NCSC Telecoms Security Lead Ref. 2262
Operational and Surveillance
Gloucestershire, London, Manchester
At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce.
Short Summary of role
This is an opportunity to join a growing team of telecoms security specialists. We are experts in our field who understand how networks can be compromised, and the mitigation techniques that make attacks less likely to be successful. Our mission is to use our knowledge to improve the security of the UK’s telecommunications sector.
This is an exciting time for telecoms security in the UK. The introduction of the Telecoms Security Bill provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost the security standards of the UK’s telecoms networks. This new regime is underpinned by the detailed security analysis performed by the NCSC’s telecoms security team, and the team will be at the heart of its implementation over the coming years. Alongside the bill, we use our technical knowledge to support DCMS in diversifying the telecommunications sector, helping to address the national security risks due to the use of high risk vendors and the lack of diversity in the telecoms supply chain.
As one of the NCSC’s leads in telecoms security, you will have in-depth knowledge in telecommunications technology paired with expertise in security analysis. You will deliver security improvements across the telecoms sector by sharing your expertise with major UK operators, international vendors and the UK government. Clear and persuasive, you will be able to explain and contextualise complex technical details to effectively influence stakeholders.
You will take an evidence-backed view of security risk, using rigorous analysis, real-world incidents and known techniques to prioritise improvements. You will be able to justify known mitigations, innovating security solutions and mitigation strategies where appropriate.
Taking the unique opportunities available to you as part of NCSC, you will gain a unique insight into the telecommunications sector. You will continuously grow your knowledge of telecoms security, be that through training, your own research, collaboration with industry and the wider intelligence community, or supporting the management of cyber incidents in the sector.
You will have a beginner’s mindset, eager to play with and understand new technologies, such as 5G, OpenRAN, Software-Defined Networking, Mobile Edge Compute, Trusted Computing or network automation.
What will the successful candidate be doing?
Depending on your skill set and interests, you will be working in one or more of the following areas:
• Supporting Ofcom and DCMS to implement a new telecoms security framework for the UK, which will define the future security of the sector.
• Direct technical security consultancy with UK operators and international vendors.
• Advising stakeholders on telecoms threats, and defining mitigating solutions.
• Building large-scale systems that reduce cross-sector cyber risks.
• Providing technical risk assessments to inform government policy on supply chain risks.
• Supporting the creation and successful operation of a new research facility: the UK Telecommunications Lab (UKTL).
• Fostering new telecoms and security companies by removing technical barriers that hinder innovation and vendor diversity.
• Self-driven research into new telecoms technologies, and the security of those technologies.
Key responsibilities:
Who are you looking for?
We take a flexible and positive attitude to how you get the job done. The following skills and experience are essential for this role:
• The understanding and ability to implement cyber security principles and practices. Ability to see security weaknesses in systems. Potentially with expertise in threat analysis, risk assessment or network security testing.
• A technical understanding of telecommunications systems, potentially with knowledge of one or more of:
o Telecoms architectures, or telecoms signalling, or optical transmission, or MPLS backbone networks, or
o Radio transmission and radio access networks, or
o Secure administration / privileged access management / isolated enterprise networks, or
o Virtualisation/Containerisation and network segmentation, or
o Supply chain security and risk
• An understanding of the telecommunications sector and the business processes used by telecommunications operators and vendors.
• Strong communication skills. Capable of working with a range of partner organisations across industry and government. Comfortable working on collaborative projects.
• Interest in technology, and exploring technology.
This post requires DV clearance.
The successful applicant will need to have:
Competency Requirements
• Communication and Knowledge sharing – Intermediate
• Corporate Vision and Efficiency – Intermediate
• Change and Innovation – Intermediate
• Analysis and Decision Making – Higher (Essential)
• Contribution to Delivery – Higher (Essential)
• Managing the Customer Relationship – Higher (Essential)
• Working with and Leading Others - Higher
You can familiarise yourself with the general competencies we use to assess the aptitude of candidates here - Recruitment Process
• If you’re excited about working with us and think you have some of what we’re looking for but aren’t sure if you’re 100% there yet… why not just give it a go!
