Head of Digital Assurance & Cyber Security

About the Government Legal Department
From energy to security, health to human rights, we help the Government deliver life changing law for citizens.
The Government Legal Department is the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters that are frequently scrutinised in Parliament and the media. Our work includes:
+ Developing and drafting legislation
+ Providing legal advice on policies
+ Securing our economic and trade relationships
+ Ensuring value from commercial contracts worth billions of pounds
+ Providing the Civil Service’s employment law advice
We are at the heart of delivering the Government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.
GLD is a non-ministerial government department, sponsored by the Attorney General. We are headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary and employ nearly 3000 people, including over 2000 legal professionals. Our offices include London, Leeds, Bristol, Croydon and Manchester as well as overseas. We provide specialist legal services including Litigation, Employment and Commercial Law as well as advising most Government Departments on the policies and services they deliver.
GLD also depends on a range of vital corporate services. These are essential to the smooth and efficient running of the Department and provide the foundation to enable GLD to deliver outstanding legal services. Our corporate functions include Strategy, HR, Finance, Digital, Data and Technology, Communications, Security, Commercial and Project delivery.
Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.
To find out more about what we do visit the Government Legal Department’s webpage or have a look at this short film which showcases the breadth of work government lawyers and legal trainees are involved in., This is an exciting time for digital and data specialists as government harnesses digital technologies, skills, and tools to transform public services. There have never been more opportunities to work collectively and creatively as a profession to respond to the changing needs and expectations of millions of people and deliver services that are simple and easy to use.
The digital and data profession comprises 25,000+ colleagues across government and is rapidly scaling up nationwide in line with our strategy.
GLD's modern, insight-driven and innovative approach to data and technology provides outstanding experiences at the right cost, quality, and pace for the whole of GLD which, in turn, ensure staff and wider government clients receive a top-quality and cost-effective digital & technology service.
In your capacity as Head of Digital Assurance & Cyber Security at GLD, you will join a team of Digital and Data professionals that has developed into a high performing team leading the delivery of digital services to the staff at GLD.
The potential to shape our society’s future is enormous, and our purpose is to ensure the profession is equipped and inspired to deliver real, meaningful change for users; to do the work of transformation that makes government work better for everyone.
A message from Conall Bullock, Director of Digital & Technology at GLD...
"Thank you for your interest in applying for the Head of Digital Assurance and Cyber Security role at the Government Legal Department."
Our vision is a simpler, faster, and better Digital and Data function which can adapt and respond to changing needs of the Government Legal Department and Wider Government Legal Profession. The role of Head of Digital Assurance and Cyber Security will play a critical part in helping us to achieve this vision by ensuring that we keep a focus on ensuring what we do meets the highest government audit requirements and cyber security standards.
Why should you work with us? As the digital function that supports one of the largest legal operations in the world, we want to provide our legal colleagues with simple, secure and easy to use digital and data services which are built around their needs and help to improve the work of government for the benefit of all.
Our work is challenging, our user and stakeholder environment is complex, and the problems we solve are some of the most interesting that you will find anywhere in government.
If you have the skills, leadership, and qualities we are looking for, we’d love you to join us.
The Role
+ Reporting to the Director for Digital & Data, this role will support:
+ Digital & Data Strategic vision and direction by helping to set strategy, tech trends, innovation, as well as identifying necessary compliance standards.
+ Ensure quality service across the Digital and Data function ensuring the best cyber security, project, and program management policies and procedures are attained and maintained.
+ Effective management of the function to meet deadlines and reporting to senior stakeholders and officials on all aspects of service audit, assurance and cyber security., 1.Enabling and Informing Risk-Based Decisions: You can make and guide effective decisions on risk, explaining clearly how the decision has been reached. You can make decisions proportionate to the level of technical complexity and risk.
2.Performance Metrics and KPIs: Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and service metrics to identify areas for improvement. Use data-driven insights to inform decision-making and prioritize improvement initiatives.
3.Strong understanding of cyber security: Expert knowledge of assurance frameworks including the CAF (Cyber Assurance Framework). Experience working in fast-paced environments, managing tight deadlines and senior stakeholder relationships within or around cyber security functions.
4.Product Ownership for ITSM and Cyber Security tools: Lead the development and implementation of ITSM and Cyber Security audit tools, to enhance security, service delivery, provide assurance on standards compliance and improve user experience.
5.Driving Digital Transformation: Lead and contribute to digital transformation initiatives, which maintain the current certifications such as ISO27001 and Cyber Assurance Framework compliance.

Person specification
Behaviours
Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role.
You will be expected to provide evidence to show how you meet the criteria at interview and/or selection stage.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture
+ Behaviour: Leadership
+ Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
+ Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service, 2. A Statement of Suitability. Giving evidence against Motivational Fit criteria listed in the person specification (in no more than 500 words).
Selection Process
Your application should demonstrate how you meet the Technical & Experience criteria for the post, with relevant examples. It will not be sufficient to reiterate the criteria; you are expected to illustrate how you have met the requirements. Your application will be sifted by a GLD panel.
Interview
Should you be successful in being invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in all essential criteria as listed in the Person Specification, alongside scenario based exercises and strength-based questions. Candidates invited to interview will be given further information on the day and time to prepare.
+ Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture
+ Behaviour: Leadership
+ Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
+ Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service
+ Experience
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Interviews will take place remotely via video conference, full details of the interview format will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview. The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
Offer
Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible after the final interview.
We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list for up to 12 months. We then may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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) (opens in a new window)
+ 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

+ Significant experience in IT service management
Technical
+ Points 3-5 listed under the key responsibilities section on slide 5.
Motivational Fit
+ We need to know how well our requirements and offerings match your aspirations.
+ An understanding of the role of Digital & Data Function in Government.
+ Please outline why you are motivated to join the Government Legal Department and how you feel you might contribute effectively to a this with GLD.
Qualifications – Minimum Eligibility Criteria
CompTIA Security+ (or equivalent) is the minimum mandatory security certification required for this role., CompTIA Security+ (or equivalent) is the minimum mandatory security certification required for this role.

Alongside your salary of £68,750, Government Legal Department contributes £19,916 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%