About the job

Job summary

The Information and Data Exchange (INDEX) sits at the heart of the intelligence assessment community, building innovative digital capabilities to ensure our national security assessments can maintain a technological and analytical edge. We are looking for a motivated, dynamic and capable digital leader to lead the INDEX team. 

Job description

About the JIO

The Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) primarily supports the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), the National Security Council (NSC), the Prime Minister and other key decision-makers by providing authoritative, robust all-source intelligence assessment on a vast range of national security matters. The JIO also, through the Professional Head of Intelligence Assessment, supports and leads capability development on behalf MG

You can read more about working for the JIO in the information pack attached at the bottom of this advert.

The Information and Data Exchange (INDEX) is a digital initiative sponsored by the Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO). INDEX is a digital service which enables analysts to quickly find relevant, high quality government reporting (analysis and assessment) and publicly available material (open source). INDEX optimises advanced analytics and cloud technology to enable people working across HMG to quickly identify relevant, high-quality data and information from within and external to government. 

In this role you will lead the team that develops INDEX and delivers the service to customers in HMG. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver a cross-government, digital service and directly deliver digital transformation for the National Security community.  

Role and Responsibilities:

You will be responsible for the development of the INDEX product and the delivery of a quality service. This includes:

• Leading a multi-disciplinary, multi-supplier team to deliver a shared INDEX goal;
• Growing the service across government to new departments, new users and new information and data feeds;
• Further establishing the INDEX brand and reputation as a trusted digital project within the NS community;
• Establishing the INDEX project as a exemplar for data standards and digital best practice, in line with the CDDO service manual.
• Managing INDEX Information & Cyber Security risk.

You will be responsible for the effective management and governance of the INDEX service. This includes:

• Implementing appropriate governance for the INDEX project, including engagement with senior leadership;
• Managing the INDEX budget, securing funding and spend approvals;
• Managing INDEX commercial relationships and contracts;
• Ensuring INDEX compliance with UK GDPR, data protection and legal best practice.

You will be responsible for leadership of the INDEX team. This includes:

• Setting the INDEX team vision and direction;
• Championing innovation and continuous improvement in all aspects of the INDEX team and service;
• Growing the INDEX team, proactively working to attract and retain a diverse range of applicants
• Leading the team to optimise Agile Ways of Working.

You will be part of the Senior Leadership Team of PHIA-Cap in the JIO. This includes

• Being an inclusive and visible leader within PHIA-Caap, an active member of the PHIA-CAP SLT and supporting the wider organisation to deliver JIO priorities.
• Providing support and challenge to other members of the PHIA-Cap SLT, working across teams to provide reliance and to deliver collective priorities.
• Using your experience leading INDEX to support development of other digital capabilities across JIO and the Intelligence Assessment community

Person specification

Skills and Experience Required

We are looking for someone with a strong track record of digital delivery and product management, you will bring inspiring leadership, including the ability to build, motivate and develop high performing, diverse teams. Experience of working with or in the UK intelligence or national security community would be welcome but is not essential. This role is aligned with the Product Manger role on the DDaT framework and we  would welcome applications from those with experience across some or all of the following: (https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/product-manager.html)

• Operational management ( Skill Level- Practitioner): You can design operational processes for the running and maintenance of products or services throughout their product life cycle; redesign operational processes, amend existing processes, and plan and put into operation the stages of a new product or service development; act as the escalation point for operational issues and can fix complex operational issues; overcome operational constraints to deliver a successful product or service; work closely with operational delivery teams in digital, data and technology (DDaT).
• Communicating between the technical and non-technical (Skill Level- Expert): You can mediate between people and mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels; manage stakeholder expectations and moderate discussions about high risk and complexity, even within constrained timescales; speak on behalf of and represent the community to large audiences inside and outside of government.
• Agile working ( Skill Level-Expert): You can coach and lead teams in Agile and Lean practices, determining the right approach for the team to take and evaluating this through the life of a project; think of new and innovative ways of working to achieve the right outcomes; and act as a recognised expert and advocate for the approaches, continuously reflecting and challenging the team.
• Financial Ownership (Skill Level- Practitioner): You can realise the benefit of a product and persuade others that it's the right one to use; integrate a product with other services; ensure that products get used; realise benefits by linking work in progress back to the business case; and build business cases based on user needs.
• Life cycle perspective (Skill Level- Expert): You can successfully lead teams through the full product life cycle; identify which tools and techniques should be used at each stage; develop sustainable support models; and identify and deal with potential risks across or between all stages of the product life cycle.
• 
  User Focus (Skill Level-Expert): You can give direction on which tools or methods to use; demonstrate experience in meeting the needs of users across a variety of channels; bring insight and expertise in how user needs have changed over time to ensure they're met by the business; apply strategic thinking to provide the best service for the end user.

We invest in upskilling our team members to enable them to thrive once they start working with us. As such, if you don’t quite match these desirable skills, don’t let it put you off applying as we will equip the successful candidate with them once you are in post.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £68,790, Cabinet Office contributes £18,573 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, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a name blank CV, 250 word Behavioural Statements and 750 word Personal Statement along with Technical skills. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your Personal Statement must outline your experience relevant to the role, including where you can demonstrate meeting the criteria listed for this position (750 words).

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service and the technical skills. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection Process

Candidates successful at the application stage will be invited to a formal interview focused on the behaviours  and technical skill listed on the vacancy advert, this could either be face to face/online video interview. 

Further details will be shared to candidates if invited to proceed to this stage.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

This post is only open to British Citizens. Some dual nationals may be ineligible. The successful candidate must obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance if not already held. As they will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process.  Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

High-Side Evidence

Community colleagues wishing to submit evidence holding a higher classification are permitted to do so, although are requested to get in touch with the Recruitment Team on R28918 where they will be provided with appropriate instructions for doing so. The recruitment team must ensure that any supporting evidence submitted on alternative systems are redacted to remain compliant with name blind recruitment principles. Applications submitted directly to recruiting managers will not be considered.

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

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

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

Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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.

Existing civil servants can take up the post on loan from their parent department for the duration advertised (permission from their parent department would need to be secured in order to take up the post). Those joining on level transfer will retain their current salary. Staff joining on promotion terms will receive up to a 10% increase of their current basic salary or the pay band minimum whichever is the greater. Staff joining on promotion will adopt the modernised terms and conditions of employment which came into force in 2013. 

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.

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.