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At GCHQ, we unlock the complex world of data and communications to keep the UK and its citizens safe, both in the real world and online. Working closely with our British Intelligence partners in MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from threats including serious organised crime, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. A role in GCHQ means you’ll have varied and fascinating work in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is the UK Government’s lead authority on cyber security. The organisation is at the heart of the Government’s cyber security strategy and has the aim of making the UK the safest place to live and work online.

The Economy and Society (E&S) Resilience team is one of four Resilience teams in the NCSC. Directly contributing towards the delivery of HMG’s National Cyber Strategy, the team provides cyber security support, guidance, products and services to a wide range of sectors including businesses, educational organisations and charities. It also helps prevent attacks from reaching citizens and empowers them to secure themselves online. The team prides itself on being diverse, friendly and supportive, and is regularly one of the highest scoring teams for “engagement” in the staff survey. We are currently recruiting for a Citizen Resilience Lead to join the team.

The Citizen Resilience team within E&S works to prevent attacks from reaching UK citizens online and enhance the security of consumer accounts and devices. The team coordinates and oversees a range of NCSC-led projects – many in partnership with industry – which make a major contribution to the delivery of HMG’s National Cyber Strategy outcome to secure citizens online at scale. The postholder will lead and coordinate this delivery alongside other colleagues in the team. They will also continually evolve the strategic programme, working with colleagues and industry to develop even more interventions to protect citizens online. This will require engagement with a wide range of industry partners, particularly technology and telecommunications organisations, NCSC and wider GCHQ colleagues and other government departments.

Job Description

What will the successful candidate be doing?

The Citizen Resilience Lead will work with a wide range of partners in industry, the voluntary sector, other government departments and law enforcement to develop and deliver interventions which prevent a range of crimes and harms from reaching citizens online and reduces the burden on the citizen to secure themselves.

The responsibilities of the role will include:

• Ensuring the principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are included in every action undertaken.
• Delivering against the NCSC business plan and taking ownership of a number of business outcomes in support of the citizen. Examples of projects that sit under the programme of work include removing malicious websites, sharing data with industry, enhancing online service providers approach to authentication of accounts and reducing smishing attacks.
• Measuring and reporting progress to demonstrate enhanced cyber resilience for citizens.
• Working closely with other colleagues from across NCSC to ensure your work maximises impact and efficiency across the department.
• Writing and delivering presentations, reports and briefings as required for a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Efficiently recording external engagements.
• Representing the NCSC externally at a range of different meetings and events.
• Assisting the wider team as appropriate depending on priorities.
• Working with colleagues in E&S, across the wider Resilience Directorate and across the NCSC to develop cyber security guidance, products and services and promote them through partners as appropriate.
• Potential for line and task management of one or more members of staff to support the delivery of the team’s objectives.

The scope of these responsibilities may be subject to change as the work of the team evolves to meet requirements of HMG’s National Cyber Strategy and the NCSC’s Business Plan.

Person Specification

We are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic, proactive, organised team players who can comfortably engage with a wide variety of external and internal stakeholders. Previous external relationship management experience is essential, and the applicant should be willing and able to represent NCSC externally, attending meetings and presenting both in person and online as required. Training and support will be provided.

The role is not technical and previous cyber security experience is not essential, however a demonstrated ability to engage with partners on technical subjects would be beneficial. There may also be opportunities to use relevant technical skills and knowledge in the role and to more broadly support the NCSC’s objectives. The NCSC’s Cyber Security Development Framework is available to support colleagues’ development and informal learning via colleagues also provides a proven route to cyber literacy.

GCHQ Competency Requirements

• Communication and Knowledge sharing - Higher
• Corporate Vision and Efficiency - Intermediate
• Change and Innovation - Intermediate
• Analysis and Decision Making - Intermediate
• Contribution to Delivery - Higher
• Managing the Customer Relationship - Higher
• Working with and Leading Others - Higher

You can familiarise yourself with the general competencies we use to assess the aptitude of candidates here - Recruitment Process

Benefits we offer

At NCSC and GCHQ, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment that’s designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we are committed to helping you fulfil your potential. With comprehensive training and development opportunities, tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we will enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities.

You’ll receive a starting salary of £45,676 plus an annual National Security Payment of £2,428, subject to mandatory training. A London Allowance of £6,250 is applicable for London contracted employees.

Other benefits:

• 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
• An environment with flexible working options
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme.
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
• Paid parental and adoption leave.
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Selection Process

Before You Apply

To work at GCHQ, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

The role is based in London, Cheltenham or Manchester so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.

What to Expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

On the application, you will be asked to provide a personal statement, please explain why you are suitable for the role and the skills and experience you will bring (up to 250 words).

• Application sift
• Interview
• If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment subject to vetting.

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

We’re Disability Confident

GCHQ are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, please demonstrate the below essential criteria in your application form:

• External relationship management experience.
• Meeting the working with and leading others competency at higher
• Meeting the Managing the Customer relationship Competency at higher
• Meeting the Contribution to Delivery Competency at higher

Equal Opportunities

At GCHQ diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:

Our Vetting

To work in this role, you will need the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community must go through and it can take some time. As part of the DV process you will be asked to fill in a detailed questionnaire and attend an interview with a vetting officer. In your interview the vetting officer will have a thorough, compassionate, and honest discussion with you about you as a person and your life experiences, to ensure holding a DV clearance is right for you. You don’t need to do any preparation for your vetting interview, just be honest and be yourself. All applicants for DV are treated impartially and consistently, irrespective of gender, race, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, and other protected characteristics.

The closing date for this role is: 14/03/2023 at 23:55hrs.

Right to Withdraw Statement:

Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.