Local Government - Cyber Risk Analyst

Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton Job Summary We are MHCLG Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people's lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we're all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you're thinking of joining us, there's never been a more exciting time. The Local Digital team sits within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and supports councils across England to deliver more secure, user-centred, cost-effective local public services through open, collaborative and reusable work. We support the local government sector to be more cyber resilient and deliver on the ambition of the Government Cyber Action Plan which sets out how we will secure public services, so they are trustworthy and resilient, as part of the broader Roadmap for a Modern Digital Government. To Achieve This, We Work Closely With Councils To • Understand the risk: improving visibility of digital assets, assessing vulnerabilities, and sharing intelligence so councils and MHCLG can make informed decisions about how best to reduce cyber risk. • Manage the risk: strengthening cyber security posture through continuous improvement, addressing systemic weaknesses, and coordinating effective incident response. • Strengthen partnerships: promoting collaboration across local government and with national partners to reduce duplication, share resources, and build collective resilience. We are seeking a Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Local Government Cyber Risk Analyst to work alongside the Cyber Risk Manager to run and continuously improve our local government sector cyber risk reporting and insight capability. This role focuses on analysis, reporting and maintaining a clear evidence base to support prioritisation and decision making in support of local government cyber resilience. The post-holder will work with councils and partners to improve the quality and usefulness of sector-level insight, while being clear about data limitations and that councils own their risks and remediation. Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog.  Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment. Job Description As a Cyber Risk Analyst You'll: • Own the local government sector cyber risk reporting cycle end-to-end, producing a consistent local government risk pack with clear caveats, confidence levels, and documented limitations • Ensure reporting and insight remain focused on sector-level risks and trends across local government, clearly distinguishing between council-owned risks and MHCLG’s enabling role • Analyse and synthesise Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) returns from the local government sector and other agreed inputs into senior-ready insight, without overstating completeness, representativeness, or certainty • Maintain the cyber risk data repository and evidence base that underpins reporting, including clear data quality markers and documented assumptions • Support continuous improvement of risk reporting outputs, maintaining an agreed backlog of enhancements based on leadership feedback and data maturity • Engage with councils and internal partners when required to clarify evidence and close priority data gaps, using lightweight and proportionate approaches • Provide a cyber risk lens into CAF process development, sharing evidence-led insight on sector gaps, trends and emerging concerns • Produce senior-ready slide decks and briefings (PowerPoint), by pulling validated data from reporting spreadsheets (Excel) and translating into clear narrative, neat charts and visuals, and decision-focused recommendations for Senior Leadership Team decision making. As a Cyber Risk Analyst You'll • Own the local government sector cyber risk reporting cycle end-to-end, producing a consistent local government risk pack with clear caveats, confidence levels, and documented limitations • Ensure reporting and insight remain focused on sector-level risks and trends across local government, clearly distinguishing between council-owned risks and MHCLG’s enabling role • Analyse and synthesise Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) returns from the local government sector and other agreed inputs into senior-ready insight, without overstating completeness, representativeness, or certainty • Maintain the cyber risk data repository and evidence base that underpins reporting, including clear data quality markers and documented assumptions • Support continuous improvement of risk reporting outputs, maintaining an agreed backlog of enhancements based on leadership feedback and data maturity • Engage with councils and internal partners when required to clarify evidence and close priority data gaps, using lightweight and proportionate approaches • Provide a cyber risk lens into CAF process development, sharing evidence-led insight on sector gaps, trends and emerging concerns • Produce senior-ready slide decks and briefings (PowerPoint), by pulling validated data from reporting spreadsheets (Excel) and translating into clear narrative, neat charts and visuals, and decision-focused recommendations for Senior Leadership Team decision making. Person specification As a Cyber Risk Analyst You'll have; • Experience working in a cyber security risk, assurance, governance, or related analytical role in a complex organisation or multi-stakeholder environment. • Experience analysing evidence aligned to recognised frameworks such as the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) or ISO 27001, and translating it into clear, proportionate insight • Experience producing structured reporting or briefing products for senior stakeholders, including clear narrative, caveats, and recommendations • Strong analytical skills, including working with imperfect data, documenting assumptions, and applying quality assurance to reduce errors • The ability to communicate complex or technical issues in a clear and practical way to non-technical audiences • Strong planning and organisation skills, able to manage priorities and deliver to deadlines in a fast-paced environment • Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills, able to maintain and quality assure reporting spreadsheets (Excel) and translate outputs into clear, concise, senior-ready packs (PowerPoint) with well-structured narrative, neat charts and visuals, and appropriate version control. This role requires SC security clearance and a willingness to apply for DV clearance once in post. Desirable • Experience producing dashboards or management information products (for example Power BI or equivalent) and working within data governance constraints. • Relevant cyber security certifications (for example CISSP, CISM, CISMP, or ISO 27001 Lead Auditor/Implementer) or working towards them. Alongside your salary of £44,004, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £12,747 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. • At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here. 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 Application and Selection The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles: Behaviours , Experience , Strengths , Technical Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information. Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link. Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading. Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter) Experience & Technical: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description. Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors. In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview. Lead sift question (Experience & Technical): Describe your experience of analysing cyber risk data from multiple sources of varying complexity, to produce clear reporting and recommendations to inform decision making processes. Stage 2: Interview • Behaviours: Seeing The Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing • Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. • Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates. Candidates will be asked to prepare a short presentation ahead of the interview, further details will be provided on invitation to interview. Sift and Interview Dates Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 29th June 2026. with interview dates to follow. Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change. Group 1 Digital & Data Roles MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview. MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager. Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability. Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade. Senior Executive Officer Group 1 Digital and Data salary • The basic pay for this role will be between £47,444 - £53,575(London) or £44,004 - £50,086 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale. • A digital allowance may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating. • For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above. How We Recruit Find out everything you need to know before applying here.. • Applying • Sifting • Interview • Interview Results & Feedback • Reserve List • Near Miss • Civil Service Grades • We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer • Reasonable Adjustments How To Apply What you need to know before applying. You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly. • Security Clearance Requirements • Civil Service Nationality Requirements • Right to Work • Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles • CV Declaration • Sponsorships • Salary and Grade • Existing Civil Servants • Conflict of Interest • Location and Flexible Working • Fixed Term Contracts • Internal Fraud Database • Appeals and Complaints Security Clearance Requirements National Office: SC London Office: SC Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security 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. 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 This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups • UK nationals • nationals of the Republic of Ireland • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) 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. 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). 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 : Digital Data Jobs • Email : digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk Recruitment team • Email : digitaldatajobs@communities.gov.uk