About the job

Job summary

We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Are you looking for the next step in your career that is both exciting and rewarding?

Are you looking to move into cyber and National Security? Can you bring fresh ideas and use your creativity to deliver strong outcomes?

Do you have experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver strategy?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Job description

The Cyber Team in the Transport Security Directorate (TSD) is looking for a dynamic and strategic thinker to lead on cyber risks to UK rail and road. This is an exciting opportunity to become a subject matter expert and play a pivotal role in how the sector responds to new and emerging cyber threats.

DfT’s TSD leads on national security matters, ranging from state threats and cyber security to science and innovation. Within TSD, the National Security Division (NSD) sits at the centre of the department’s work to mitigate current and emerging threats. The Cyber Team sits within NSD and is responsible for identifying, understanding and mitigating cyber threats and vulnerabilities across the sector.

As the rail and road cyber lead, you will coordinate across policy and technical teams in DfT and government to understand and mitigate cyber risks to the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and Operators of Essential Services (OES). You will become a subject matter expert on cyber security and resilience issues facing the sector, using this to identify risks and design mitigations. This will be an outward-facing role, supporting industry to collaborate on cyber risks. You will work closely with policy and operational partners across DfT, wider government and intelligence partners to deliver policy which directly contributes to the cyber resilience of the UK’s road and rail industry.

We are looking for an individual to join us and help shape the future of the cyber team. You will preferably have an interest in cyber and have the ability to make decisions and tackle issues with confidence.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Being the main point of contact for road and rail stakeholders on cyber strategy delivery, briefings and wider queries relating to your projects.
• Acting as a “cyber champion” across the department, bringing cyber security considerations to new policy areas.
• Collaborating and coordinating with a wide range of stakeholders across HMG and industry, using strong communication skills to successfully influence and drive forward performance.
• Lead 1 x HEO, working closely with wider teams in DfT on cyber risks and strategy. You will demonstrate leadership and act as a mentor for your team, and support an inclusive and collaborative environment. You will report to the Head of Cyber Policy and Incident Management. 
• You will be an active and visible member of NSD and the directorate corporate work strands.
• Be an active part of DfT’s cyber incident response cohort. 

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

About you:

You will be a creative individual who has the confidence to make key decision to support the directorate. 

We are looking for an individual who has a willingness to be flexible and has the ability to adapt to the changing demands of the role, while providing direction to your colleagues. You will be someone who naturally enjoys working collaboratively with different business areas and likes the challenge of influencing others to achieve business outcomes. You can build rapport quickly with both internal and external stakeholders which enables you to build solid working relationships.

Additional Information:

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. 

You will be expected to work flexibly and adapt to changing environments and priorities across the team, wider Division and Directorate. You will be part of the Department’s response to cyber incidents. This may include out of hours working on occasion but we make every effort to allow for your personal circumstances.

You will have the opportunity to travel to other DfT offices, should you wish to do so.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance. 

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.

https://careers.dft.gov.uk/dftc/ 

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.

When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within your CV and Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following: 

• Experience of working on strategy or new policy developments.
• Strong written and verbal briefing skills and the ability to highlight key points, while communicating this clearly to a wide range of audiences.
• Working with both internal and external stakeholders to balance views and gain consensus.

Please fully utilise the 750-word count when completing your personal statement.

The sift is due to take place from Thursday 22nd February 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held from Wednesday 6th March 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• An Interview
• A presentation

This interview will be conducted online via MS Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.

Reasonable Adjustments 

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, DfT is committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.  

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.  

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

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.