Policy Advisor – Telecoms Security and Resilience (subsea cables)

Contents

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

Darlington, London

About the job

Job summary

At DSIT we’re all about improving people’s lives by maximising the potential of science & technology.

We accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science, research and development.

We use technology for good by ensuring new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the UK, with the benefits more widely shared.

We are driving forward a modern digital government which gives citizens a more satisfying experience and their time back.

We do all this to enable the Government’s 5 national missions: kickstarting economic growth, making Britain a clean energy superpower, taking back our streets, breaking down barriers to opportunity and building an NHS fit for the future.

Above all, we focus on improving people’s lives. Whether it’s researching new treatments for disease, developing better batteries, reducing burdens through better public services, keeping children safe online, and much more, outcomes for citizens are at the heart of what we do.

Our Inclusive Environment

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

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 D&I Strategy.

Find Out More

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://buytickets.at/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation/1025519

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/

Job description

Secure and resilient telecom networks underpin the UK’s economy and our day-to-day lives and activities. The Telecoms Security Policy Team is responsible for developing robust government policies, including legislation, to protect UK telecoms networks and services from security threats. We work closely with a wide range of stakeholders – including industry, national security agencies, regulators and other government departments. The team sits within the wider Telecoms Security and Resilience (TSR) Unit, within DSIT’s Digital Infrastructure Directorate.

Subsea telecoms cables are the backbone of the internet. 99% of international data traffic passes through thousands of kilometres of these cables at the bottom of our oceans, at lightning-fast speeds every day. Without them, life as we know it with instant communications, services and global trade would not be possible. 

This is an exciting role at the forefront of internet security. Working as part of a team and serving as Deputy to the subsea telecoms cables security lead, the successful candidate will develop creative policies to address security and resilience risks to subsea telecoms cable infrastructure which is so essential to the UK economy and the services we take for granted.

Person specification

The post holder’s responsibilities will include:

• Working with industry, academia, international partners and partners across government to identify security and resilience risks to subsea telecoms cables,
• Reviewing the effectiveness of existing government policies (including regulations) at mitigating those risks,
• Developing new government policies, where necessary, to improve the security and resilience of subsea telecoms cable infrastructure.

In developing and implementing government policy, the successful candidate will be required to work with officials across HMG, the devolved administrations, industry and academia. These cables and international in their nature and so policy development also requires engagement with officials in overseas governments and industry to create a permissive international environment for the security and resilience of subsea telecoms cables.

The post holder will:

Work closely with experts (including UK intelligence community) to develop a clear understanding of the security threats to subsea telecoms cables infrastructure, including cyber, physical and personnel security risks.

Work with various stakeholders (including industry) to identify and assess wider resilience risks to subsea cables posed by environmental factors, and accidental damage (e.g. breakages caused by fishing trawlers snagging their nets or merchant ships dragging their anchors).

Identify and assess measures taken by governments in other countries and international bodies (e.g. NATO) to mitigate security and resilience risks to subsea telecoms cables infrastructure, including through international engagement.

Work with colleagues across government, and international partners, to develop effective policies for mitigating security and resilience risks to subsea telecoms cable infrastructure.

Skills and Experience 

Essential requirements:

• Proven evidence of working on policy development, including developing policy options and recommendations.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills – the post holder must be able to think creatively about how to approach problems and be able to use evidence effectively in making decisions.
• Strong communication skills – the post holder must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, be able to simplify and articulate complex information to influence others and have an ability to adjust messaging to a wide range of audiences.
• Excellent organisational skills – the post holder must be able to plan and prioritise their work effectively.
• Ability to do a London or Darlington-based role.
• Possess either current DV (Developed Vetting) security clearance or be willing to undergo the DV security clearance process to obtain such clearance.

Desirable skills:

• Experience of working across Whitehall and beyond, proactively building relationships to deliver your policy objectives.
• Knowledge of telecoms/digital infrastructure and/or knowledge of the maritime domain.
• Experience of working on National Security or defence policy.
• Experience of working on, or with, legislation.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,860, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £10,492 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.

Office attendance

The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period. 

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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 : Anna Butchart
• Email : anna.butchart@dsit.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dsitresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance DSITrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk . If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints

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