Deputy Director, Government Security Profession (Maternity Leave cover)
Cabinet Office
Apply before 5:00 pm on Wednesday 20th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Security
Senior leadership
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
This challenging role is offered for a period of up to 12 months to provide maternity leave cover for the permanent post holder. You will need to offer expertise to drive and shape the direction of the Government Security Profession, transforming and building capability whilst developing a positive culture and a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
About the Government Security Group (GSG)
The Government Security Group (GSG) is responsible for the oversight, coordination and delivery of protective security within all central government departments, their agencies and arms-length bodies. GSG supports Ministers, the Cabinet Secretary and Chief Executive of the Civil Service by monitoring departmental security performance and managing serious or pan-government security risks and incidents.
Within GSG stands the Directorate of Security Capabilities (DSC). DSC supports the development and delivery of high profile, key security initiatives. It comprises the Government Security Centres (GSeCs) and Assurance team overseeing the provision of expert x-HM Government shared services to meet security standards, and delivering Departmental Security Health Checks (DSHCs) and other assurance activity; a small team responsible for the strategic oversight and governance of Rosa - the secure IT system that the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and other key Cabinet members rely upon to handle national security, sensitive defence, diplomatic, trade and counter-terrorism matters; and a Government Security Professions team to strengthen the security profession through delivery of security learning curricula.
As a member of GSG, the post-holder will also have to commit to the GSG Behavioural Code, as below:
- I will reflect and promote GSG behaviours in the way that I work with colleagues in GSG and beyond:
- I will embody the seven GSG values: Making a difference, Challenge, Purpose, Collaboration, Leadership, Enthusiasm and Flexibility & Creativity.
- I will respect and value everyone, and will not tolerate bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.
- I will recognise my power, influence or authority, as a manager, team member or peer, and not abuse them.
- I will think about how my behaviour affects others and strive to understand the perspective of others.
- I will act professionally towards others.
- I will ensure GSG meets the highest ethical standards of integrity, courtesy and mutual respect.
- I will speak up about any unacceptable behaviour I see.
Job description
We are seeking an individual experienced in HR to fill this challenging role which is offered for a period of up to 12 months to provide maternity leave cover for the permanent post holder. You will need to offer expertise to drive and shape the direction of the Government Security Profession, transforming and building capability whilst developing a positive culture and a highly skilled and motivated workforce.
Key responsibilities are broad and will include:
- Implementing and embedding the Government Cyber Security Skills Strategy;
- Being a figurehead for the Profession across Government and at industry and Government events, all aimed at building the Government Security brand;
- Influencing stakeholders across Government and industry partners to improve Government Security capability and capacity to meet future priorities, working in partnership with the UK Cyber Security Council and accreditation bodies;
- Building initiatives to strengthen and engage the leadership community and ensuring they have the right skills and development opportunities;
- Further developing and delivering an exceptional learning and development offer for security professionals creating a continuous development environment;
- Delivering cross-Government talent development initiatives to support retention including early talent interventions to build diverse pipelines;
- Managing workforce planning and Functional people data at scale across the Function and using this information to share and drive performance;
- Supporting the diversity and inclusion agenda for the Government Security Profession;
- Managing a multi-million £ budget and driving Spending Review discussions to support future funding and wider Functional ambitions;
- Leading the professions team of c.19 team members.
You will play a key role in the leadership of GSG as a member of the GSG Senior Management Team, taking decisions that affect the breadth of the GSG team and driving forward improvement and change, for example in relation to feedback from the People Survey and our Diversity and Inclusion agenda. You will need to be a confident and self-sufficient leader, willing to bring new ideas and challenge the status quo, to drive forward our Vision and Mission and be a role model for our team members and the wider Function.
Person specification
It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement, that you provide evidence of the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post.
Essential Criteria:
- Strong leadership skills with a demonstrable track record of leading and motivating diverse teams;
- Line management experience;
- Experience of both strategic oversight and delivery at pace across a varied portfolio;
- Excellent stakeholder management with experience of managing complex relationships across boundaries with confidence to influence and challenge;
- A high degree of personal credibility and resilience along with the enthusiasm and commitment to deliver;
- Strong collaboration skills to build virtual teams and partnerships with internal and external partners to support consensus and test ideas.
Desirable Criteria:
- An HR qualification / Professional membership would be useful but is not essential. Demonstrable knowledge and experience of building professional skills and capabilities across government, or similar experience from a private sector or other setting, is desirable.
- Knowledge of the security profession.
- Capable of drawing upon and establishing networks.
Benefits
Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career within the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills and experience to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.
This includes:
- 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays.
- This will be complimented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday;
- A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire;
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers;
- Childcare benefits (policy for new employees as of 5 April 2018): The government has introduced the Tax- Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. Working parents can open an online childcare account and for every £8 they pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2000 a year for each child or £4000 for a disabled child. Parents then use the funds to pay for registered childcare. Existing employees may be able to continue to claim childcare vouchers, so please check how the policy would work for you here;
- Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle;
- The opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable); and occupational sick pay.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the offline application process, outlined below. This should be completed no later than 5pm, Wednesday, 20th November 2024. You should provide:
1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.
Failure to complete both CV and Statement of Suitability will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.
As part of the offline application process, you have been asked a number of diversity-related questions (see diversity monitoring form attachment in advert). If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say’. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for more information.
Please send your completed application to Alison.Sharp@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Should you encounter any issues with your offline application please get in touch with us via: Alison.Sharp@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Selection process
Your application will be acknowledged when it is received.
A panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.
The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which a decision is expected to be made, and all longlisted and shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter. Please be advised that we will only be able to provide individual feedback to candidates shortlisted for interview.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected shortlist - Week commencing 25th November
Expected interview date/s – Week commencing 2nd December or 9th December
Reasonable adjustments
We are committed to making reasonable adjustments in order to support disabled job applicants and ensure that you are not disadvantaged in the recruitment and assessment process. Reasonable adjustments could include; allowing extra time during selection / interview; ensuring that information is provided in an accessible form or by providing training.
If you feel that you may need a reasonable adjustment to be made, or you would like to discuss your requirements, please contact:
Alison.Sharp@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
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 terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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 : Alice Sharp
- Email : Alison.Sharp@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Alison.Sharp@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, please contact
Alison.Sharp@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
. For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
