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Cyber and Information Security Division
Type of role
Engineering
Security
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About the job
Job summary
We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates
At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.
Equality and Diversity – Department for Education
Who we are
At our heart, we are the department for realising potential. We enable children and learners to thrive, by protecting the vulnerable and ensuring the delivery of excellent standards of education, training and care.
Our Cyber Security department
The Department for Education is responsible for childrens services and education, including early years, schools, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships, and wider skills in England. We work to protect the departments essential services, like funding schools and colleges, and safeguarding children from cyber threats, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data that underpin these essential citizen services.
We are responsible for the whole spectrum of cyber and information security across the department, including Information Security and Information Risk management, Security Operations, and Security Architecture and Engineering.
This is a great opportunity if you want a challenge at a national level in a role that makes a difference to so many. Joining us means you will help to safeguard children and ensure their education and care is delivered effectively.
Job description
What youll do
As our lead for Security Architecture and Engineering, you will be at the forefront of ensuring the secure and seamless integration of cyber security principles into the departments services, systems and technologies.
You will be responsible for leading a team of security architects and engineers, working collaboratively with cross-functional Agile teams to embed security-by-design practices into system designs and software development lifecycles across the department. In this dynamic role, you will be instrumental in fostering a culture of security, accelerating our development velocity, and minimising risks while enabling innovation. You will also play a leading role in designing holistic security solutions and driving delivery internally, across our GRC and cyber teams.
This role presents a unique opportunity for an experienced security architect/engineer with a good understanding of Agile methodologies to drive the secure, agile development of cutting-edge digital services for the education sector. Join us in shaping a culture where security is an enabler of innovation and a fundamental aspect of our Agile processes.
Person specification
Key Responsibilities
Responsibilities in this role will include:
- Lead and mentor small teams of security architects and engineers, providing technical guidance and oversight and driving the development of security architecture and engineering solutions, ensuring that security is an integral part of the process from the outset.
- Collaborate closely with development teams to integrate security into Agile methodologies and processes, such as static and dynamic analysis tools, container security solutions, and automated security testing within CI/CD pipelines.
- Promote secure coding practices, and provide developers with guidance and training on security best practises.
- Design and implement security solutions for teams in the security department, like improved threat detection and automated service assurance in cloud-based and hybrid environments.
- Threat modelling exercises to identify potential security vulnerabilities and risks in applications and systems. Work with development teams to prioritise and address these threats.
- Continuously assess and improve security architecture and engineering practices, staying current with emerging threats and industry best practises. Advocate for Agile security at both the team and organisational levels.
- Support cross-government and education sector security initiatives.
Essential Criteria
Who you are
We are seeking an individual capable of seamlessly transitioning between hands-on technical work and strategic big picture thinking to lead on technical solutions. The ideal candidate will possess the acumen to discern when to dive into detailed design and when to step back, effectively guiding, influencing, and coaching others within the team.
Effective communication is essential in this role, and you should be adept at effortlessly conveying complex security concepts to non-technical audiences and influencing others around you and senior leadership to make effective risk-based security decisions.
You should have a deep understanding of information security principles and best practices, including a variety of security frameworks such as NIST CSF, CIS, and NIS. You should also have a good understanding of a variety of security tools and how to leverage them at an enterprise level, including SIEM, DLP (Data Loss Prevention), and vulnerability scanning.
Over the course of your career, it is likely that you will have developed a broad understanding of network security protocols, gaining proficiency in firewalls, intrusion detection/ prevention system (IDS/IPS), VPNs, and network architecture, that you have applied to both cloud and non-cloud native environments ideally Azure and AWS.
The ideal candidate is equally adept on the software development side, with a good understanding of application security, secure coding practices and application vulnerabilities, e.g., OWASP Top 10.
As part of the role, you will be expected to hold or apply to the National Security Vetting process in order to obtain Security Clearance (SC).
Benefits
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Departments transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years service. In addition, all staff receive the Kings Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Stage 1: Application
To apply for this role, you will be required to provide:
- Your CV: Set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role.
- Your Statement of Suitability: In no more than 750 words, provide examples to explain how your personal skills, qualities and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. You should refer to the essential criteria listed in the “Person Specification” section of this advert.
Please note:
CV details must be contained within the template on the application form. Any CV or Statement of Suitability that has been emailed to our team will not be considered.
Please adhere to the statement wordcount as anything over 750 words will not be considered.
Stage 2: Sift
At sift stage, your application will be assessed by the interview panel on how your CV and Statement of Suitability align to the essential criteria listed in the “Person specification” section of this advert.
This will be scored holistically by assessing your CV and Personal Statement together on how well your experience meets the essential criteria.
We receive many applications, and unfortunately, were not able to provide feedback for candidates who arent shortlisted.
Stage 3: Interview
The interview will be a series of questions, about your experience to demonstrate, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. Scenario based questions may be used.
The interview will consist of a 90-minute blended interview, focusing on Experience.
Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.
If you are invited to interview, please ensure that you have access to this software and that you have your video turned on. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Key dates:
Vacancy closes: 13th November
Sift: Likely to take place week commencing 20th November
Interviews: Likely to take place week commencing 11th December or 18th December
Please note, all dates are indicative and may be subject to change.
Other Information
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
DfE cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DfE holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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 applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
Reasonable adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Assistance required section in 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 if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Cyber and Information Security PMO
- Email : CIS.PMO@education.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : AdvertsRecruitment.DFE@education.gov.uk
Further information
