Security Risk & Assurance Practitioner (Ref: 21441)

Job summary

This is a Nationally based role

Job description

Cyber Security Risk and Assurance Practitioner (HEO)

The MoJ Information Security Team sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice, enabling good security practices through the provision of security policies, guidance and education, by understanding cyber security risks from all parts of the Ministry of Justice and providing assurance to the departmental SIRO, the Permanent Secretary and other senior stakeholders that these risks are being effectively managed in the delivery of MoJ objectives.

The role of the Cyber Security Risk and Assurance Practitioner is to support the central MoJ Information Security Team in carrying out cyber security assurance, highlighting non-compliance with required standards and raise and communicate cyber security risks arising from control gaps.

The team works across a diverse range of digital services, technologies and business functions to identify and understand cyber security risks and provide assurance that these risks are being managed appropriately in support of departmental objectives.

The role involves reviewing services and systems, analysing evidence, identifying risks and opportunities for improvement, and communicating findings to a wide range of stakeholders.

The Cyber Security Risk and Assurance Practitioner may also provide advice to others on good risk management practices to enable them to manage residual risk well, identify trends resulting from risk and assurance activities and use these to propose and deliver improvements to processes, policies and guidance, and enable senior team members to resolve tactical requests to the team.

All members of the team are expected to help develop the MoJ Security Function as a centre of excellence for the department and to contribute to building a brilliant and diverse team that is a welcoming place for all.

All members of the team are expected to contribute to developing the MoJ Security Function as a centre of excellence, helping to build a brilliant, diverse and inclusive team environment. The post holder will contribute across a variety of assurance, risk and governance activities, working collaboratively with colleagues to continuously improve security practices, processes and decision-making across the department.

Typical role expectations and responsibilities

Security Risk and Assurance

• Deliver security assurance, governance and risk management activities across a range of digital services, technical platforms, projects, suppliers and business functions.
• Assess the effectiveness of security controls and identify control gaps, risks and areas requiring improvement.
• Provide evidence-based opinions and recommendations on cyber security risks and the adequacy of controls, supporting informed decision-making and proportionate risk management while enabling business outcomes.
• Support the delivery of assurance activities across the department including assurance reviews, incident management, GovAssure and third party assurance and communicate findings in a clear and proportionate manner to stakeholders.

Review, Analysis and Investigation

• Conduct detailed reviews of digital services, business processes and technical solutions to understand how security and risk management requirements are being implemented in practice.
• Gather, validate and analyse evidence from multiple sources to identify risks, trends, themes, control weaknesses and examples of good practice.
• Apply analytical and investigative skills to understand complex issues, challenge assumptions and determine underlying causes of identified risks or concerns.
• Use data and evidence to support recommendations and prioritisation of security improvement activities.

Technical Understanding

• Develop and maintain an understanding of modern digital technologies and how they are used within large organisations.
• Develop an understanding of cloud platforms, enterprise technologies, applications and digital services, and use this knowledge to support assurance, risk and governance activities.
• Translate technical concepts into language that can be understood by non-technical stakeholders.

Reporting and Stakeholder Engagement

• Produce clear, concise and evidence-based reports, assessments, briefings and recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Present findings confidently to stakeholders and support discussions relating to risk management, governance and assurance outcomes.
• Build productive working relationships across the organisation and act as a trusted partner in supporting good security practices.
• Contribute to submissions, reports and briefing materials for senior leaders and governance forums.

Process Improvement

• Review assurance, governance and risk management processes to identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency and effectiveness.
• Support the development and implementation of improvements to processes, guidance, reporting and ways of working.
• Identify themes emerging from assurance and risk activities and use insight to drive continuous improvement.

Team Contribution

• Support a broad range of work across the team and adapt to changing priorities and organisational needs.
• Share knowledge, skills and experience with colleagues to improve team capability and resilience.
• Collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders to deliver collective outcomes.
• Contribute to maintaining a positive, inclusive and supportive team culture.

About you:

You may come from a security, technology, risk, governance, assurance, audit, operational or analytical background. Most importantly, you will be curious, collaborative and comfortable working across a variety of topics and activities.

You will:

• Have experience of working within a security, technology, risk, governance or assurance environment.
• Be comfortable analysing information from multiple sources and forming evidence-based conclusions.
• Have strong analytical, problem-solving and investigative skills.
• Be able to review complex information and identify key risks, themes and opportunities for improvement.
• Have good written communication skills and be able to produce high-quality reports, assessments and briefing materials.
• Be confident engaging with stakeholders and explaining technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Have an interest in technology and cyber security, including modern cloud and digital services.
• Be adaptable and willing to contribute across a broad range of activities rather than specialising in a single area.
• Be methodical, inquisitive and willing to challenge constructively where necessary.
• Demonstrate attention to detail and appropriate discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We may assess your current level of knowledge of cyber security and risk management during the selection process.

Person specification

Please refer to the Job Description

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Commu