Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location London About the job Job summary Established in 2020, the National Cyber Force (NCF) is responsible for operating in and through cyberspace to counter, disrupt, degrade and contest those who would do harm to the UK or its allies, to keep the country safe and to protect and promote the UKs interests at home and abroad. In addition to GCHQ and the Ministry of Defence, the Secret Intelligence Service and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory are core partners bringing cutting edge espionage and research techniques. This means the UK will use cyber operations as part of its diplomatic, economic and military activities. The NCF is at the heart of this, extending the UKs competitive edge as a responsible, democratic cyber power, by Countering threats from terrorists, criminals and states using the internet to operate across borders in order to do harm to the UK and other democratic societies. Countering threats which disrupt the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and services in cyberspace (i.e. supporting cybersecurity). Contributing to UK Defence operations and helping deliver the UKs foreign policy agenda (for example intervening in a humanitarian crisis to protect civilians). Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Our vision is to have an empowered, productive, personally and professionally fulfilled workforce. Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously. We want to enable you to build a successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. We are committed to understanding, respecting, and representing as broad a range of views and backgrounds as we have in UK society. We know that diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to an effective, modern Civil Service. While the existence of NCF is not a secret, its people are, and discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or close family. You should also make them aware of the importance of discretion. You should not mention your application on social media or discuss it with anyone else at this stage. You will receive further guidance during the recruitment process. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Job description As an Operational Cyber Policy desk officer, you will have responsibility for the development and implementation of policy to ensure that cyber is utilised in accordance with HMGs ambition and direction; that capability development is lawful and policy compliant; and for the provision of policy advice into operations. You will act as one of the primary conduits between the business of the Cyber Partnership and the growing offensive cyber community in the UK. In this role you will be responsible for a defined portfolio of missions within the new organisation and will be expected to use strong stakeholder management skills to understand your mission areas, develop productive relationships, and provide clear honest advice, in accordance with the Civil Service code. As part of this role, you will be expected to generate a shared culture and a 'one team' approach to providing policy advice to improve operational outcomes. You will play an active role in these areas, contributing directly and through other teams to Ministerial submissions, NSC papers, briefing materials and by representing the department on offensive cyber issues as required. Overall, you will need to draw on your experience from all this activity to support the Cyber Partnership to influence and shape the development of the UKs Offensive Cyber Mission. You will act as a robust champion for what has been shown to work well, identifying areas of improvement and challenge habitual ways of working that require reform. As a London based member of staff, working with a geographically dispersed team, you will be critical to understanding the policy context of our operational work, how that fits in to Whitehall priorities, and where we need to be engaging with Whitehall Departments and their Agencies to deliver for them and ensure our voice is heard. Person specification You can bring a fresh perspective whatever the situation or context. You see other peoples views and appreciate that there are many different angles to consider. You draw insight from your own emotions and those of others to show empathy. You recognise everyone as an individual. You accept people for who they are and treat everyone fairly. You actively encourage and provide opportunities for others to share ideas and contributions. You support constructive discussion and enjoy getting all parties to reach an agreement. You look at the big picture. You consider the wider factors and long-term implications of decisions Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Working Together Seeing the Big Picture We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Leadership Making Effective Decisions Benefits Alongside your salary of £44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. 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 employer contribution of 28.97% This role attracts a National Security Payment allowance of circa £2,500 p.a. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. Any move to MOD 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/. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. 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. Your suitability for this role will be assessed using MOD Success Profiles. You will be assessed against the following behaviours during the selection process. Leadership Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Working Together Seeing Big Picture When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected. You will be assessed against these behaviours during the sift process: Leadership Making Effective Decision You will be assessed against these behaviours during the Interview process: Communicating and Influencing Working Together Seeing Big Picture Experience. We would also like a 1000 word personal statement detailing experience, knowledge and skills that demonstrate your ability to be succeed in this role. In the event that a large number of applications are received, the initial sift will be conducted against: Personal statement only. Please be aware feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment centre. Security Successful candidates must meet all the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is enhanced 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. Enhanced Developed Vetting is required where an additional level of assurance is required. It can only be requested by a small number of Sponsors and only with prior agreement with UKSV and the Cabinet Office. Checks involved include, but are not limited to: completion of a DV security questionnaire (including a family and travel element) criminal Record check Security Services check credit reference check financial investigation applicant interview supervisor interview referee interview checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire the full review of personal finances will include an assessment of an individuals assets, liabilities, income and expenditure both on an individual basis and taking into account the joint position with a spouse or partner. Additionally, candidates will need to meet the business validation standard and pass a drug test prior to appointment. Nationality requirements Open to UK nationals only. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Commands transformation programme is committed to following the MODs framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Commands personnel and Trade Unions. 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. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : People Ops Team Email : UKStratCom-HRGroupmod.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk Further information Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: infocsc.gov.uk. Attachments 20230519-UKStratCom-Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 534kB) Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB) MOD Candidate Pack 2024 Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail