Security and Information Risk Advisor (5295)

Job summary

Are you ready to drive effective information security risk management for a vital public service? Join us as a Security and Information Risk Advisor within our Digital Risk & Security branch, where your expertise will guide our commitment to protecting Social Security Scotland. If you are passionate about cyber security and have a keen interest in safeguarding critical information, apply now to join our talented team and take the next step in your career.

As a Security and Information Risk Advisor, you will play a pivotal role in providing advice and guidance on the effective specification, implementation, and operation of cyber security controls. Collaborating closely with various stakeholders, you will conduct security risk assessments, investigate major breaches, and contribute to the development of information security policies, standards, and guidelines. This is a key technical position within Digital Risk & Security, focusing on ensuring compliance with legislation, regulation, and relevant standards.

Typical role level expectations:

• Provide advice and guidance on security strategies to manage identified risks and ensure adoption and adherence to standards.
• Obtain and act on vulnerability information and conduct security risk assessments and business impact analyses on complex information systems.
• Investigate major security breaches and recommend appropriate control improvements.
• Contribute to development of information security policy, standards and guidelines.
• Interpret information assurance and security policies and apply these to manage risks.
• Use control testing information to support information assurance assessments.

GDD Pay Supplement
This post is part of the Government Digital and Data (GDD) profession and currently attracts a £4,000 annual GDD pay supplement, which is paid monthly. Pay supplements are reviewed regularly.

Job description

Responsibilities

• Conduct risk-based assurance reviews of internal solutions and third-party suppliers, assessing control effectiveness, identifying risks and vulnerabilities, and recommending remediation activities to support compliance and informed risk-based decision-making.
• Manage complex risks, issues, remediation activities, and lessons learned, applying appropriate risk methodologies and advising on risk impact, tolerance, and mitigation strategies.
• Design and review secure system architectures, applying architectural principles, patterns, and appropriate levels of rigour to deliver effective business outcomes.
• Assess the impact of vulnerabilities, emerging technologies, and developments in security technologies on existing and future systems, recommending appropriate responses and controls.
• Build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships, managing expectations, resolving issues, and facilitating discussions on complex or high-risk matters, often within challenging timescales.
• Represent the security profession and communicate complex technical and risk concepts to a wide range of audiences, both internally and externally.
• Apply knowledge of systems, security, policy, business architecture, and legal or regulatory requirements to develop secure technical solutions and controls.

Person specification

Success Profiles
We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about the framework here.

For this post, the following Success Profile elements will be assessed:

Experience:

1. Knowledge of information security standards like ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST SP 800-53, combined with understanding of current legislation such as DPA 2018 and GDPR. Proven ability to interpret and apply these standards and legal requirements to ensure compliance and integrate best practices into organisational operations.
2. Demonstrable ability to evaluate the effectiveness of technical, physical, procedural, and personnel controls, recommend improvements, and work with stakeholders to implement proportionate risk mitigation measures that strengthen the organisation's overall security posture.

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing (Level 3)
• Delivering at Pace (Level 3)
  

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here.

Technical / Professional Skills:

This role is aligned to Security and Information Risk Advisor within the Government Digital and Data Profession.

These skills will be tested during the Technical Assessment if you are successful at sift stage. They will not be assessed at application stage. Please review the following to understand the skill expectations: Security and information risk - Information Assurance and Security: Security and information risk - gov.scot

Benefits

Annual Leave - You will receive 25 days annual leave on joining us. This will increase to 30 days after four full years of service. You will also have 11.5 public and privilege days of leave every year. We also offer Flexi-time. Any extra hours you've worked can be taken as leave when suitable.

A Civil Service Pension - This job comes with a Civil Service pension. New joiners to the Civil Service will join a career average pension scheme as standard. Read more here - www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk.

Healthy work life balance - We can offer the possibility of full-time, part-time, term-time, and job shares. We also encourage flexible working.

Discounts - You can enjoy a vast range of retail, travel and lifestyle discounts through our benefit scheme.

Personal support for you - Our Employee Assistance Programme gives you confidential, independent information and guidance 24/7.

Volunteering special leave - Up to six days paid special leave a year for volunteering. We support our staff to help causes important to them.

Great locations - Our bright and modern offices in the heart of Dundee and Glasgow have been designed with staff in mind. Both locations are ideal for public transport.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Expected Timeline (subject to change)
Sift - w/c 26th October
Interview – w/c 9th November
Location - In Person in either Dundee or Glasgow

To apply please submit an application form by clicking on the ‘Apply at Advertisers Site’ button.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an inter