Head of Cyber Security Culture and Architecture

Organisation: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

Salary: £69,500 - £90,600

Location: Hanslope Park (Milton Keynes) or East Kilbride - hybrid, min 60% in the office

Terms: Permanent, Grade 6

Benefits: 25 days annual leave, Civil Service pension scheme (28.97%)

Allen Lane is supporting the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in their search for a Head of Cyber Security Culture and Architecture on a permanent basis. This is a Grade 6 vacancy in a growing function within the Information and Cyber Security Department. We are growing our team to take on the ever-changing global security challenges and deliver innovative security solutions that will enable and empower the FCDO to succeed.

The Head of Cyber Security Culture and Architecture is responsible to the Chief Information Security Officer to define, lead and deliver, through their team, the FCDO’s secure architecture and its internal cyber security culture. The role ensures that secure design is embedded across systems and services while fostering a workforce that understands, values and upholds security principles.

You will lead a team of security architects who will influence technology delivery, organisational behaviours and leadership decision making. You will ensure that architecture, awareness and cultural resilience are delivered in a coordinated way, aligning secure by design principles with secure behavioural outcomes.

The Head of Cyber Security Culture and Architecture will work in partnership with business, digital and security stakeholders, providing the leadership required to drive continuous development in the following areas:

• Information and Cyber Security Culture
• Information and Cyber Security Practices
• Information and Cyber Security Architecture
• Architectural Roadmap for Information Security

The Head of Cyber Security Culture and Architecture will be a member of the ICSD Senior Leadership team and IDD Extended Leadership Group; and is expected to lead engagement and reporting for their workstreams, working across the IDD to improve ways of working both internally and externally. The successful candidate will be expected to represent the CISO at various HMG and external events where necessary.

Full details of the duties and responsibilities for this position are detailed in the candidate pack.

We are looking for those who are able to engage on all Minimum Criteria with the potential to develop further in some areas.

Minimum Criteria

• Enterprise Security Architecture: Leading the design and assurance of enterprise security architecture, applying recognised frameworks and principles to ensure solutions are resilient, compliant and aligned with organisational objectives, while advising and guiding senior stakeholders.
• Technical Security Architecture: Applying security architectural principles to complex IT and operational technology (OT) systems, addressing vulnerabilities, bringing structure to diverse environments, while supervising practitioners and influencing senior stakeholders to adopt secure design.
• Policy and Standards: Providing subject matter expertise in developing and interpreting cyber and information security policies and standards to guide complex or precedent-setting decisions.
• Information Security Culture: Baselining the future vision for the FCDO’s information and cyber security culture, defining, and assuring delivery of change leavers and reporting mechanisms to effect cultural change.
• Third Party Management: Leading the definition and assurance of cyber and information security requirements for third-party relationships, advising senior stakeholders and ensuring suppliers deliver against compliance and risk management expectations.
• Management, Leadership and Influence: Embedding a security first culture and influencing behaviours at all levels to reduce risk and improve resilience. Shaping Cyber and Information security leadership, strong stakeholder influence, and the management of high performing teams, whilst championing professional development.

Qualifications encouraged: CISSP, CCSP, SABSA or CISM. The FCDO is a corporate member of CIISec and we actively encourage all staff to engage with its professional standards and actively work towards recognised accreditation to support their ongoing development and contribution to the cyber profession.

How to apply: You will be required to complete and submit an application to FCDO@allenlane.co.uk by the closing date of Monday November 3rd at 09:00. This must include a CV detailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications). CVs will be assessed against the Minimum Criteria outlined in the Person Specification section of this Pack. You should also provide a Personal Statement of up to 1,000 words, and a completed online diversity monitoring form. Your Personal Statement should explain how your skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with specific reference to the Minimum Criteria. We are looking for those who are able to engage on all of the Criteria with the potential to develop further in some areas. These responses will be explored further during the interview process for shortlisted candidates.

This role can be based at one of our offices in Hanslope Park (Milton Keynes) or East Kilbride. Hybrid working is available, there is an expectation of 60% office time as a minimum.

The salary for this role at Grade 6 starts at £69,500 per annum. If based in Milton Keynes, there will be an additional, non-pensionable, non-consolidated location allowance of £1,750. A specialist allowance of up to £10,800 per annum (non-contractual, non-consolidated and non-pensionable) may be offered based on the candidate’s demonstrated skills, competence and experience at interview. This allowance will be subject to regular review and may be changed or removed with written notice. The maximum total remuneration for this role will not exceed £90,600 per annum.

The terms of the employment include access to the Civil Service pension scheme (employer contribution of 28.97%) and annual leave starting at 25 days leave per annum. If successful you must hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to DV level. All offers of appointment will be subject to achieving DV level clearance. You must have been resident in the UK for five out of the last ten years immediately prior to your application.

We want the modern FCDO to reflect the very best of 21st century Britain. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified applicants, irrespective of background or circumstances.