About the job

Job summary

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe.  We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity and partnerships to identify, analyse and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks and espionage.  At GCHQ you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork. 

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is the UK Government’s lead authority on cyber security. The organisation is at the heart of the Government’s cyber security strategy and has the aim of making the UK the safest place to live and work online.    

Technology and transformation are at the forefront of everything we do. The Executive Support role offers a huge variety of work and a great opportunity to understand and support NCSC’s mission. 

This role helps to foster a productive, effective and inclusive work environment, you’ll be at the heart of our mission, supporting high-value activities that keep the country safe. As part of a collaborative team you’ll ensure the smooth functioning of the executive office and support day-to-day activities.  Working closely with colleagues to support the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or Deputy Director’s (DD) you’ll often be the first point of contact as you schedule meetings,  troubleshoot, provide meeting support prioritize and redirect enquiries.  Always ensuring your executive’s time is spent on high-value activities to achieve delivery objectives. 

This role brings plenty of new opportunities and challenges every day, from providing support when preparing for a senior meeting with Ministers, to working with teams to track and meet key deadlines on strategy and planning, and much more. There is scope to shape the role to suit your development and whatever your professional goals, we’ll work with you to build the skills you need to excel at your role and throughout your career.  

We’re looking for talented people for three incredible job opportunities within the Executive function, supporting the NCSC’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and two Deputy Director’s within Resilience and Future Technology (RFT).    

Job description

• Pro-actively manage Director/CTO/Deputy CTO calendar and inbox, filtering out less important material, actioning or delegating as appropriate. 
• Director/CTO/Deputy CTO diary management and prioritisation of tasks, managing actions and workflow, planning the day ahead.
• Oversight of production of meeting packs and briefings.
• Support to key meetings (drawing up agendas, taking minutes, tracking actions).
• Assisting in the planning and organisation of leadership workshops, offsites, events and visits etc.
• Acting as first point of contact for Director/DD when unavailable, ensuring efficient communication within the directorate and wider department and customers.      

Person specification

We’re looking for people who have a proactive approach, self-motivated individuals with an aptitude to learn and grow. Flexibility, initiative, and resilience are key.  

You’ll need to demonstrate good judgement and the ability to prioritise at pace. You’ll work with senior leaders, and you’re the kind of person who is approachable and friendly with a passion for sharing knowledge no matter whether it’s a customer or colleague. You’ll thrive building professional relationships internally and externally, often with senior stakeholders, across the intelligence community, Whitehall, the private sector and internationally.  You’re comfortable communicating with lots of different audiences, both verbally and in writing. Experience of Cyber Security is not essential. The successful candidate will need to develop a broad understanding of the NCSC and our work. 

Main responsibilities in these roles are centered around supporting the Senior Leadership Team. That will be through a range of different activities, including:  

• Managing correspondence.  
• Prioritising and tracking tasks and actions, ensuring deadlines are met.  
• Managing senior level internal and external stakeholders.  

The successful applicants will need to have:  

• Excellent organisational skills.  
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.  
• An ability to work with all levels of staff and be able to collaborate and influence.  
• An ability to work under pressure and make decisions on behalf of the director's availability, prioritising and ensuring the best use of their time. 
• Confidence to work autonomously, self-motivated and deliver to schedule. 
• Able to take minutes; produce reports and monitor actions. 
• An ability to understand key business objectives and priorities and keep track of delivery. 

GCHQ Competencies 

The NCSC will assess you against competencies used by the UK Intelligence Community. These competencies are based closely on the Civil Service Behaviours. The Level 2 competencies you’re assessed against are: 

• Communicating and Influencing (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Communicating and Influencing) 
• Working Collaboratively (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Working Together) 
• Leading Inclusively (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Leadership) 
• Delivering Outcomes (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Delivering at Pace) 
• Providing Customer Value (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Managing a Quality Service) 

Further information on Civil Service Behaviours 

Benefits

At NCSC and GCHQ, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment that’s designed to encourage open minds and attitudes.  As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we are committed to helping you fulfil your potential.  With comprehensive training and development opportunities, tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we will enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities. 

You’ll receive a starting salary of £34,663.  

For roles based in London, you’ll receive an additional £6,250 London Allowance.  

Other benefits: 

• 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays 
• An environment with flexible working options 
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme. 
• Interest-free season ticket loan 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations) 
• Paid parental and adoption leave. 
• Excellent pension scheme - Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27% 

Equal Opportunities 

At GCHQ diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. 

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website: 

Disability Confident 

GCHQ are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme.  This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.  Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role.  This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are: 

• Demonstrate the ability to communicate with a wide range of people, both verbal and written.  
• Demonstrate the ability to prepare/brief the SLT ahead of meetings, take minutes; produce reports and monitor actions. 
• Demonstrate the ability to understand key business objectives and priorities and keep track of delivery on behalf of the SLT.   

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order: 

• Online Application
• Application sift
• Interview
• If successful, you’ll receive a conditional offer of employment. 

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer. 

Before You Apply 

To work at GCHQ, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here. 

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here. 

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage. 

The role is based in London or Cheltenham, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs. 

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those with diverse working patterns and arrangements, and those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce. Please talk to us about anything to help you consider applying. Although this role offers flexible working some business needs will occasionally dictate working hours. 

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member. 

The closing date for this role is: 06/03/2024 at 2355hrs 

Right to Withdraw Statement:  

Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

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.