Security Architect Lead - Cyber Security
We’re looking for an exceptional Security Architect Lead to help us make a difference to our planet.
As our Security Architect in Cyber Security the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.
Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week. Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.
World changing work
From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.
• We’re a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact
• We’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better
• We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making
• We’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater
• We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers
Your world of expertise
As the Security Architect within the Security Operations team of the Met Office’s Cyber Security Department, you will design and implement security solutions that protect Met Office digital services.
You'll advise on enterprise security initiatives to further enhance our cyber security posture, safeguarding systems that are essential to public safety and national security.
This role requires close collaboration with our Security Operations Center and Vulnerability Management teams to continuously improve our security services.
* Design and implement enterprise security solutions for on-premises and cloud-based systems by applying technical architecture, risk management, and threat analysis to create solutions that are resilient from attack.
* Assess and improve security postures to address evolving cyber threats, keeping our operational defenses proactive and effective by identifying risks and closing gaps.
* Develop security solutions that enhance our ability to protect, detect and respond to, and recover from cyber incidents.
* Lead and coach teams on cyber security practices, technical excellence, while fostering a culture of collaboration and personal development.
* Assess risks related to proposed changes and recommend security controls that support business objectives.
The Met Office Security Profession has adopted the Government Security Profession as its over-arching professional framework. You will need to evidence the relevant skills and competencies applicable to a Security Architect Lead as defined by the Government Security Profession.
We operate an on-call roster in Technology to provide 24/7/365 support to respond to operational service requirements. This post may be part of an on-call roster and the postholder would be required to participate in an on-call roster where in operation.
Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their ‘Best Workplaces in Tech’ 2023 and 2024 lists, as well as their ’54 Best Workplaces for Women’ 2023 list.
As our Lead Security Architect in Cyber Security, your total reward package will be up to £82,518 annually, which includes:
* An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
* Recruitment Retention Allowance (RRA) you will be paid £9,000 per annum as a market supplement to reflect the demand for your skills. Whilst in post, you will be paid this market-driven allowance from April 2024 until September 2025 in your monthly pay.
* Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave.
Essential criteria, skills and experience:
* Turn security risks into solutions - experience in designing and successfully delivering technical designs from concept to completion using standardised control frameworks (such as 27001/2) appropriately.
* Bridge the gap - the ability to develop and communicate security concepts (vision, principles and strategy) that manage security risks to information, systems, and processes that support the delivery of balanced and cost-effective risk management decisions.
* Make and guide decisions - experience communicating security and risk effectively, apply security principles to business requirements to provide confidence.
* Lead - the ability to lead and coach personnel across departments on cyber security best practice to ensure common tools and patterns are used effectively to deliver secure solutions with proportionate controls to enable business outcomes.
* Knowledge of industry security solutions including network detection and response, security information and event management, extended detection and response, threat intelligence and vulnerability management.
How to apply
If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.
Closing date 13/04/2025 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 21/04/2025. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.
How we can help
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk.
If you’re considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which will include a presentation. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.
We understand that great minds don’t always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code. We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information.
We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information, however we may be able to offer sponsorship for this position. We require Security Clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.
Our rewards and benefits are as varied as our customers and our people, depending on your role, and which part of the business you join. The one thing they have in common is that they’re designed to recognise your contribution to our success.
Starting at 27.5 days and rising to 32.5 days after five years of service (both figures exclude bank holidays). As well as the flexibility to buy or sell annual leave annually.
You’ll automatically qualify to join our alpha pension scheme, part of the Civil Service Pension arrangements. The scheme is recognised as one of the most generous occupational pensions.
Lifestyle support
Whether you wish to utilise our excellent family-friendly schemes, be paid up to 3 days for volunteering with your chosen organisation, have the reassurance of a generous sickness pay scheme or be part of an organisation that is happy to pro-actively talk about flexible working the Met Office wants you to have a great work and lifestyle balance.
Established hybrid working
We have bases all over the UK and some roles allow for you to work abroad so there is the option to travel for work also, we have established amazing hybrid working practices across all of our offices and have enhanced technology to enable office and home-based meetings. We work with employees to agree on a suitable working pattern that works for us both and have various working patterns in place.
Investing in your development
The world around us is constantly changing. New technologies, shifting climate patterns, artificial intelligence. These factors and more shape the need for us to develop our skills and knowledge as a business and as individuals. Our investment in learning and development is testament to this and we have partnered with external bodies in each profession to help shape the way we develop the incredible talent right across the Met Office. We help everyone to understand their strengths and opportunities and tailor learning programmes that match their career. For us, this is world-leading learning and development.
We're an expert voice representing technology and its possibilities, working together with other talented people in data, user design and products. Together we drive innovation in new technologies and ensure crucial data is made available for our customers to make decisions that affect their daily lives. The Met Office is a fantastic place to work and grow your career, with a well-defined corporate strategy and values that are embedded into our ways of working.
Our typical recruitment process
1. Application
Apply through our careers website. Each application will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the job advert. We recommend that you use the CARL or STAR method to answer the key questions. Evidence your answers and reference our values to bring your application to life.
2. Screening
The sift panel will assess all applications against our essential criteria. Our screening process usually takes one to two weeks following the closing date of the advert. After which, we'll be in touch to let you know whether your application has progressed to the next stage.
3. Interview
Most recruitment processes will include a single-stage interview, some of which are virtual interviews and some may be in-person. Our interviews tend to blend competency questions, which focus on the essential criteria, with values-based questions.
4. Assessment
Some roles may require you to attend an assessment day. Any job-specific assessments will be outlined in the job advert and more details will be provided at the interview stage.
5. Offer
If you are successful following the interview, the hiring manager will contact you to offer the role. The Resourcing Team will then follow up with an offer letter and start your onboarding.
6. Onboarding
Before we can confirm a start date, we will first need to complete security clearance and reference checks. These usually take between eight to ten weeks to complete. We'll also discuss any workplace adjustments that you may need. So they are in place on your first day.
On your first day your new manager will introduce you to the team and you’ll start our online corporate induction. You’ll also be asked to update your details in our People Hub system including bank details ready for your first pay day.
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