About the job

Job summary

The Cabinet Office is undergoing a significant Digital Transformation. Over the next three years we aspire to make UK Government digital services the best in the world, meeting or exceeding the benchmark set globally by the best public or private sector standards. For us to meet this ambition we are aiming to further improve the conditions, processes and expertise we have in place to be set up for success. This means we need to go much further and faster and strengthen the delivery of DDaT in government. Did you know Cabinet Office Digital supports over 15,000 users across 40+ departments including Government Digital Service (GDS), Crown Commercial Services (CCS), Estates and Government Property Agency (GPA)?

Job description

The role is accountable for leading the development and delivery of shared cyber security capabilities which secure the Cabinet Office’s digital and IT services against cyber threats, and embedding the Cyber Security capabilities within the
organisation. Key customers include the department’s OFFICIAL IT platforms (including approximately 15,000 end user
devices), and high-profile citizen-facing services such as GOV.UK and Digital Identity.

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.

You will be responsible for:

• Defining and implementing the Cabinet Office’s cyber security
  strategy and roadmap.
• Developing and delivering the department’s shared services which manage cyber security risk (across security architecture, engineering, and operations).
• Understanding and reporting on cyber security risk, by developing and delivering the department’s cyber security governance, risk management and compliance capabilities.
• Leading the response to critical cyber security incidents.
• Building relationships with, influencing, and collaborating with senior leadership across the Cabinet Office (and its ALBs) to improve coverage of shared cyber security capabilities.
• Leading collaboration with other Cabinet Office Digital functions (such as Data and Technology teams) to improve the end-to-end management of the Cabinet Office’s cyber risks through better governance and assurance, and ensuring cyber security is considered and embedded in everything that we do through Security by Design.
• Leading collaboration with the Senior Security Advisor, the Data Protection Officer, Government Security Group, and the National Technical Authorities.
• Representing cyber security within the Cabinet Office at the senior leadership level and on relevant boards and committees.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Significant and demonstrable operational cyber security experience.
• Experience building and leading an enterprise cyber security function and managing diverse and high performing teams.
• In-depth understanding of cyber threats, vulnerabilities and mitigations.
• Excellent communication skills, and a track record of delivering clear and concise written and verbal communications to senior stakeholders on complex issues.
• An ability to form strong working relationships, influence others, and coordinate activities across multiple teams.
• High levels of personal resilience, remaining calm under pressure with the ability to think and act strategically, developing practical, creative and innovative solutions, business models and approaches, and implementing these.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience leading strategic annual and periodic planning

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £90,000, Cabinet Office contributes £25,200 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

How to apply

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact our recruitment advisers at Gatenby Sanderson: Shoaib Haroon, Principal Consultant on M: 07384258626 or E: Shoaib.haroon@gatenbysanderson.com OR Russell Brandon, Associate Researcher on M: 01962 864 124 or E: russell.brandon@gatenbysanderson.com

Find out more by visiting www.join-codigital.co.uk where you can register and apply.

To apply for this post, you will need to provide the following:

• CV
• A supporting statement (of no more than 2 pages) detailing how you can address the Essential Criteria in the Person Specification
• Contact details for two referees. Referees should be people who can comment authoritatively on you as a person and as an employee and must include your current or most recent employer or his/her authorised representative. References will not be contacted until a successful appointment is made.
• A completed diversity monitoring form, this will appear on screen as part of the application process.

This is to be submitted online at the following portal no later than Sunday 17 March 2024 (23:55) - https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe108344

The Cabinet Office is an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Preliminary Interviews with Gatenby Sanderson: w/c Monday 25th March 2024 & w/c Monday 1st April 2024

Assessments: w/c Monday 15th April 2024 & w/c Monday 22nd April 2024

Expected interview date/s – End of w/c Monday 29th April 2024

Interview location - Online


Reasonable adjustments
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 joincodigital@gatenbysanderson.com as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

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 SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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.

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.