NCSC Junior Cyber Consultant London, England
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About the job
Benefits
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About the job
Job summary
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.
Do you have a passion to continue or start your development of cybersecurity, risk management, and consultancy expertise? Are you prepared to be flexible, and deal with ever – evolving work that may not have clear end goals?
NCSC is offering you an exciting opportunity, working as a Cyber Consultant within our Private Sector Critical National Infrastructure team (PS CNI). As part of the PS CNI team, you’ll help reduce the risks from cyberattacks to the networks of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) that are owned, and operated by the Private Sector by understanding what is important, improving the now, and securing the future.
Our Cyber Consultants support a variety of sectors, including Finance, Communications, Energy, and Transport. As a Cyber Consultant, you’ll provide consultancy support, issue cybersecurity advice, and manage key relationships with the CNI to develop and improve its security and resilience.
Job description
As a Cyber Consultant, you’ll be supporting the Finance sector to develop its security and resilience. We may also look to recruit to other sectors of PS CNI.
You’ll have a passion to learn, and build knowledge of cybersecurity, Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), and the Finance sector. This could include the key services of the sector, the technologies and standards deployed, the threats it faces and understanding the actors and their tactics, techniques, and procedures; and potential cybersecurity risks to enable HMG (His Majesty’s Government) to develop the sectors security and resilience.
You’ll understand the services of the sector, the technologies and standards deployed. You’ll assess the threats it faces, including the actors, their tactics, techniques, and procedures; and the potential cybersecurity risks that it may face and require defending from to develop its security and resilience.
We’ll provide training and development opportunities to help you rapidly up skill, such as through our cybersecurity development framework. This will enable you to build your knowledge to be an asset to the NCSC, and our key customers. Previous experience or technical knowledge can help, but do not be put off if you haven’t, as we’re looking for core skills, and development for the future.
In this role, you’ll be managing, developing, and supporting key customers and relationships. You’ll provide awareness of our services, identifying new opportunities, and supporting their security drivers.
You’ll support cybersecurity risk assessments of the Finance Sector, developing your knowledge and understanding of risk management, and governance. Once you're skilled, we’ll want you to lead too.
To deliver this, effective communication is key, including report and document writing and development, supporting plans and providing opinions, addressing support through emails, workshops, information exchanges and briefings in person.
You’ll be required to travel to London, where the sector is largely based. This can be combined with hybrid working arrangements, which may include office and homeworking.
You’ll need to be flexible to respond to the needs of the sector and PS CNI to ensure successful delivery to develop Finance security and resilience.
Person specification
Cybersecurity, consultancy, or policy experience is welcomed. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate a passion to work for the NCSC, who wants to support the security and resilience of the CNI and the Finance Sector and keen to develop their cybersecurity skills and experience to help make the UK the safest place to live and work online.
You’ll need to enjoy learning and working in a fast-paced environment, where communication skills are needed to deliver key messages. We’ll provide training and mentoring to support your development.
You’ll support GCHQ’s values of integrity, ingenuity, impact, and teamwork.
You’ll want to get involved as much as possible and enjoy working on a range of opportunities.
Full time attendance will be required for the training period to develop the knowledge and skills required for this role. We are open to possible part time working , subject to candidates’ successful completion of the training, which could take a minimum 24 months.
GCHQ Competencies
The NCSC will assess you against competencies used by the UK Intelligence Community. These competencies are based closely on the Civil Service Behaviours. The Level 2 competencies you’ll be assessed against are:
- Seeing the Big Picture (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Seeing the Big Picture)
- Communicating and Influencing (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Communicating and Influencing)
- Working Collaboratively (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Working Together)
- Making Effective Decisions (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Making Effective Decisions)
- Continuously Developing (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Managing a Quality Service)
Further information on Civil Service Behaviours
Benefits
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 £32,092 with a potential opportunity for a skills payment typically in the region of £5,000 - £10,000. It is expected to take 1-2 years to reach the base skills level and can take 5 plus years to reach higher levels. Skills payments are periodically reviewed and are subject to validation of experience and practical application within the workplace. The skills payments described here are for guidance only and subject to change.
For roles based in London, you’ll receive an additional £6,250 London Allowance.
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.
- Excellent pension scheme - Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
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 Cheltenham, Central London, or Central 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 your application, tell us about why you are suitable for the role and the skills and experience you'll bring within cybersecurity, consultancy, and the CNI (Finance sector). If you don’t have skills or experience in these areas, please tell us how you will develop these, and why you want to work as a Cyber Consultant in PS CNI (up to 1000 words).
- Online Application
- Application sift
- Interview
- If successful, you’ll 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, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:
- Are able to demonstrate a passion for cybersecurity and risk management.
- Are able to demonstrate a passion to work for NCSC and HMG (His Majesty’s Government) and to develop the security and resilience of the UK’s CNI (Critical National Infrastructure).
- Achieve a Level 2 pass mark for Seeing the Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Working Collaboratively and Making Effective Decisions competencies.
- Have previous cybersecurity, consultancy, or policy experience or can demonstrate how you will develop this, and why you want to work as a Cyber Consultant in PS CNI (Private Sector Critical National Infrastructure).
These will be assessed at CV and application sift.
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:
The closing date for this role is: 17:00 14th July 2023
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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