2x Cyber & Tech Policy Advisors

Position description

The National Security Secretariat (NSS) in the Cabinet Office keeps the UK safe, secure and prosperous by bringing together the UK’s national security community, providing high-quality support to the Prime Minister and the National Security Council and maintaining centre-to-centre relationships internationally. Working within the wider Cabinet Secretariat and led by the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser (NSA), we assist the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in the development, coordination and implementation of its highest priority objectives.

The National Security Unit within NSS is a friendly, fast-paced team. It covers the full breadth of national security opportunities and challenges, including state threats, counter-terrorism, serious organised crime, intelligence policy and cyber security. We are a diverse mix from across government and the intelligence community, with a range of backgrounds, cultures, knowledge and expertise, working together to keep the UK secure. The Unit is co-led by the Director for Cyber & State Threats and the Director for Intelligence & Security.

 

Job description

The NSS Cyber & Tech Team is responsible for cross-Whitehall leadership of the National Cyber Strategy and for advising the Prime Minister on the risks and opportunities of technological change for UK national security and our global strategic advantage. It also manages a multi-million pound portfolio as part of the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) and supports Ministerial committees making decisions on cyber and technology. The team is made up of three sub-teams, two of which lead on strategy and policy for Cyber and Emerging Tech respectively, and the other on programme and performance.

The work of the team is dynamic, high profile and fascinating. Each member of the team has clear personal responsibilities and autonomy to deliver their work, but colleagues surge in to support each other when needed. 

The Cyber team’s role is to support and drive delivery of the UK’s National Cyber Strategy in 2022. This is an exciting period driving forward delivery of the strategy through relationships and structures across Whitehall and beyond to most effectively deliver the government’s commitment that the UK will continue to be a leading responsible and democratic cyber power, able to protect and promote our interests in and through cyberspace in support of national goals. A thriving national cyber ecosystem and productive engagement across the whole of society are core parts of this commitment.

The Emerging Technology team’s role is to help the UK secure strategic advantage through science and technology, as set out in the Integrated Review 2023 and the UK Science & Technology Framework. This involves working across the five critical technologies and the nine systems enablers set out in the framework.

Now is an excellent time to join the cyber and tech team, as the team adapts to respond to the election. You will have the opportunity to shape your portfolio whichever team you join, but the post-holder in the Cyber team can expect to lead on a range of cyber engagement activities and commitments. They can expect to work with bodies including the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), DSIT, FCDO, the Home Office and other departments, Parliament and key industry players, to:

• Lead the Cyber Team’s approach to external engagement as outlined in the National Cyber Strategy, through better communication across government, Parliament, the private sector and the third sector.
• Lead the secretariat for the National Cyber Advisory Board (NCAB). The NCAB is co-chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chief Security Officer of Lloyds Bank. It is the most senior advisory board in the UK cyber ecosystem, bringing together executive-level leaders from across industry to increase transparency and provide strategic input into government cyber policy.
• Draft high-quality advice and provide briefings for seniors and ministers on areas within your portfolio, including the Deputy National Security Advisor and Ministers.
• Manage parliamentary and Cabinet processes including parliamentary and committee handling, ministerial write round coordination where required.
• Provide flexible support to high priorities across the team, including policy projects, and the opportunity to support the Cabinet Office’s 24/7 incident management function.

The post-holder in the Emerging Tech team can expect to work across the National Security Secretariat, and with the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC), the Joint Intelligence Office (JIO), No10, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and others across Government to:

• Support effective decision-making by the Ministerial and senior official level cross-Whitehall structures governing the science and technology landscape, by advising on the risks and opportunities of rapid advances in technology (including and their implications for UK security and prosperity).
• Use assessment and analysis products to brief senior officials on strategy and policy decisions, and oversee intelligence activity to ensure the UK is fit for systemic competition in science and technology.
• Support the team in convening S&T policy leads across Government to drive a coherent and coordinated approach to delivery of the S&T Framework and to broker decisions.
• Support Ministers and senior officials in their engagement on science and technology with academic experts, industry leaders and international counterparts.

Person specification

It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement, you provide evidence of the skills and experience for this post. 

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of thinking strategically and making use of innovative policy design techniques to shape new and emerging areas of policy, identify priorities and set vision across departments and industry.
• Experience of and/or demonstrable interest in technology or cyber policy, particularly in relation to international relations, industry collaboration, or national security.
• Experience of establishing trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, including balancing interests across complex policy areas, and communicating effectively in writing and verbally, to convey difficult messages, increase clarity and build trust.
• Leadership, resilience and change management skills, including a structured approach to workload, supporting your team to balance competing priorities.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, analysing and explaining complex information to make clear and concise recommendations to senior audiences.
• Ability to work autonomously and proactively in a busy team, identifying what areas of work to progress and how to do so.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working with think tanks, industry groups, private sector organisations.
• Experience of working with analysts and/or data scientists to interpret complex or conflicting information sources.
• Experience of working in national security, including with UKIC.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

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

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

• Seeing the Big Picture

 

Application instructions

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