Training and Development
Benefits we offer
At NCSC and GCHQ, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment that’s designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we are committed to helping you fulfil your potential. With comprehensive training and development opportunities, tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we will enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities.
• Access to learning and development tailored to your role and support to gain professional qualifications and certifications.
• An environment that supports a range of flexible working options (including a flexible working hour scheme).
• A culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• Support to gain professional qualifications and certifications.
• A civil service pension.
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days based on length of service.
Salary
Salary of £46,385 with the potential to earn specialist pay based on a skill assessment.
Location
Gloucester, London or Manchester
Selection Process
To apply for this position, you must meet our nationality, residency requirements. You’ll find more details here – www.gchq-careers.co.uk/recruitmentprocess
As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. This is known as the Offer of Interview (OOI).
To secure an interview for this role, candidates applying under this scheme must meet the criteria for the role.
Be prepared to dedicate 60-90 minutes to completing your application. We’re conscious this might be more time than you expected, so our system will allow you to save your application at any time and come back to it later. But remember to submit your full application before the closing date.
You will need to submit a short covering letter (no more than 2 pages) setting out what you would bring to the job, as detailed in the role description and person specification.
You will need to submit a CV as part of your application, giving details of relevant achievements in recent posts.
Once we’ve established that you meet our eligibility criteria, the next steps of this selection process are:
Applications will be sifted against the competencies required for this role. Candidates that can demonstrate appropriate evidence will be invited to a panel interview.
You will be contacted by email and offered a time and date to attend an interview. The format of the interview will be via remote video conference. The interview will take around 45 minutes. Please allow 60 minutes for the whole process.
If you are successful at interview you will receive a job offer, conditional upon you obtaining the level of security clearance required to perform this role.
DV is required for this role. All successful applicants will need to acquire DV if not already held.
The closing date for this role is 11 May 2021.
Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
Short Summary of role
This is an opportunity to join a growing team of telecoms security specialists. We are experts in our field who understand how networks can be compromised, and the mitigation techniques that make attacks less likely to be successful. Our mission is to use our knowledge to improve the security of the UK’s telecommunications sector.
This is an exciting time for telecoms security in the UK. The introduction of the Telecoms Security Bill provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost the security standards of the UK’s telecoms networks. This new regime is underpinned by the detailed security analysis performed by the NCSC’s telecoms security team, and the team will be at the heart of its implementation over the coming years. Alongside the bill, we use our technical knowledge to support DCMS in diversifying the telecommunications sector, helping to address the national security risks due to the use of high risk vendors and the lack of diversity in the telecoms supply chain.
As one of the NCSC’s leads in telecoms security, you will have in-depth knowledge in telecommunications technology paired with expertise in security analysis. You will deliver security improvements across the telecoms sector by sharing your expertise with major UK operators, international vendors and the UK government. Clear and persuasive, you will be able to explain and contextualise complex technical details to effectively influence stakeholders.
You will take an evidence-backed view of security risk, using rigorous analysis, real-world incidents and known techniques to prioritise improvements. You will be able to justify known mitigations, innovating security solutions and mitigation strategies where appropriate.
Taking the unique opportunities available to you as part of NCSC, you will gain a unique insight into the telecommunications sector. You will continuously grow your knowledge of telecoms security, be that through training, your own research, collaboration with industry and the wider intelligence community, or supporting the management of cyber incidents in the sector.
You will have a beginner’s mindset, eager to play with and understand new technologies, such as 5G, OpenRAN, Software-Defined Networking, Mobile Edge Compute, Trusted Computing or network automation.
What will the successful candidate be doing?
Depending on your skill set and interests, you will be working in one or more of the following areas:
• Supporting Ofcom and DCMS to implement a new telecoms security framework for the UK, which will define the future security of the sector.
