About the job

Job summary

About the Homeland Security Group (HSG)

HSG provides people with the opportunity to work in challenging but interesting areas of work and deliver in stretching roles. You will learn a lot through your day-to-day work, but we also provide excellent wider learning and development opportunities.

The Homeland Security Group (HSG) unites capabilities and expertise to deliver better outcomes from the UK’s response to the most serious domestic threats – Terrorism, Cyber, State Threats and Economic Crime. The group will strengthen coordination and collective focus across a range of growing and overlapping threats, whilst remaining consistent with existing strategies. Working with partners, HSG will foster more transparent and sustainable collaboration between national security, law enforcement and other relevant communities to enhance capabilities and leverage our response to threats. 

As part of the Home Office, the role of the Homeland Security Group is to:

• Support the Home Secretary to develop and implement strategies to keep our people and interests safe and secure
• Build His Majestics Government (HMG) capabilities to reduce national security risk
• Reduce volume of, and harm from, economic crime, particularly for the most vulnerable
• Work in partnership with public and private sectors in the UK and overseas to deliver better outcomes
• Ensure legitimate economic growth and prosperity

Job description

About the Directorate for State Threats and Cyber

This role is within the Directorate for State Threats and Cyber (DSTC). The Directorate was set up in September 2021, with a focus on protecting the UK against two of the most significant, and growing, homeland security threats – threats from foreign states and cyber actors. As part of DSTC, you will be at the heart of the Government’s efforts to tackle these critical issues.

We are keen to ensure the directorate is a diverse, inclusive, and supportive place to work, where all staff can fulfil their potential. As part of a rapidly growing team, this is an exciting opportunity to be part of setting up a new organisation and helping establish a positive culture.

Economic Security is a growing area of focus for HMG, and the Home Office. The post sits within a dedicated thematic team, and focusses on working across the department, the emergency services sector, and wider HMG to manage triaging and casework under the National Security and Investment Act (NSI). There may also be opportunities to contribute to wider policy development and implementation.

HSG is responsible for some of the most high-profile work across the Home Office. Therefore, there may be occasions when staff need to work longer hours to meet demand, but those occasions should be rare. We provide fully flexible working opportunities and are committed to making them work. Many people (including Senior Civil Servants) work flexible or compressed hours.

Due to the nature of the role, you will normally be required to attend the office around 80% of the time or as required to meet business needs

Due to the busy nature of the role, the post holder will be required to work full-time working pattern. Candidates should take this into consideration before submitting their application.

Successful candidates will generally be expected to commit to serving a minimum of 24 months in post.

Person specification

The successful candidate will need to be motivated and organised. Core duties include:

• Managing the day-to-day administration of NSI triage processes for the Home Office, including working across the department and arms-length bodies.
• Managing casework requirements across a range of active economic security cases with Home Office equities.
• Analysis of individual cases to determine possible risks and whether further action is required.
• Tracking and reporting metrics on Home Office economic security work to inform seniors.
• Supporting the wider economic security team on policy and strategy work as required.
• Regular use of IT systems is required, including Microsoft programs such as Word and Excel. 

Essential Criteria

• Excellent organisational skills, with an ability to prioritise workloads effectively, keep meticulous records and be able to manage a range of activities simultaneously.
• Ability to build and maintain a network of contacts across the department and wider community.
• Strong communication skills, with an ability to communicate complex issues clearly and concisely to a high standard both verbally and in writing.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience of working on State Threats, or other national security / foreign policy issues, or a demonstrable interest in these areas.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (Max Word Limit:750).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please note your Personal Statement should be aligned to the Essential Criteria as set out in the job advertisement. 

In addition candidates will be required to provide evidence of the behaviours - Making Effective Decisions and Delivering at Pace.

CVs will not be scored. 

The sift will be held on the Personal Statement and the Behaviours examples.

In an event where a high volume of applications is received, an initial sift will take place using the lead behaviour - Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be either progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will be a blended approach of strength-based questions and behaviour-based questions. 

Sift and Interview dates

The sift will take place week commencing 13th May 2024

Interviews will take place week commencing 10th June 2024

Interviews will take place remotely. Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview.

Further Information

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

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

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying of examples/answers from internet sources. If any is detected the application will be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates. Providing false or misleading would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process.

DV clearance or a willingness to undergo DV clearance before appointment is an essential requirement for this role. 

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

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.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to  bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home 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

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is 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 HOrecruitment.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

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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.