Job summary
The Security Team is an integral aspect of the corporate function and are accountable to the Permanent Secretary as Accounting Officer and the Director General (Performance and Strategy) as Chief Security Officer.
The team are responsible for the protection of DCMS assets aligning the strategic, advisory and operational aspects of security covering
- Physical
- Personnel
- Communication Information Systems (CIS)
- Investigations
- Information leaks
- Security Breaches
- Risk assessments (UK/Overseas)
- Incident Management (including Business Continuity) Behavioural education and Awareness enabling departmental functionality.
Job description
This is a key role within the DCMS security team, leading on Personnel Security including drafting and updating policies, leading on unauthorised disclosures and the wider departmental insider risk programme, Investigations and management of security vetting process.
This will require an ability to communicate across the organisation, including to negotiate with more senior staff to ensure that delivery reflects the level of risk to the organisation. Policy capability will be important to ensuring that processes and policies remain fit for purpose, including a good understanding of wider HR policies (inc whistle blowing).
We are aiming to recruit people from diverse backgrounds to make sure we have a wide range of skills to strengthen our security capability across government. We value the fact that our different backgrounds, cultures, genders, experiences and ways of working produce a more effective team.
Each one of us has a part to play in helping government to keep the UK secure. The most important aspect of the requirement is that candidates have a good understanding of, or keen interest, security of government assets and people.
Person specification
Essential Requirements
- Has excellent written and communication skills, delivering clear and succinct messaging in the appropriate tone and format for the audience.
- Has the ability and confidence to use your own initiative to suggest different ways or processes of working.
- Has the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with a wide range of people, within and beyond your own team and department.
- Ability to analyse, translate and communicate complex information.
- Set high performance expectations, valuing difference to deliver results, inspiring people and creating a shared sense of purpose across the Department
Desirable Skills
- You will have a good understanding of the key threats to the department and wider government and use this information to assess the risks to departmental business and formulate appropriate mitigations, including engaging with DDAT for technical security interventions, training, briefing, investigations and engaging with Response and Coordination team in the Cabinet Office.
- You will have a good understanding of the Government Functional Standards: GovS 007 in relation to personnel security.
- You will be a member of the Government Security Function and the Security Institute.
We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Paul Leenane, and will take place on:
- Friday 24th January at 12:00
The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.
Please register your interest by filling out this Registration form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScx1pufd6hsyPAv8x5uYbvqzufYvDqIgiB8yfyOvK7137oOBg/viewform?usp=dialog by Thursday 23rd January at 12:00 and you will be sent an invitation.
Please note that the session will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process – please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Benefits
DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:
- Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working – DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home
- 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice
- 3 days of paid volunteering leave
- Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
- Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year
- Occupational sick pay
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice
- Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks
- Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work
- Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!
Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will assessed against the experience success profile:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the “Job History” section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
- A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed however these will not be considered in the assessment of your application except in circumstances where there are a high number and calibre of candidates.
For the shortlist, we will select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.
For support in writing your application and interviewing, please refer to the ‘Application and Interview Guidance’ document attached to the job advert.
The interview process will assess behaviours and strengths
The behaviours to be tested at interview are:
● Leadership
● Managing a Quality Service
● Working Together
Prior to the interview you will be sent the behaviour questions in advance.
You will not be made aware of the strengths being assessed prior to your interview.
Your interview will take place remotely via GoogleMeets.
Further Information
If the vacancy is offered as FTA/Loan, existing Civil Servants must join on a Loan basis only. Prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Department for Culture, Media and Sport 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
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the ‘Candidate Information Pack’ attached.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances
some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.ukstating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Reasonable Adjustment
We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process.
In order to request an adjustment, please:
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or a verbal test rather than a written one.
Alternatively, contact the Government Recruitment Service via dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility difficulties with any of the attachments, please contact us. Contact details can be found in the ‘contact point for applicants’ section of the job advert.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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 : Paul Leenane
- Email : security@dcms.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk