About the job

Job summary

Organisation Details

The Cabinet Office supports the Prime Minister and ensures the smooth running of government, from developing policy to modernising public services. We welcome talented people from all backgrounds with the skills and commitment to build careers in the Civil Service.

The Cabinet Office’s Purpose is:

• To maintain the integrity of the Union, coordinate the security of the realm and sustain a flourishing democracy.
• To support the design and implementation of HM Government’s policies and the Prime Minister’s priorities.
• To ensure the delivery of the finest public services by attracting and developing the best public servants and improving the efficiency of government.

The work the Cabinet Office delivers is vast and presents opportunities to develop your skills and experience in various critical government agendas.

An organisation of approximately 10,000 employees, the Cabinet Office is a vibrant, modern, and exciting place to work. We attract a diverse workforce that represents the people we serve. Our main offices are in London, but we have staff based around the UK.

At the heart of this are our Cabinet Office values. To deliver our Purpose and help make the Cabinet Office a great place to work, we all commit to: -

• Treating everyone with Respect
• Actively Collaborate
• Build Trust

We pride ourselves on our ambition to be the most inclusive government department within the Civil Service, and we offer a number of staff benefits, including flexible working, to ensure this.

Cabinet Office Security & Resilience Team

The Cabinet Office Security & Resilience Team is the departmental hub for implementing Security policy within the Cabinet Office. Its remit covers providing advice and guidance to Business Units and individuals through to acting as the central focus for wider security policy issues affecting the entire department.

The CO Security & Resilience Team manages the department's overall security posture, provides advice to staff, and responds to security-related incidents operationally. The team also protects our people, sites, and infrastructure from various complex and challenging threats, ranging from protesters to counterintelligence issues.

The Personnel Security team handles all aspects of people-related security in the department. This includes delivering security training, managing complex personnel security issues, handling ongoing incidents and investigations, and acting as the departmental lead for all personnel security-related matters.

Job description

The Role

Reporting to the Cabinet Office Head of Personnel Security, the role of the Personnel Security support is to ensure established resources and processes are used to manage and maintain operational routines to mitigate personnel security incidents. The support also provides efficient and effective administration and assistance to the wider security team to ensure the successful mitigation of security risks.

Your duties and responsibilities:

As a Personnel / Incident Security Support Specialist, your role is pivotal in maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of our Security operations. Your responsibilities include:

First Line Response: As the initial contact point for all Personnel Security inquiries, you will adeptly manage, categorise, and escalate issues received via the group Security inbox to ensure prompt and accurate resolutions.

Security Knowledge: Act as the central resource for diverse security-related questions, providing knowledgeable responses and guidance to internal and external stakeholders.

Training and Development: Lead and execute comprehensive training programs, including the Security Induction course, using in-person and virtual platforms to enhance security awareness across the Cabinet Office.

Overseas Travel Adviser: Offer expert advice on international travel, focusing on safety in hostile environments and representing the organisation's interests, ensuring well-informed and secure overseas engagements.

Insider Risk Network: Proactively collaborate with the Security and Resilience Team to expand and refine our Insider Risk network and enhance internal security measures.

Security Compliance: Ensure adherence to all local security operations, policies, and procedures, maintaining a secure and compliant work environment.

Information and Policy: Efficiently gather, organise, and disseminate vital policies, procedures, and threat information, ensuring comprehensive communication through the Intranet site and established networks.

Government Liaison: Actively engage with the Government Security Group, ensuring cohesive communication campaigns and compliance integration within the Cabinet Office.

Professional Development Advocate: Promote a continuous learning and development culture, fostering an environment where skills and knowledge are constantly enhanced.

Performance Data Analyst: Skilfully processes and consolidates management information, aligning with key performance indicators to support strategic decision-making.

Process Adviser: In collaboration with the CO Vetting team, provide guidance on National Security Vetting arrangements, focusing on nationality and other eligibility criteria, enhancing staff members' understanding and compliance.

Risk Management Collaborator: Work alongside colleagues in the Security Team and external partners to identify and mitigate Physical and Personal Security risks and contribute to developing and disseminating security awareness materials.

Operational Support: Provide reliable support for the team’s operational needs during heightened activity or team absences, ensuring uninterrupted service. Acting as support to the Incident Management team during events, incidents and crisis.  Providing operational support and advice including managing inbox contacts, stakeholder management and developing situations.

Official Correspondence: Efficiently draft responses to Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information requests, and other official correspondence, representing the organisation's position with clarity and accuracy.

Your role is instrumental in ensuring the Cabinet Office remains a secure, informed, and compliant environment, and your contributions will be critical to our ongoing success in security operations.

Person specification

Essential Skills / Experience

• Demonstrated awareness or a strong willingness to learn about the legal and legislative aspects of working in a Security environment, ensuring compliance and informed decision-making.
• Proficient in articulating complex security concepts clearly and solving intricate issues, focusing on maintaining effective security protocols.
• Outstanding organisational skills, capable of managing multiple priorities seamlessly while maintaining high standards in all security processes.
• An understanding or eagerness to learn about Protective Security practices, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining and enhancing security measures.
• Proven ability to work effectively with others to achieve results, showcasing teamwork in a high-stakes security environment.
• A strong commitment to maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality is essential for handling sensitive security information.
• Exhibits a balance of confidence and assertiveness, necessary for effective decision-making and leadership in security matters.
• Skilled in discerning the relative importance of issues, adept at prioritising urgent versus important tasks, and ensuring effective security management.
• Demonstrates mature and grounded confidence when interacting with senior personnel, responds constructively to criticism, and maintains optimism amid challenges.
• Ability to maintain composure and effectiveness under pressure, adapting to rapidly changing security environments.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• A keen understanding of local and broader threats faced by Government entities and their people aids in proactive Security management.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing strong, productive relationships with key stakeholders, fostering trust and collaboration.
• Experience working collaboratively with diverse, cross-functional teams, contributing to cohesive and effective security strategies.
• Proven capability to engage and influence individuals at all levels, building consensus and fostering strong professional relationships.
• A clear sense of responsibility, coupled with a tenacious approach to resolving issues and seeing tasks to completion.
• The ability to autonomously set goals, manage workload, prioritise tasks, and successfully initiate and complete projects.
• Competence in investigating, analysing, and deriving insights from complex and varied data, communicating findings effectively.
• Ability to distil complex messages into clear, concise, and impactful verbal and written communications.
• Flexibility to handle diverse tasks, from managing a unit independently to performing basic operational duties as required.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with an ability to efficiently manage personal tasks.
• An innovative approach to problem-solving, demonstrating resourcefulness and initiative in challenging situations.
• Skills in customer service and a keen commercial awareness are essential for understanding and meeting the needs of our diverse stakeholders.
• A willingness to stay current with technological advancements and social media trends, integrating these tools effectively into security practices.

All staff are expected to work collaboratively as part of a team and to undertake other duties appropriate to their post’s grade and nature.

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

As part of the application candidates will be requested to submit a personal statement of no more than 500 words and 2 separate 250 word behaviour 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, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Selection process

If your application is successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to attend an interview. This may take place virtually or in-person. During the interview, you will be assessed against the following behaviours: Communicating and influencing (lead behaviour), changing and improving, working together and seeing the bigger picture.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – 01/05/24
Expected interview date/s – w/c 13/05/24
Interview location - London or virtual.

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 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

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 or 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

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.

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

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 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.