protective Security
• Threat Understanding

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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 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 : Kay Flack
• Email : ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@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

DD_Campaign Pack_2026_O Opens in new window (pdf, 1889kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)Terms and Conditions of Service Opens in new window (docx, 24kB)