About the job

Job summary

The Government Security Function (GSF) oversees the delivery of protective security across Government. Our Mission is to enable the Government to protect citizens and provide vital public services by understanding and managing security risks. We set the strategy and standards for Government Security, monitor departmental security performance, manage pan-government security incidents, support the delivery of key security capabilities and lead the Government Security Profession.

The Government Security Group (GSG) is the centre of the Function, based within the Cabinet Office.  GSG is transforming the Government’s approach to protective security to ensure it is fit to meet the challenges of the digital age. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic environment, with a breadth of stakeholders including other Government departments, the National Technical Authorities and the Agencies, and to contribute to delivering improved security across Government.

We offer:

• Fascinating, challenging and worthwhile work;
• An inclusive, supportive and collaborative culture where your views will be valued;
• Work-based coaching and mentoring opportunities;
• An environment with flexible and smarter working options.

Job description

The DSHC informs our decision making about which departments we put through our quality assurance testing arrangements. We analyse the data gathered, and use our findings to provide reporting to Civil Service ,leaders and insights that support decision-making at the heart of government.

This is an exciting opportunity and time to become the Assistant Head of Assurance Delivery and lead the Security Assurance Delivery team which sits within the Directorate of Security Capabilities in GSG and delivers assurance services and analysis to benefit organisations across government.  We operate the Departmental Security Health Check (DSHC), an annual assurance assessment to support Accounting Officers in oversight of their organisations' security and provide an authoritative pan-government baseline for Cabinet Office Ministers, and Government Security Board. 

We run the cross government Assurance Working Engagement Group to ensure that the central assurance framework is customer-focused and complementary to departmental activities. 

The role of Assistant Head of Assurance Delivery will suit a person with a project planning, operational delivery background or experience of military, prison or police delivery. You will work closely with security leaders across Government to improve Government Security.

You will coordinate, manage and develop the planning and delivery of a small team that gathers assurance compliance information from government organisations, and lead them through a programme of transformational change in their services.

The role expects you to work closely with thematic leads in Government Security Group, and security leaders across HM Government, to ensure that processes, and products meet stakeholder expectations.

You will develop relationships with organisations with a cross-cutting role on risk management and assurance for government security to draw on their information and insights.

You will build awareness across a wider portfolio of government security activity to be able to represent GSG externally and deputise for peers and line management. 

Responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for:

● Leadership - you will lead and line manage a small team of staff to drive forward a shared goal.  You will need to provide support, direction, and ensure the team is an inclusive and effective unit in which all team members are empowered and thrive. The team also knits closely with the Automation and Analysis team, and the Quality Assurance team.

● Engagement - you will build our relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government departments, national technical authorities and arms-length bodies.  You will coordinate and develop the cross-government Assurance User Group as a forum to ensure that our services meet the requirements of government organisations and to promote best practice in government security assurance.

● Delivery - you will oversee the delivery of an improved annual Departmental Security Health Check (DSHC) which supports Accounting Officers across government, as well as the Government Chief Security Officer and Government Security Board. The DSHC is a substantial cross-government survey, culminating in bespoke reports to government organisations.

● Transformation and Innovation - you will oversee the delivery of a 3-year improvement plan to the assurance process. You will need to collaborate across organisational boundaries, understand and manage the impact of change on organisations, and confidently articulate complex security issues.  You will need to
highlight transformational risks and opportunities for innovation to senior leaders to empower them to decide the future strategic direction of our assurance activities.

● Insight and Analysis - you will continue to build up the analytical capability of the team (both the skills and tools needed), so as to maximise the impact and efficiency of our reporting and insights.  This will require both working with the Automation and Analysis team, policy and strategy teams, and government departments to embed good practice and ensure the information we collect is relevant to their information requirements.  The insights your team provides will influence decision-making at the top of government security. 

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• A positive leader who can support and empower others through change.
• Understand project planning principles and use them for delivery.
• Interest in and enthusiasm for working in security.
• Ability to work with initiative, accurately and calmly in a changeable environment.
• Enjoy problem solving and creative innovation to address complex issues.
• Good interpersonal skills to manage complex internal and external relationships and partnerships.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of security compliance, assurance or policy will be beneficial.
• Experience of consultancy work, or past experience of being a consultant would be beneficial. (Would also suit those with operational delivery experience)
• Understanding of Risk, Audit and Assurance.
• Project management qualifications.

Level of Security Clearance required:

• DV clearance is required to take up post owing to the nature of the role.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application process

To apply please submit a CV and statement of suitability no longer than 1000 words outlining your suitability for the role, and how you meet the person specification.  

You will also be assessed on behaviours at application stage.

At interview you will be assessed against the behaviours listed above.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 15th or 22nd July
Expected interview date/s – w/c 29th July or 5th August
Interview location - virtual (tbc)

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the ‘Assistance required’ 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.

Further information

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

Please note that this role requires DV clearance in order to take up the post.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.