Lead Cyber Security Architect
UK Health Security Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 1st October 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Type of role
Security
Other
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
We are looking for a Lead Security Architect to work within the Cyber Security Architecture Delivery team. It is an exciting, fast-paced role that will drive strategic change across the organisation both in terms of data and analytic capability, and culture.
UKHSA’s Cyber Security Architecture Delivery team is responsible for defining cyber security technical standards for the organisation, providing technical guidance and consulting to help service teams to deliver against those standards, and supporting the selection of security tools and technology.
As Lead Security Architect, you will be responsible for overseeing the secure delivery of projects and data platforms; ensuring architectural design reviews (High Level Design HLD/Low Level Design LLD) and threat models are carried out to a high standard.
Job description
•Work closely with security architects, overseeing their work and providing assurance that architectural design reviews and threat models are carried out consistently to the required standard.
•Ensure the team have the appropriate blueprints, guidance, policies and standards required to complete their work.
•Develop and communicate meaningful security policies.
•Identify and promote best practices for multidisciplinary teams to deliver resilient, secure and scalable services.
Person specification
The Cyber Security Architecture Delivery team is a mix of permanent civil servants (two Lead Security Architects and Head of Department) and contract Security Architects (6 to 10).
As Lead Security Architect you will:
•Work closely with security architects, overseeing their work and providing assurance that architectural design reviews and threat models are carried out consistently to the required standard.
•Ensure the team have the appropriate blueprints, guidance, policies and standards required to complete their work.
•Take a risk based and outcome driven approach to secure architecture.
•Develop and communicate meaningful security policies.
•Identify and promote best practices for multidisciplinary teams to deliver resilient, secure and scalable services.
•Identify, own, and respond to security risks and issues as they arise.
•Cultivate and maintain relationships with other security teams within UKHSA, Cabinet Office, NCSC and the rest of government.
Essential criteria
•Can demonstrate cyber security knowledge in a previous hands-on role.
•Have experience of security management and information assurance practices.
•Can demonstrate a sound understanding of how to securely architect a cloud infrastructure (Saas, Paas and IaaS) environment.
•Understands security end-to-end, from security considerations in the design of services, through to architecture reviews, threat modelling, controls and remediation.
•Builds strong relationships and communicates effectively with senior stakeholders and colleagues, ensuring that security considerations are well accounted for and built into ways of working.
Desirable criteria
•Experience of working within big transformational programmes of work.
•Experience with modern software engineering practices.
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
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 5 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of
• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 500 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist.
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the essential criteria of:
•Can demonstrate cyber security knowledge in a previous hands-on role.
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Please do not exceed 500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (Success Profiles)
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Behaviours, technical, experience, abilities and strengths will be tested at interview.
There will be a technical test and assessment.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be
• Delivering at Pace (lead behaviour)
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
Interview dates to be confirmed.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.
Eligibility Criteria
External: open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.
To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.
An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.
This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.
If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:
Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed: Security Check (SC) willingness and capability to obtain this.
For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
International Police check:
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Lisa Tweedie
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk