Cyber Defence Lead

Cyber Defence Lead | Hybrid Working with Glasgow or Dundee Base Location | £45449 - £54419  + £5,000 DDaT Pay Supplement after 3 month qualifying period | Full or Part Time Hours | Flexi- time | 25 Days annual leave (increasing to 30 after 4 years’ service) plus 11.5 Public and Privilege| Contributory Pension Scheme (employee contributions 5.45% employer contributions 28.97%)|

We are currently seeking a Cyber Defence Lead to join our Digital Risk & Security branch based in Glasgow or Dundee. This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead the vulnerability management programme and contribute to the security and protection of Scotland's social security system.
  
If you have a passion for cyber defence, a keen eye for emerging threats, and a drive to make a lasting impact, apply now to be part of this exciting programme of work at Social Security Scotland.

Social Security Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government, is the largest and most complex IT and digital change programme since devolution. With a lifetime budget of over £300m, delivering a social security system that will support the people of Scotland for decades to come. Due to the demands of this exciting programme of work, the Agency is currently experiencing rapid growth and we require more talented digital, security and technology experts to join us.
 
This role sits within the Digital Risk & Security team of the Chief Digital Office. The Digital Risk and Security branch comprises 2 key areas: Security Assurance and Security areas; security risk and assurance, security architecture, cyber operations and protective monitoring, and security engineering.  
 
As a Cyber Defence Lead, you will play a key role within our Cyber Operations team. You will oversee the management of vulnerabilities, monitor threats, assess risks, and identify mitigations where required to reduce the security risk across the organisation. 
 
As a senior member of the team, you will manage a number of Cyber Defence Analysts and provide leadership and mentoring to help grow the security posture across the organisation.
  
What do we offer you?

We offer meaningful and engaging careers, a collaborative culture, and support for your career goals, all while nurturing a healthy work-life balance. We provide an employment package that attracts, develops, and retains only the best talent.
  
• B3 - Salary between £45449 - £54419 plus a £5000 annual Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) pay supplement after a 3 month qualifying period. This supplement is backdated and paid with your monthly salary.

• Flexible working arrangements with potential of up to 4 days off per month.

• You will have an annual leave allowance of 5 weeks, rising to 6 weeks after 4 years. In addition, the Scottish Government observes 11½ days public and privilege holidays, dates of which are set annually.

• Workplace adjustments for everyone that needs them to ensure your comfort and safety in your new role.

• Learning and development opportunities to support your personal and professional growth.

• Career progression – join a rapidly growing and developing organisation with excellent opportunities for career advancement.

• Contributory Pension Scheme (employee contributions 5.45% employer contributions 28.97%).

• Health and wellbeing support including 24 hour access to our Employee Assistance Programme, plus counselling support available for all.

• Discounts on gym memberships and retail outlets.
  
DDaT Pay Supplement

This post attracts a £5,000 DDaT pay supplement after a 3 months DDaT competency qualifying period. The payment will be backdated to your start date in the role. Pay supplements are temporary payments designed to address recruitment and retention issues caused by market pressures and are subject to regular review. This post is part of the Scottish Government DDaT profession. As a member of the profession, you will join the professional development scheme, currently BCS RoleModel plus. 
   
Hybrid Working 

We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum of 2 days per week in your assigned location. Base office location can be in either Dundee or Glasgow. 
  
About Us 

Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve.   

Find out more about us here  

• You will be responsible for leading the vulnerability management programme of work for the agency. Reviewing and assessing the security risk of results of vulnerability scans, in order to prioritise and assign tasks for remediation.

• Monitor and analyse threat intelligence feeds, sources and reports to stay informed of emerging cyber threats, vulnerabilities and attack techniques and translate these into actionable intel.

• You will be responsible for people management of junior members of staff and delivering a wide range of security operation activities.

• Day to day tasks will include managing security alerts and escalations from junior staff, security tool management and improvement, vulnerability remediation, scanning, and keeping up-to-date with the security landscape.

No specific qualifications are required for this post. 
  
How To Apply

To apply for this post, you will need to provide the information requested below via the online application process.   
  
A CV (no longer than two pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements - this is accessed through the candidate profile.   

In addition, please record your Personal Statement (no longer than 750 words). This should clearly demonstrate how your skills, qualities and experience meet the following essential criteria:  
 

1. Experience of hands-on technical knowledge of delivering security capabilities within a security operations team, specifically around vulnerability management and cyber threat intelligence.

2. Thorough understanding of networking, infrastructure and application architectures both cloud-based and on-premise, and how to implement appropriate security controls to ensure required visibility and security risk management mitigation.

3. Experience of delivering comprehensive and timely management information, showing current security position around areas such as vulnerability management and security risk posture for senior stakeholders.

4. Experience of leading a small team of cyber operation analyst on a day to day basis.

When considering how your experience relates to the role, please tailor your CV and personal statement to reflect the role and the essential skills/criteria as described in the job description. 
 
If we receive a large number of applications, we may complete an initial sift on the first essential criteria.
  
If you pass the sift but are not invited to the first round of interviews, you may be invited to a subsequent round. Any queries on this please contact recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot
   
If you are invited to an interview this will be held in person in either Agnes Husband House, Dundee or High Street, Glasgow.
   
We aim to provide feedback on request, however; if we receive a large number of applications it may not be possible for us to provide feedback on your application if you are not invited to attend an interview/assessment. We will provide feedback on request to all candidates that attend an interview/assessment.

DDaT Social Security Scotland - Further information - Cyber Defence Lead
  
Information Session

We will be running an online information session on Wednesday 15th May at 12-1pm.

The session will cover:

• About Social Security Scotland.

• The Cyber Defence Lead role and Digital Risk and Security Team.

• Our recruitment process.

• Q&A with the hiring manager.
  
Please feel free to join us using the link below to find out more about the role and working for Social Security Scotland.
 
Click here to join the meeting

Interview/Assessment Information 

Here are details of the Competencies required for this role which you will be tested against if you are invited to attend an interview and undertake a digital assessment: 
  
• People Management

• Communications and Engagement

• Improving Performance

• Analysis and Use of Evidence

• DDaT Technical Skill Assessment

Reserve List 

In the event that further posts are required, a reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for up to 9 months.
  
Recruitment Contact

To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Claire Murray who can be reached at claire.murray@socialsecurity.gov.scot
    
Please note that we will not engage with external recruitment agencies for this post. 
  
Further Information

This post requires the successful candidate to clear additional National Security Vetting clearance (SC) before a start date can be offered. Further information regarding National Security Vetting clearance can be found here - United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  
The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade. 
    
Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at Recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot
  
Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk)  

If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner.  
  
If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitment@socialsecurity.gov.scot  
  
If you are interested in us contacting you about further available vacancies, please sign up to our mailing list to receive job alerts.