Threat and Vulnerability Manager

This role is for an experienced professional in vulnerability management and threat intelligence to join our Cyber Operations team. You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation to further mature and continuously improve our cyber defence capabilities. Cyber Operations forms part of a wider, well established security function operating within a highly regulated environment.

In this role, you will lead and continuously enhance the management of vulnerability assessments across our hybrid IT estate. You will prioritise remediation activities using a risk based, threat informed approach, collaborating with stakeholders to strengthen the security posture of our systems and services.

You will also develop and mature our threat intelligence capability, identifying and maintaining relevant intelligence sources to inform tactical, operational, and strategic decision making. You will produce and share high quality threat intelligence products with internal and external stakeholders and use this intelligence to support vulnerability management and threat hunting activities.

Additionally, you will contribute to incident response processes and provide support to colleagues responsible for the IPOs protection, detection, and response capabilities. If you have strong relevant expertise, excellent communication skills and a collaborative working style we would love to hear from you.

Working Style

This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our Newport Office . The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role so we would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office.

Job description

Main duties consist of but are not limited to:

Vulnerability Management (Primary Focus)

Lead and enhance the organisations vulnerability management programme, including our Penetration Testing programme across a complex hybrid IT environment covering both infrastructure and applications.
This will include scoping, scanning, prioritising work, engaging with stakeholders, and ensuring remediation activities happen in a timely fashion.
Prioritise vulnerabilities using a risk-based, threat-informed approach to support organisational objectives, regulatory requirements, and audit needs.
Oversee the full lifecycle of vulnerabilities, including triage, mitigation planning, remediation recommendations, and stakeholder coordination.
Develop and maintain vulnerability management policies, procedures, standards, and best practice guidance.

Threat Intelligence

Produce high quality tactical, operational, and strategic intelligence assessments and briefings using analysis and interpretation of current threat intelligence.
Utilising and liaising with internal stakeholders, commercial sources, open-source intelligence and government partners to provide a rounded, comprehensive view of the current threat landscape.
Lead initiatives to strengthen the organisations intelligence capability and participate in information sharing communities.
Cyber Risk Management Play an integral part in Cyber Security risk management, conducting risk and threat assessments aligned with regulations.

Cyber Risk Management

Play an integral part in Cyber Security risk management, conducting risk and threat assessments aligned with regulations.
Using your knowledge of standards and expertise to support our stakeholders by providing pragmatic and proportionate advice and best practice guidance.

Metrics Reporting

Develop and maintain actionable metrics that demonstrate the effectiveness of the organisations vulnerability management and threat intelligence capabilities.

Incident Response Support

Contribute to and enhance our incident response processes, representing Cyber Security in operational incident calls, keeping stakeholders informed and liaising with government bodies to ensure timely and effective management of threat intelligence and threat hunting.

Person specification

Essential Technical

Strong understanding and experience of vulnerability management, threat intelligence and security operations within a complex enterprise environment
Experience of managing and developing penetration testing programs
Knowledge of secure development practices and where security testing for vulnerabilities fits into the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
Broad technical knowledge, especially around hybrid and cloud architectures, identity management and application security.

Essential Experience

Highly organised and self-motivated, able to manage and deliver on multiple concurrent tasks.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to interact with stakeholders of all levels with the ability to explain complex security concepts to non-technical audiences.
A team player who is enthusiastic about contributing to the overall success of the team and collaborating with stakeholders of all levels.
Sense of urgency and an ability to respond to tasks proactively and promptly.
Continually stay abreast of emerging security technologies, threats and trends.
Self-motivated to drive their learning needs.

How to Apply

Click the 'Apply now' button and complete the application form by providing the following:

Your CV

Upload an anonymised copy of your current CV. Please remove all identifying markers such as name, title, education institution etc. Make sure it clearly shows how you meet the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification.

500-word Personal Statement

Use this to explain why you're suitable for the role . Structure your statement around the essential criteria in the Person Specification. Make sure to provide clear examples to show how you meet each requirement.

Technical

Provide a 250-word example that demonstrates your technical ability: Penetration testing (focussed on managing penetration testing programs rather than conducting the tests yourself) : Level - Practitioner Make sure it aligns with the Technical criteria listed in the Person Specification.

Penetration testing - UK Government Security - Beta

For further information on the sift and interview stages of this recruitment campaign, please head to our 'Things you need to know' section below.

Please visit our Civil Service Careers page - IPO Recruitment Support , Civil Service Careers

Behaviours

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

Seeing the Big Picture
Managing a Quality Service
Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

Penetration testing (focussed on managing penetration testing programs rather than conducting the tests yourself) : Level - Practitioner
Penetration testing - UK Government Security - Beta

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,766, Intellectual Property Office contributes £13,837 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Unlimited Pluralsight video learning access
Access to Microsofts ESI training suite
Hybrid working with no core hours
Substantial support for career progression
25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments
You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave

For more information about whats on offer at the Intellectual Property Office please review our IPO benefit pack attached to the bottom of this advert. Please note that benefits may be subject to change.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Additional details on security and vetting

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check and if successful you must also hold, or be willing to obtain, a higher Security Clearance . For meaningful checks to be carried out individuals will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, depending on the level of clearance, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. For this role the successful individual will need to have consistently lived in the UK for a minimum 5 years in order to meet the relevant security clearance. Further information on the vetting process can be found at National security vetting: clearance levels

The assessment process will comprise of the following:

Stage 1 Sift

An initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist. This will be based on the evidence provided for the following Success Profile elements:

Experience Your CV will be used to assess your suitability for the role and your 500 word Personal statement will demonstrate your Experience against the essential criteria listed person specification.
Technical Provide a 250-word example that demonstrates your technical ability against the Technical criteria listed in the Person Specification. Penetration testing - (focussed on managing penetration testing programs rather than conducting the tests yourself) : Level - Practitioner

Stage 2 Interviews

If invited to interview Behaviours, Experience and Technical based questioning will be used. Please note candidates that proceed to the interview stage will be required to deliver a presentation against the Technical Success Profile. Further details will be provided in the invite to interview information.

Specific information regarding the Success Profile elements that will be assessed at interview will be contained within the interview invitation.

Interviews for this role will be carried out in person at our Newport Office.

This recruitment campaign will keep a reserve list for 12 months. If you meet the requirements for this role but aren't offered after passing the interview, you'll be placed on the reserve list. If a suitable position opens up during this time, we will reach out to individuals in merit order.

The successful candidate would be expected to remain in the role for a minimum of 12 months before applying for another role.

Applicants to note:

CVs sent direct to the IPO will not be accepted.
There may be important information contained within the job role profile candidates may also wish to refer to.
We recommend candidates download and save a copy of the role profile for reference.
This post is being advertised to Internal , across Government and external candidates at the same time.
Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
We do not routinely reimburse travel expenses for candidates, however if participating in the selection process would cause you undue financial hardship or if it restricts your ability to participate, please contact the recruitment team for more information.
In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks.
Information on this will be sent within the invite to interview text.
Please be aware that only one application per candidate is permitted for each recruitment campaign.
Multiple applications, including those made using different accounts, may result in your application being withdrawn or rejected at any stage of the process.
For more information on the IPOs terms and conditions, please review the attached IPO Modernised Terms and Conditions document attached at the bottom of this advert.

Threat and Vulnerability Manager