The standard selection process for roles at DSIT consists of:
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a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and to answer 2 application questions.
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a 75 Minute video interview which will feature a scenario task, details of the task will be shared with invited candidates prior to the interview
Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.
In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the lead criteria which is: Tell us about a time you led or proposed a change intended to improve cyber security or digital resilience that did not achieve what you intended. Describe what you expected to happen, what actually happened, and your analysis of why. We are interested in the quality of your reasoning about cause, not the scale of the setback including anything you now think you misread about the people, incentives or constraints involved.
In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. Well be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.
For this role well be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:
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leadership
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seeing the big picture
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communicating and influencing
Well also be assessing your experience and specialist technical skills against the following skills defined in the Government Cyber Framework for the Head of Cyber Security role:
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applied security capability (Expert)
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protective security (Working)
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threat understanding (Awareness)
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information risk assessment and risk management (Awareness)
Want to know more about who Government Digital and Data are? Click Here
Recruitment Timeline
Sift completion: 8/9/2026
Panel interviews: Starting from 15/9/2026
Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
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.
Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Whilst a lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance, and expectation of UK residency may range from 3 to 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements needed for the role may result in the withdrawal of provisional jobs offers.
Sponsorship
DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
