Job Description

Details

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Reference number

408210
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Salary

54,416 - 68,344
Per Annum, Pro Rata - Plus up to 15,000 MPS to be reviewed 31st March 2026.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
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Job grade

Grade 7###

Contract type

Permanent###

Business area

Chief Data Officer Group (CDO) Data Protection, Security and Technology Services DCS###

Type of role

Digital###

Working pattern

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

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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

Location

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Remote working (anywhere in the UK)

About the job

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Job summary

UKHSA's Cyber Security Architecture Delivery team is responsible for defining cyber security technical standards for the organisation, providing technical guidance and consulting to help service teams to deliver against those standards, and supporting the selection of security tools and technology.


The team (of ten) works across the organisation to support projects to ensure that solutions (predominantly AWS & Azure) are securely designed, identifying threats and where appropriate working with pen test teams to scope testing.


As Lead Security Architect, you will be responsible for overseeing the secure delivery of projects and data platforms; ensuring architectural design reviews (HLD/LLD) and threat models are carried out to a high standard. It is an exciting, fast-paced role that will drive strategic change across the organisation both in terms of data and analytic capability, and culture.


You'll work closely with a variety of stakeholders including business leads, project managers, delivery partners - as well as multi-disciplinary Technology teams who build and run services.


We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.


UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

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Job description

The Cyber Security Architecture Delivery team is a mix of permanent civil servants (Two Lead Security Architects and Head of department) and contract Security Architects (6 to 10)


As Lead Security Architect you will:

Work closely with security architects, overseeing their work and providing assurance that architectural design reviews and threat models are carried out consistently to the required standard Ensure the team have the appropriate blueprints, guidance, policies and standards required to complete their work. Take a risk based and outcome driven approach to secure architecture Develop and communicate meaningful security policies Identify and promote best practices for multidisciplinary teams to deliver resilient, secure and scalable services Identify, own, and respond to security risks and issues as they arise Cultivate and maintain relationships with other security teams within UKHSA, Cabinet Office, NCSC and the rest of government Ensure all work is in line with DSPT-CAF compliance and the security architecture framework (blueprints, standards etc ) are maintained.
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Person specification

Essential criteria

You will be assessed on the below four essential criteria, which have been selected from the Document.

Can demonstrate cyber security knowledge in a previous hands-on role, especially working within big programmes, and have experience of security management and information assurance practices Has experience with modern software engineering practices and cloud infrastructure, including building, managing and deploying modern web services Understands security end-to-end, from security considerations in the design of services, through to architecture reviews, threat modelling, controls and remediation against existing live services Builds strong relationships and communicates effectively with senior stakeholders and colleagues, ensuring that security considerations are well accounted for and built into ways of working

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 54,416, UK Health Security Agency contributes 15,764 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed four essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) 500-word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.


The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting

: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria

Please note only 1 & 2 pile will be carried though to shortlisting

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

Can demonstrate cyber security knowledge in a previous hands-on role, especially working within big programmes, and have experience of security management and information assurance practice

Desirable criteria:

This may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidate

Leading a team of technical specialists

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment


Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your statement of suitability must be no more than 500.

Please do not exceed this word limit, we will not consider any words over and above this number. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.


You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

Stage 2: Interview

Success Profiles

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview


Behaviours, experience and ability will be tested at interview.


The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be: -

Making effective decisions Leadership Communicating and Influencing Delivering at pace

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.


Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Eligibility Criteria

External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Location

This role is a Home-based Role. With occasional travel to Core HQ's (London, Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool) expected when needed.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.


Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check (SC)


You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the 5 years to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance.


UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details - name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.



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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
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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.###

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

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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

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Job contact :

Name : Chris Williams Email : chris.williams2@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : chris.williams2@ukhsa.gov.uk ###

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk