About the job

Job summary

The Government Security Function (GSF) oversees the delivery of protective security across Government. Our Mission is to enable 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 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 within GSG is responsible for delivering the Government Cyber Security Strategy, to protect public services and improve cyber resilience across government. The team covers all aspects of defensive cyber security for Government including strategy, policy, assurance, red teaming, capability development, and the operational deliverables of incident, risk and vulnerability management. If you’re passionate about protecting public services, you enjoy working in a dynamic environment with supportive colleagues, and you have a grounding in cyber security, this is the team for you.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a new cross-government security function; the Government Cyber Coordination Centre (GC3). You will be responsible for continuously improving GC3 operations and supporting the Head of GC3 in building a dynamic, inclusive and high performing function. You will be part of  a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team, working with partners across government to protect public services from cyber threats and defend as one. 

The GC3 is a joint initiative sponsored by the Government Security Group (GSG), National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) and its initial focus is on providing support to ministerial departments, non-ministerial departments and arm's length bodies (ALBs). Whilst the role is GSG based, as the successful incumbent you will work as part of a team made up of colleagues from multiple departments and organisations. 

The GC3 engages departments in coordinating resilience response to incidents and vulnerabilities, drawing technical expertise, strategic direction and links to wider operational and national incident management processes from the NCSC and CDDO. The GC3 acts as a force multiplier for existing cross-government incident management processes, departmental operational activities and resilience work. It will work to amplify impact and broadcast messaging, ensuring that all government bodies are able to proactively drive cyber security activity, respond effectively to threats and incidents and deliver value for money on investment in cyber security. 

As the GC3 is a new function, this role will support the stand up and continuous improvement of core business functions, including prioritisation and coordination of tasking, recruiting and onboarding embedded departmental staff, measuring performance and impact, managing data assets and access, creating opportunities for continuous learning and sharing of expertise, and coordinating governance. The role will be part of the GC3 team who are working on the actual operational day to day cyber deliverables, and will work closely with a dedicated transformation delivery team, which contains business analysts, business change experts, project managers and cyber experts, who are helping working on designing and delivering the GC3. You will provide a coordination and oversight function to interactions with the delivery team and to incoming commissions to the business and ensure incoming commissions and tasks have been allocated and responded to. 

An understanding of, and interest in, cyber security would be really helpful to the role but you don’t need to be an expert. You’ll have experience of working in multidisciplinary teams and improving processes, as well as some experience of managing and reporting on project work or a business. You’ll have excellent communication skills and be good at working collaboratively across organisational boundaries. Experience of managing contracted work and financial reporting would be useful.

Key areas of responsibility 

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Lead the planning, prioritisation and coordination of tasks across the GC3 functions in support of the Head of GC3
• Establish and continuously improve business processes for the ongoing work of the GC3. Including:  highlight report, risk register, finances, dependency log, and lessons learned log.
• Champion GC3 culture and values, and ensure that team behaviours and working practices align to these
• Develop a continuous improvement function, working with the programme delivery team to ensure requirements for improvement projects are aligned. 
• Optimise and manage governance for the function, including acting as Secretariat for boards and ensuring that key decisions and risks are tracked and addressed
• Lead measurement of performance and functional impact, including developing management information to support business operations and effective running of the function
• Recruit and onboard departmental secondees, supporting new joiners in contributing to the GC3 culture and operational activity
• Engage cross-government stakeholders to drive collaboration with GC3 and maximise cross-government impact
• Act as key coordination point with delivery team for transformation tasks, requests for information and development of artefacts such as statements of work
• Deputy Head GC3 for business decisions, departmental outreach, governance boards, and delegation.  
• Lead on commercial, legal and compliance Provide contract oversight for GC3’s commercial activities 

Our cyber posts attract a skills based DDAT pay lead.  This post is subject to a DDAT skills assessed non pensionable pay lead. In certain circumstances exceptional candidates may be eligible for a higher starting salary. 

Person specification

Essential skills and experience:

• Entry level understanding of cyber security
• Experience of working with diverse stakeholders and managing tasks across teams
• Experience of process improvement and/ or business transformation

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience of working with cyber security or digital teams
• Able to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders

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 £58,800, Cabinet Office contributes £15,876 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

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV demonstrating your qualifications and job history as well as four 250 word behavioural statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process 

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience and the behaviours that are contained within this advert. 

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 4th March
Expected interview date/s – w/c 18th March
Interview location - either in person in London or remote via Google meet if requested 

Further information

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

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

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

Please note that this role requires DV clearance, which would normally need 10 years UK residency in the past 10 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

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 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. 

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.

Offers above the band minimum are subject to our assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated at interview. Salaries over the band minimum will be paid as a non-pensionable allowance.

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

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.