Internet Resilience Policy Adviser

Job summary

DSIT

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.

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

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

Job description

The Telecoms Resilience and Incident Management team in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is leading Government’s effort to ensure the UK’s core digital infrastructure is secure and resilient. Our modern way of life is built upon the internet, underpinned by a complex digital core network whose infrastructure is inherently fragmented and international. Society is becoming increasingly digital, from home working to the emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, immersive technologies and robotics. If the benefits of global connectivity are to be fully realised, we need to understand and manage risks to its security and resilience.

Almost every essential service in the UK, from policing and food supply to national security and defence, relies on access to the internet.

This is a challenging but extremely exciting role. You will support the scoping and development of the UK's security and resilience policy framework for the infrastructure that sits at the core of the internet. You will work with colleagues across DCMS, industry and wider government, including the Cabinet Office and the National Cyber Security Centre, to identify vulnerabilities and develop proportionate mitigation responses.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

The role provides a unique opportunity to make a difference to the security and resilience of the country. We are looking for a motivated individual with strong communication skills to support this work. You will be a self-starter with drive and energy who can work with a community of experts across government, industry and academia to identify the key operational, security and resilience challenges faced by our national digital core network infrastructure.

The role of the Internet Resilience Policy Advisor involves delivering policies to ensure the security, resilience and availability of internet and subsea cable critical national infrastructure, addressing technical and policy issues to maintain our growing use of the internet and its economic and national security impacts. This portfolio requires work producing and maintaining robust and resilient cable incident protocols. The role sits within our Telecoms Resilience and Incident Management team, with regular opportunities to contribute to cross-Government resilience priorities, engage with colleagues across Government, security agencies and industry experts to support the emergency response to any major loss of telecoms services in the UK.

In this role you will work on the following areas:

• Develop a good understanding of the essential functions that internet infrastructure provides in the UK, and the key systems and dependencies it needs to operate effectively.
• Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders across government and industry and engage with other critical national infrastructure sectors.
• Engage in research, investigation, analysis to draft papers and submissions for senior management and Ministers, outlining potential internet resilience policy options.
• Provide support in response to emergency telecoms and internet related incidents.
• Support the review of the UK’s capability to maintain and repair subsea fibre-optic cables, so that HMG has the assurance that internet services can remain uninterrupted.
• Contribute to resolving policy issues that directly align with the team and the wider department’s core objectives.

Essential Criteria

• Ability to work autonomously, with excellent workload management and prioritisation skills to manage competing demands
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to analyse and explain complex information to senior officials and stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills, to establish and manage excellent working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and organisations.
• Confident in problem solving, with experience using complex information in order to enable effective decision making.
• Experience of crisis or incident response, or a similar fast-paced operational environment.
• Hold DV clearance, or a willingness to undergo DV.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience or demonstrated interest in National Security and/or Internet Policy.

Behaviours

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

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

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

• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,850, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £11,544 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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 employer contribution of 28.97%.
• 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.
• A hybrid office/home based working mod