Cyber Office Manager

The Government Security Function (GSF) oversees the delivery of protective security across Government. Our Mission is to enable Government to protect citizens and provide vital public services by understanding and managing security risks. We set the strategy and standards for Government Security, monitor departmental security performance, manage pan-government security incidents, support the delivery of key security capabilities and lead the Government Security Profession.

The Government Security Group (GSG) is the centre of the Security Function, based within the Cabinet Office. GSG is transforming the Government’s approach to protective security to ensure it is fit to meet the challenges of the digital age. This role offers an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced, dynamic team, with a breadth of stakeholders including in other Government departments, the National Technical Authorities and the Agencies, and to contribute to delivering improved security across Government. 

The Cyber Directorate was formed in September 2022 following an independent review of GSG capability and priorities. A new Cyber Director post was created within GSG and existing teams leading three deputy directors, each leading one of the following teams: Cyber Operations and Assurance, Cyber Transformation, and Cyber Policy and Solutions.

We are responsible for delivering the first Government Cyber Security Strategy. Our purpose is to make Government’s critical functions significantly hardened to common attacks by 2025, and all government organisations across the public sector resilient to known vulnerabilities and attack methods no later than 2030. 

GSG’s culture embraces a diverse workforce: we come from all walks of life. GSG values the fact that our different backgrounds, cultures, genders, experiences and ways of working ultimately bring us together as a more effective team. We strive for a collegiate and inclusive working culture that means our voice at every level is heard. Each one of us has a part to play in helping the Government to keep the UK secure. 

GSG also wants to do better at recognising that we have responsibilities outside of work – so that we not only work hard, but we work smart – whether that’s full time, part-time or job sharing, we work flexibly. We promote hybrid working with a combination of time spent in the office and at home, where appropriate.

GSG is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We value and welcome diversity. We aim to develop all our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the Department’s objectives, and to fulfil their own potential on merit. We will not tolerate harassment or other unfair discrimination on grounds of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, age, religion or sexual orientation. We promote and support the diversity of our workforce, promote learning and development, and celebrate our successes.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of the Cyber Directorate. You will play an active and key role within Cyber Private Office as well as directly supporting the Cyber Director in delivering their objectives. As a team, we are the front door to Cyber. Our days are fast paced and we have a unique platform to see the delivery of the Cyber Directorates work – you will be privy to key areas such as how we shape cyber policy and respond to cyber attacks. 

As Cyber Office Manager you will manage the organisation and planning of the Cyber Directors time. You will manage their diary, engaging regularly with colleagues from across Cyber, GSG and with external stakeholders to deconflict and prioritise the time of our Director. You will become confident in communicating with colleagues across a wide range of departments and external organisations. 

As a small and supportive Private Office, you will work with the Chief of Staff and Executive Assistants to provide high quality support to leadership. You will have ownership of key responsibilities as well as working collaboratively with Private Office colleagues to deliver our combined objectives. Previous experience in building positive working relationships, managing priorities and maintaining attention to detail at pace would be beneficial. 

You will lead on projects to support the Director and Directorate, with a focus on leading recruitment processes as well as workforce and resourcing data. You will work closely with our HR colleagues. You will support best practice initiatives, working with wider Cyber teams to ensure accurate information management. Within the Private Office, we support one another to ensure resilience – you will provide coverage during absences, which in turn will give you opportunities to build your awareness of different Cyber teams and stakeholders. 

We know it can take time to learn a new role and/or new department. You don’t need to be an expert in all-things-Cyber to work in our team – we’ll tailor your learning and development to you and how best to deliver in your current and future roles. 

As part of our L&D package, we are committed to supporting you to undertake opportunities across the Directorate and wider to develop the skills and knowledge you’re interested in to help you progress in a career within Cyber and/or wider Government. Our roles offer the platform to diverse objectives including shaping the national cyber strategy, driving cyber resilience, managing cyber incidents and/or developing pioneering policies to tackle emerging threats. 

Key areas of responsibility

Cyber Private Office is a busy team so there are plenty of opportunities for additional portfolio work depending on our current priorities/requirements and your preferences/experiences. We work to improve processes and ways of working as well as delivering and supporting communications, recruitment and new initiatives including wellbeing and EDI across the Directorate. As Private Office Manager you will be responsible for (but not limited to):

• Managing the diary and schedule of the Cyber Director 
• Alongside the Chief of Staff, be the front door to the Cyber Director – providing support in organising the Directors attendance at key events and regular meetings with stakeholders 
• Working with the Chief of Staff to manage Director external engagements and events; supporting logistics and administration to provide seamless attendances 
• Compiling briefing and information packs for the Director to ensure they are well-informed of their engagements and movements 
• Leading on the completion of HR Commissions, including Recruitment and Workforce planning, and managing regular updates/communications with HR and Finance teams 
• Providing supportive management to Cyber team leaders on recruitment of new staff 
• Leading on, and contributing to, Cyber Directorate initiatives, including team engagement sessions and EDI projects 
• Upholding and ensuring best practice on information management

We welcome applications from anyone with transferable skills and experience. Please do not rule yourself out if you have not worked in Cyber or Private Office before: passion to learn, adapt and work well as a team under pressure is more important. The following are beneficial: 

• Strong communication skills with an ability to build and maintain working relationships 
• Sound judgement and initiative – i.e. taking lead on improving process and/or ways of working 
• Good IT skills and/or a motivation to learn new IT skills 
• Motivation to help and support colleagues, work through problems and be flexible to changing priorities/requirements  
• Interest in working with/in Cyber and motivation to develop your skills and knowledge of our department areas
  

Desirable: Working with and/or in a Private Office, experience of working with HR and recruitment is all helpful but none are essential. 

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Job contact :

• Name : katie.wright@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
• Email : katie.wright@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk