About the job

Job summary

This role will provide you with an opportunity to be at the forefront in shaping national security policy and responding to a growing threat. You will be a part of a tight-knit taskforce setting up the National Security Unit for Procurement, a unit to investigate national security risk amongst companies operating in the UK. You’ll need to be high-energy, creative and a problem-solver, willing to work across the security community to help set up a unit from scratch. This will be exciting and fast-paced, with significant parliamentary and ministerial interest.  

Economic Security is an increasingly important issue within the national security landscape. The growth in the threat has necessitated levers and mitigations to prevent the UK Government from being compromised through commercial channels. The Procurement Bill will provide us with unprecedented levers to intervene where companies pose a national security threat. In order to use these levers, the national security community will need to assess the risk associated with certain companies in order to arrive at decisions about whether this risk is intolerable and requires intervention. 

The Government Security Group is creating a unit to coordinate the cross-government response to this national security risk, starting with a small number of planning and policy professionals, and building to a unit handling caseload.

Job description

This is a multi-faceted and stretching Grade 7 role, dedicated to the organisational set up of the new Unit as well as future supplier casework, offering insight into the UK’s prosperity and security objectives. The post holder will:

• Oversee the progress of high-profile national security cases through the new system and ensure robust recommendations are made to senior management and ministers;
• Undertake case analysis based on complex national security, economic and diplomatic assessments;
• Lead on departmental negotiations and manage relationships with key stakeholders, including working towards agreement, brokering key recommendations and ensuring that the Unit works effectively with others; 
• Lead a team of SEOs and HEOs and build the Unit’s presence in Glasgow; 
• Oversee the core Unit protocols, working closely with the legal team, and will build an impactful, high-performing, inclusive, and welcoming team, able to urgently respond to new priorities.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience:

• Ability to work independently - being a proactive self-starter keen on solving problems and thinking independently is essential
• Strong communication, engagement and influencing skills
• Strong leadership ability - you will be able to support more junior colleagues in complex assessments with significant implications for the UK
• Problem-solving and analytical skills - comfortable thinking through complex issues, understanding strategic implications of decisions whilst paying attention to detail
• Experience of confident working with Ministers and other stakeholders, and the ability to provide clear briefings on complicated issues. 

Desirable experience:

• Previous experience of working in a security environment and/or an understanding of the current threats facing HMG.

Level of Security Clearance required: SC - but you will need to undertake DV clearance ahead of Phase 2. 

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.

It is likely that during periods of high activity you will need to be in the office up to 5 times a week.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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 process you will be asked to complete a CV and 1000 word personal statement. 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 conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience and behaviours that are contained in this advert. The behaviours that you will be assessed against are:

- Communicating and Influencing 

- Making Effective Decisions

- Leadership 

- Delivering at Pace

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – W/C 11th March 
Expected interview date/s – W/C 2nd April 
Interview location - 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.

Please note the successful candidate will be required to obtain DV clearance whilst employed in this role, this requires a 10 year UK residency history. 

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 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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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

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.