Job Description

Details

-----------


###

Reference number

412295
###

Salary

44,590
This post is eligible for the appropriate London Weighting allowance.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
###

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer###

Contract type

Permanent###

Business area

MOD - Strategic Command###

Type of role

Communications / Marketing

Security

Other###

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

------------

Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

------------


MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB

About the job

-----------------

###

Job summary

Defence Digital ensures our Armed Forces remain among the most technologically advanced in the world. We do this by putting innovative and effective technology into the hands of over 200,000 users, from the boardroom to the front line.


We lead on cutting-edge data science, automation, and cyber security at scale. Our mission goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving digital innovation that impacts lives across the globe.


Defence Digital forms part of Strategic Command which manages the MOD's joint capabilities for the Army, RAF, and Royal Navy.

Watch

to find out more about what we do.

Passionate about using your skills to make a critical difference? Your next career move could be here.


This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

###

Job description

The Cyber Defence Communications Lead will be a leading strategic voice of the Cyber Defence and Risk (CyDR) organisation, responsible for shaping, delivering and sustaining a compelling communications strategy, that supports Defensive Cyber priorities across MOD. This role is pivotal to ensuring coherent and consistent messaging on the evolving cyber threat landscape, strategic change programmes, incident response, and wider Defence Digital transformation initiatives.


Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, you'll lead the development and execution of internal and external communications, across a range of audiences, acting as the central point of coordination for messaging around major initiatives, such as Secure by Design (SbD), and the new Cyber Security Model.


You'll manage proactive and reactive communications, ensuring that complex cyber topics are translated into clear, timely and action-oriented messages, driving awareness, supporting behavioural change and building credibility in Defence's cyber resilience efforts. You'll also play a vital role in supporting incident response communications, to maintain operational assurance and stakeholder confidence.


As Cyber Defence Communications Lead, you'll develop strong working relationships with a wide network of internal and external stakeholders, collaborating with communications professionals across Defence, to ensure consistent narratives and aligned messaging across strategic programmes.


Responsibilities

Strategic communications planning - Develop, implement and maintain a CyDR Communications Strategy and lead the creation and execution of a comprehensive communication plan for CyDR, aligned with the Cyber Resilience Strategy, Defensive Cyber Programmes and broader Defence objectives.


Engage and align cyber stakeholders - Build strong working relationships across Defence and Government departments, to ensure cyber messaging is cohered, timely and relevant, and supports the overarching strategy.


Communications lead for cyber resilience - Lead and cohere proactive and reactive communications for the CyDR Directorate. Work in close partnership with CyDR programme teams and wider stakeholders to align and support overall communication efforts, helping ensure consistent and coordinated outputs.


Coordinate external messaging for industry - Support external communications with industry and government partners, contributing to trust, alignment and improved cyber resilience, across the supply chain.


Content creation, channel management, and reporting - Create compelling content, maintain regular communications (intranet articles, internal comms, PR and digital communications, CyDR events), and evaluate effectiveness through analytics and feedback. ###

Person specification

Please ensure that your CV and application meet the essential criteria below:


We would expect to see some previous experience in corporate communications and campaigning, content development and working knowledge of cyber security within an organisation.


Skills required:

Strategic communications leadership - Able to design and deliver impactful communications strategies in a corporate setting, aligning communication with organisational goals, especially in support of strategic change and digital transformation.


Exceptional written and verbal communication - Able to craft clear, concise, and engaging content across multiple formats (briefings, newsletters, presentations, intranet, social media), tailoring tone and messaging to diverse audiences.


Stakeholder engagement and influencing skills - Ability to build and sustain trusted relationships across all levels, especially with senior leaders, cyber professionals, communications colleagues, and external partners. Skilled at influencing and challenging constructively.


Crisis and incident communications capability - Prepare and manage fast-paced communications during incidents or crises. Able to act calmly, coordinate messages, and protect organisational reputation under pressure.


Communication analysis and evaluation - Familiarity with GCS evaluation frameworks or similar industry models (e.g. OASIS) and a commitment to evidence-based communications, audience insight and continuous Improvement.

Additional information


This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.


Dependent on the business need, there may be a requirement to travel to meetings within the UK (or potentially occasional overseas visits).


This position is open to sole UK Nationals only.

###

Behaviours

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


Communicating and Influencing Seeing the Big Picture Making Effective Decisions Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Communicating and Influencing Seeing the Big Picture ###

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:


GCS Framework - Implementation (SIO) GCS Framework - Insight (SIO)

Benefits

------------


Alongside your salary of 44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes 12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Our benefits include:

Learning and development tailored to your role with a dedicated minimum of 5 days per year. 25 days paid annual leave rising (by 1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of five years' service. Ability to roll up to 10 days annual leave per year. In addition to eight public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for HM The King's birthday. Pension contribution: 28.97% Parental and Adoption Leave. Discounts on a range of services within and external to the civil service - Defence Discount Service, Civil Service societies for Sports and Leisure, Healthcare, Insurance, Motoring, Company discounts with Virgin, Vodafone, and Microsoft Office. In year rewards and 'thank you' schemes such as vouchers and gift cards. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity. Find out more here - Discovermybenefits.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It's vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we're proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.


Defence Digital operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence Digital reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing.


Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.


The post does not offer relocation expenses.


External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.


Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.


Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.


Any move to MOD 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/.


The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.


MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey - We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights

Things you need to know

---------------------------

###

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.


Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (500 Words)


At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability and the following behaviours:

Communicating and Influencing Seeing the Big Picture (250 words per behaviour)

When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.


Interviews


At interview, you will be assessed against the following behaviours and technical skills:


Behaviours

Communicating and Influencing Seeing the big picture Making effective decisions Delivering at pace

Technical skills

GCS Framework - Implementation (SIO) GCS Framework - Insight (SIO)

The Government Communication Service Framework used in this vacancy, can be found at: Competency Framework - technical specifications - GCS


The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.


The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.


Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command's transformation programme is committed to following the MOD's framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command's personnel and Trade Unions.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.###

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.###

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.###

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

---------------------------------


This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.###

Contact point for applicants

####

Job contact :

Name : Defence Digital Talent Acquisition Team Email : ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk
####

Recruitment team

Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk ###

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.