About the job

Job summary

In an increasingly complex world and in the face of growing threats to our information and OFFICIAL networks, the leadership of the Civil Service expects more work to be done at this level in future. They also require the next generation of capabilities for that to be developed in concert by Civil government, Defence and Law Enforcement, and coordinated by GSG to drive maximum utility, interoperability, efficiency and effectiveness, and of course the appropriate level of security.

Role information

This exciting role will lead the work of the Cabinet Office in coordinating and enabling delivery of HMG’s next generation of working at SECRET capabilities, building on but not being constrained by today’s foundational services. This is a leadership role with real strategic import as we seek to protect UK information assets and capabilities from capable hostile actors and enhance UK prosperity by enabling the UK’s cyber industry to blossom. There will also be an international dimension, benchmarking and aligning our approaches with our FIVE EYES partners and other allies.

The ideal candidate will have presence, drive, empathy and determination. It is not a technical role per se, but the successful candidate should be comfortable drawing on expert advice, and have a keen interest in how technology can enable business outcomes. They will lead a small team within GSG to develop and deliver the required strategy and programme of work, and be supported by experts, including the UK’s national technical authorities. They will collaborate extensively with colleagues elsewhere within Cabinet Office and across Defence, National Security, Civil Government and Law Enforcement. Indeed, critical to success will be the post holder’s ability to create close working relationships across departments and the wider stakeholder network to ensure our overall approach to future working at SECRET accurately reflects the need and is consistently agreed and adopted.

You will enjoy significant responsibility, broad visibility and the opportunity for accelerated professional development. There will be a requirement to travel across HMG, and other sites in the UK when undertaking this role.

Job description

Key responsibilities

• Leading future working at SECRET across GSG, working closely with counterparts across the government and wider national security communities to ensure our overall approach to SECRET working is well-informed and coherent.
• Taking forward the recommendations agreed by the Civil Service Board for HMG to make more use of SECRET capabilities and to coordinate the development of the next generation of these.
• Directing a G7 engagement lead in identifying, analysing and securing agreement across departments on what is needed in this space, how to deliver and fund it.
• Leading and overseeing engagement with departments and organisations to ensure alignment of proposed solutions, standards and policies, and adoption of a coherent approach for future working at SECRET.
• Collaborating with technologists in NCSC, CDDO and industry to identify technological solutions to the user requirements.
• Producing a Cabinet Office Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) bid to fund enabling capability delivery.
• Collaborating with other bidding departments to ensure that bid is part of a set of coordinated CSR bids across all relevant departments.
• Creating, gaining agreement to and delivering a plan for the implementation of the new strategy.
• Ensuring effective communications are produced to inform all stakeholder communities, including ministers and senior officials, and delivering supporting briefings as required.
• Holding the line across departmental stakeholders to ensure their full support for, and collaboration in, this common enterprise.
• Maintaining a governance regime, ensuring blockers are identified, seniors are well sighted and issues are escalated to ensure prompt delivery.
• Drafting submissions and making recommendations to senior stakeholders, including within GSG, the wider Cabinet Office, senior boards (such as the Civil Service Board (CSB) and Government Security Steering Group (GSSG)).
• Owning engagement with commercial, legal and finance functions and HMT.
• Sourcing additional resources as needed to support work streams.
• Line management of one G7, developing and motivating staff to ensure everyone achieves their potential.

Person specification

Person specification

• Highly motivated self-starter and strong team player. Flexible.
• Inclusive, collaborative, inquisitive, willing to challenge and be challenged.
• Diplomatic, with strong people and engagement skills, able to inspire and influence. Must be able to influence at senior levels. Comfortable representing your line manager (Deputy Director) and Director when required. Effective delegation skills.
• High attention to detail with the ability to juggle competing priorities and deliver multiple tasks within competing timelines.
• Adept at picking up issues quickly and bringing together analysis and different views/inputs to develop a consensus.
• Highly proactive, able to problem-solve and see tasks through to completion.
• Able to work effectively as part of a fast-paced team where priorities can change.
• Able to run large cross-cutting pieces of work, demonstrating high levels of organisation and ability to work through others.

Essential skills and experience:

• An experienced generalist with both policy formulation and delivery experience.
• Effective team-builder, including virtual teams.
• Proven ability to inspire, motivate and lead, with an ability to develop effective and collaborative working relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, including internal teams and in other government departments.
• Excellent written English and oral communication skills; able to adapt your communication to different audiences. Can lead meetings and present to a high standard.
• Strong analytical skills.
• While this role is not targeted at expert technologies, an interest and an ability to work with technologists is key.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience of business change and transformation.
• Experience of finance, procurement and line management.
• Experience of, and interest in, cyber and information technology.
• An understanding of information security and the security profession across Government.

Level of Security Clearance required: Candidates must have or be willing to undergo SC clearance as a minimum before taking up post, with a willingness to undergo DV in due course once in post.

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 £64,700, Cabinet Office contributes £17,469 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, Strengths and Experience.

Application process
Applications from candidates should include a CV and personal statement (up to 750 words).  Please incorporate examples in your personal statement to illustrate your experience, as specified in the Person Specification section. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Working Together. 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview. 

Selection process
A sift will take place with candidates who meet the required standard for each application aspect specified above going forward to interview. 

At the interview stage, candidates will be assessed against the Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Working Together and Managing a Quality Services, and Strengths.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 24th June 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 8th July 2024
Interview location - virtual

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

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

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

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

Equality and Diversity

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.

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.

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 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.