About the job

Job summary

The Government Security Function (GSF) oversees the delivery of protective security across Government. 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 Security 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 fast-paced, dynamic team, with a breadth of stakeholders including in other Government departments, the National Technical Authorities and the Agencies, and to contribute to delivering improved security across Government. 

The Cyber Directorate was formed in September 2022 following an independent review of GSG capability and priorities. We are responsible for delivering the first Government Cyber Security Strategy. Our purpose is to make Government’s critical functions significantly hardened to common attacks by 2025, and all government organisations across the public sector resilient to known vulnerabilities and attack methods no later than 2030. 

GSG’s culture embraces a diverse workforce: we come from all walks of life. GSG values the fact that our different backgrounds, cultures, genders, experiences and ways of working ultimately bring us together as a more effective team. We strive for a collegiate and inclusive working culture that means our voice at every level is heard. Each one of us has a part to play in helping the Government to keep the UK secure. 

GSG also wants to do better at recognising that we have responsibilities outside of work – so that we not only work hard, but we work smart – whether that’s full time, part-time or job sharing, we work flexibly. We promote hybrid working with a combination of time spent in the office and at home, where appropriate.

GSG is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We value and welcome diversity. We aim to develop all our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the Department’s objectives, and to fulfil their own potential on merit. We will not tolerate harassment or other unfair discrimination on grounds of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, age, religion or sexual orientation. We promote and support the diversity of our workforce, promote learning and development, and celebrate our successes.

Job description

Role information

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of the Cyber Directorate. You will play an active and key role within Cyber Private Office and directly support two Deputy Directors in delivering their objectives. As a team, we are the front door to Cyber. Our days are fast paced and we have a unique platform to see the delivery of the Cyber Directorates work - you will be privy to key areas such as how we shape cyber policy and respond to cyber attacks. 

As Executive Assistant you will manage the organisation and planning of two Deputy Directors time. You will manage their diary, engaging regularly with colleagues from across Cyber, GSG and with external stakeholders to deconflict and prioritise boards and engagements. You will become confident in communicating with colleagues across a wide range of departments and external organisations. 

You will have ownership of key responsibilities as well as working collaboratively with Private Office colleagues to deliver our combined objectives. Previous experience in building positive working relationships, managing priorities and maintaining attention to detail at pace would be beneficial. 

As a small and supportive Private Office, you will work with the Chief of Staff and colleagues to provide high quality support to leadership. You will support best practice initiatives, working with wider Cyber teams to ensure accurate information management. You will ensure the Deputy Directors are fully prepared ahead of key board meetings and Ministerial briefings. You will have opportunities to lead on projects, playing a crucial role in the Directorates objectives and culture charter. 

Within the Private Office, we support one another to ensure resilience - you will provide coverage during absences, which in turn will give you opportunities to build your knowledge of different Cyber teams and stakeholders. 

We know it can take time to learn a new role and/or new department. You don’t need to be an expert in all-things-Cyber to work in our team - we’ll tailor your learning and development to you and how best to deliver in your current and future roles. 

As part of our L&D package, we are committed to supporting you to undertake opportunities across the Directorate and wider, to develop the skills and knowledge you’re interested in to help you progress in a career within Cyber and/or wider Government. Our roles offer the platform to diverse objectives including shaping the national cyber strategy, driving cyber resilience, managing cyber incidents and/or developing pioneering policies to tackle emerging threats. 

Key areas of responsibility

Cyber Private Office is a busy but small team so there are plenty of opportunities for additional portfolio work depending on our current priorities/requirements and your preferences/experiences. We work to improve processes and ways of working as well as delivering and supporting communications, recruitment and new initiatives including wellbeing and EDI across the Directorate. As Executive Assistant you will be responsible for (but not limited to):

• Managing the diary and inbox of the Cyber Deputy Directors (DDs). 
• Being the front door to Deputy Directors: managing responses/comms with staff, emails/calls, organising meetings/workshops and helping manage the DDs time through learning how to best prioritise incoming requests.
• Supporting on events/engagements: leading on logistics including travel for away days, external events and conferences. 
• Ensuring DDs are well briefed and prepared: collating daily briefing packs and meeting/board papers. 
• Supporting Chief of Staff with DD communications. 
• Supporting or leading on wider Directorate/Private Office projects.

Person specification

We welcome applications from anyone with transferable skills and experience. Please do not rule yourself out if you have not worked in Cyber or Private Office before: passion to learn, adapt and work well as a team under pressure is more important.

Essential skills and experience: 

• Strong communication skills with an ability to build and maintain working relationships. 
• Sound judgement and initiative - i.e. taking lead on improving process and/or ways of working. 
• Good IT skills and/or a motivation to learn new IT skills. 
• Motivation to help and support colleagues, work through problems and be flexible to changing priorities/requirements.  

Desirable skills and experience: 

• Working with and/or in Private Office is beneficial but please do not rule yourself out. 

Level of Security Clearance required (must be SC minimum):

• SC

• 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 £27,750, Cabinet Office contributes £7,492 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

This vacancy is using success profiles and will assess your behaviours and experience, taking into account your motivation for the role. 

Please complete a CV and a personal statement (no more than 500 words) which will be assessed against the essential and desired skills in the person specification and should set out how you meet these requirements.

We’ll assess you against the following behaviours at application:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
  

Selection process

If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift may be done on the lead behaviour: Working Together.

We’ll assess you against the following behaviours at interview: 

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c Monday 18th March
Expected interview date/s – w/c Monday 2nd and Monday 9th April
Interview location - remote via Google Meet

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.

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.

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 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.

 
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.

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.

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.