• Direct technical security consultancy with UK operators and international vendors.
• Advising stakeholders on telecoms threats, and defining mitigating solutions.
• Building large-scale systems that reduce cross-sector cyber risks.
• Providing technical risk assessments to inform government policy on supply chain risks.
• Supporting the creation and successful operation of a new research facility: the UK Telecommunications Lab (UKTL).
• Fostering new telecoms and security companies by removing technical barriers that hinder innovation and vendor diversity.
• Self-driven research into new telecoms technologies, and the security of those technologies.
Key responsibilities:
Who are you looking for?
We take a flexible and positive attitude to how you get the job done. The following skills and experience are essential for this role:
• The understanding and ability to implement cyber security principles and practices. Ability to see security weaknesses in systems. Potentially with expertise in threat analysis, risk assessment or network security testing.
• A technical understanding of telecommunications systems, potentially with knowledge of one or more of:
o Telecoms architectures, or telecoms signalling, or optical transmission, or MPLS backbone networks, or
o Radio transmission and radio access networks, or
o Secure administration / privileged access management / isolated enterprise networks, or
o Virtualisation/Containerisation and network segmentation, or
o Supply chain security and risk
• An understanding of the telecommunications sector and the business processes used by telecommunications operators and vendors.
• Strong communication skills. Capable of working with a range of partner organisations across industry and government. Comfortable working on collaborative projects.
• Interest in technology, and exploring technology.
This post requires DV clearance.
The successful applicant will need to have:
Competency Requirements
• Communication and Knowledge sharing – Intermediate
• Corporate Vision and Efficiency – Intermediate
• Change and Innovation – Intermediate
• Analysis and Decision Making – Higher (Essential)
• Contribution to Delivery – Higher (Essential)
• Managing the Customer Relationship – Higher (Essential)
• Working with and Leading Others - Higher
You can familiarise yourself with the general competencies we use to assess the aptitude of candidates here - Recruitment Process
• If you’re excited about working with us and think you have some of what we’re looking for but aren’t sure if you’re 100% there yet… why not just give it a go!
Training and Development
Benefits we offer
At NCSC and GCHQ, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment that’s designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we are committed to helping you fulfil your potential. With comprehensive training and development opportunities, tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we will enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities.
• Access to learning and development tailored to your role and support to gain professional qualifications and certifications.
• An environment that supports a range of flexible working options (including a flexible working hour scheme).
• A culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• Support to gain professional qualifications and certifications.
• A civil service pension.
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days based on length of service.
Salary
Salary of £46,385 with the potential to earn specialist pay based on a skill assessment.
Location
Gloucester, London or Manchester
Selection Process
To apply for this position, you must meet our nationality, residency requirements. You’ll find more details here – www.gchq-careers.co.uk/recruitmentprocess
As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. This is known as the Offer of Interview (OOI).
To secure an interview for this role, candidates applying under this scheme must meet the criteria for the role.
Be prepared to dedicate 60-90 minutes to completing your application. We’re conscious this might be more time than you expected, so our system will allow you to save your application at any time and come back to it later. But remember to submit your full application before the closing date.
You will need to submit a short covering letter (no more than 2 pages) setting out what you would bring to the job, as detailed in the role description and person specification.
You will need to submit a CV as part of your application, giving details of relevant achievements in recent posts.
Once we’ve established that you meet our eligibility criteria, the next steps of this selection process are:
Applications will be sifted against the competencies required for this role. Candidates that can demonstrate appropriate evidence will be invited to a panel interview.
You will be contacted by email and offered a time and date to attend an interview. The format of the interview will be via remote video conference. The interview will take around 45 minutes. Please allow 60 minutes for the whole process.
If you are successful at interview you will receive a job offer, conditional upon you obtaining the level of security clearance required to perform this role.
DV is required for this role. All successful applicants will need to acquire DV if not already held.
The closing date for this role is 11 May 2021.
Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.