Job summary
The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
The Public Safety Group’s role is to keep the public safe by cutting crime, disrupting the highest harm criminals, protecting the vulnerable and ensuring that our police, fire and rescue services are as efficient and effective as they can be in delivering front line public services. We work with our partners in other government departments, local government and the voluntary sector to develop and implement policy, provide funding, and deliver legislation.
Britain’s emergency services (3ES) work 24/7 to serve the public in some of the most dangerous and challenging situations. To help them do their job even more effectively, the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) is creating a next generation mobile communications network, including secure and resilient voice and broadband data services enabled by cutting-edge products and applications.
The Emergency Services Network (ESN), the replacement solution for the emergency services radio communication system (Airwave), is being developed by ESMCP. ESN will be used by thousands of front-line police officers, paramedics, fire fighters and back-office workers, along with employees from related operational organisations such as the Home Office, Border Force, and Immigration. ESMCP also provides governance oversight for Airwave, the current communications service used by the Emergency Services in the UK.
A Lead Security Technical Architect works across multiple projects or teams on problems that require broad architectural thinking. They share the responsibility for establishing the Home Office approach to Cyber Security Technical Architecture and guide projects in using architectures, principles, standards and tooling to deliver new systems and services for citizens and Home Office users. The initial focus will be supporting the live operational Emergency Service Communication (Airwave) and sustainment of that until transition to ESN is complete.
Job description
As a Lead Security Technical Architect, you will assure other services and system quality, making sure the technical work fits into the broader strategy for government. You will be responsible for leading the technical design of systems and services, including detailed plans for integration to support the Airwave communications service and development of the new Emergency Services Network (ESN).
You will review the design and delivery of the technical strategy of the Airwave service, produced by programme partners. You will be responsible for overseeing and implement designs through an iterative process by actively driving post implementation reviews and leading the identification of best practice and lessons learnt.
You will build effective partnerships with the 3ES across multiple locations and technologies, providing a deep understanding of the technologies and standards underpinning the Airwave national network and service.
Key Responsibilities
Your main day to day activities will be:
- Creating optimal technical designs through an iterative process, aligning such factors as the user need within the system requirements, security and organisational objectives
- Leading the design and review of technical processes for existing and new solution and services, evidencing the inclusion of ‘Secure by Design” in the technical designs you oversee and approve. This includes involvement in the significant Airwave governance groups.
- Reviewing the proposed technical design for the integration and implementation of any solution, working with and across other areas of Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession and the business.
- Presenting recommendations for technologies or improvements to enhance systems and support project that are delivering sustainability of the Airwave service and technical assessment of service provider solutions and service changes, based on knowledge of communication technology and analysis of systems’ needs.
- Contributing to the development of architectural practice, ensuring a coherent and consistent strategy across telecommunication skills, cyber, cloud, data centre, storage, network, mobile and radio security architecture.
- Contributing to the overall technical strategy and road map for the department in your area of expertise.
Other day to day activities
You will also be expected to carry out the following day to day activities:
- Evaluating the success of a project, once the solution has been integrated, identifying best practices and lessons learned.
- Providing feedback to leadership and incorporating best practices and lessons learned into future integration plans.
- Formulation of strategies, policies, processes and procedures to support the above (including technical documentation, decision and guidance notes).
Working Pattern
Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available.
Travel
The successful candidate will be basis full-time in Stratford, London, and occasional travel to other location within the UK may be necessary.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
You’ll have a demonstrable passion for Technical Architecture in radio telecommunications (including MCX, TETRA and LTE technology), with the following skills or strong experience in:
- Evidencing strong technical leadership qualities, with a passion for delivering leading edge designs, and inspiring a culture of technical excellence and innovative solutions.
- Navigating the complex landscapes of technologies, 3rd party suppliers, internal and cross-government teams across multiple projects.
- Anticipating and advising on issues relating to sustainment of existing live services, future technology that present opportunities for the product or programme.
- Managing and delivering complex technology solutions within time, cost and quality targets.
- Defining, owning and contributing to the technical roadmap and strategy.
- Demonstrating a detailed knowledge of technical requirements to implement, design and manage associated technologies.
Desirable Criteria
- Having a strong preference for the leverage of community integrated market products wherever technical and security considerations allow.
- Experience in information or cyber security including threat and risk analysis for complex, high-risk and/or mission critical systems, preferably involving the Home Office, Cabinet Office, NCSC or Security Operations Centres (SOCs).
- NCSC Certified or equivalent degrees with relevance to Cyber Security.
- Certification in one or more of the following is desirable: SIRA, CITP, CRTIA, CRTIM, CRISC, CISSP, CEH, CCSP, SANS or equivalent.
- It is desirable, but not essential, to have a BCS certificate in Enterprise and Solution Architecture.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 4
Benefits
In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
- Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
- This role is suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
- The advertised role is part of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession. This role has access to a Digital Capability-Based Allowance. Applicants who are successful at interview will be invited to complete a Capability and Skills Assessment post-interview. Any allowance awarded will be based on the assessment of your capability against the six skills advertised for this role. Please see the Home Office Pay Framework Allowance Careers page for more information.
- The allowance values are set by the Home Office, subject to remaining in a qualifying role, and are non-pensionable. This allowance is non-contractual, subject to an annual review and could be withdrawn at any time.
- For both new entrants and existing civil servants, the total compensation offer is a combination of base salary and, if applicable, a capability-based allowance. New entrants to the Civil Service will start on the pay range minimum. For existing civil servants, our policies on level transfer and promotion will apply.
- See more of our benefits on our careers website.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.
1. Application – by 21 July 2025
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- CV.
- Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words).
- Evidence of the Lead Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions (maximum of 250 words per Behaviour).
Your CV should consist of your career history, qualifications and skills/experience, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will be scored against the experience required for the role as noted within the essential criteria.
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
2. Sift – week commencing 21 July 2025
The sift will be held on the CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions.
Should a high volume of applications be received, the sift will be conducted only on the CV and Personal Statement.
The CV and Personal Statement will be scored for all candidates. Those candidates who achieve the minimum pass score for the CV and Personal Statement will progress to a further sift where the Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions will be scored. These candidates will receive a sift score for both elements. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the CV and Personal Statement will not have their Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions scored and will only receive a sift score for the Personal Statement.
3. Interview – week commencing 11 August 2025
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be Behaviours (as listed in the job advert) and Technical Skills based questions.
The interview will take place MS Teams.
For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework - Use the levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skill listed). Please see below for the relevant skills for your role:
Strategy & Architecture
Specialist Advice (TECH) – Level 4
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
Do not create or attempt to submit another application, online test or use a different Civil Service Jobs account to proceed as this would be in violation of the candidate declaration.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
Standards
All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
Additional Security Checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.
Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV)
You should currently hold, or be willing to obtain, Non-Police Personnel Vetting (NPPV) Level-3 vetting (including financial checks). This is essential for the role. For further information visit About the Police National Vetting Service , Warwickshire Police.
Further Information
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.
For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.
If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
NSV
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
Visa sponsorship
We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name :
- Home Office Resourcing Centre
- Email :
- HORCCampaignTeamIE@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email :
- HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission
Attachments
candidate_information_v14_June_2025 (1)
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(pdf, 312kB)Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V16) 2025-04-03
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(pdf, 493kB)
