The 2021 Spending Review (SR21) allocated £37.8 million of additional funding to the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) over a three-year period to tackle cyber security challenges facing councils and invest in local authority cyber resilience, protecting vital services and data. Together with maintaining the funding that was announced during the 2020 Spending Review (SR20), this will bring the total funding for Local Government cyber and digital to £85.8 million over the SR21 period.
In December 2021, it was agreed that funding for FY22/23 would come from the Cabinet Office whilst from FY23/24 onward funding liability for the LGA CDT Programme would move from to DLUHC. The CDT team are now in the process of pursuing a discrete CDT grant with DLUHC. The current minimum funding level for FY 22/23 is c£4.75M.
The CDT team itself is split into four functional areas. These are:
- Cyber 360s. A 360 involves a multi-disciplinary team of LGA officers, council officers and – whilst we grow the sector capability – external experts working with a council to offer a different set of perspectives on a council’s cyber-security culture. This will help councils build cyber capability and capacity and improve the understanding of good cyber security principles across the organisation, not just in IT teams.
- Digital Sector Led Improvement (SLI). Through the Digital Pathfinders Programme, the Digital Connectivity Programme, and the Local Government Digital Committee (LGDC) stakeholder network, the programme has offered digital improvement support to over 100 councils. The intention is to continue to support councils in FY22/23 through the same or similar initiatives. Digital SLI remains focussed on building the sector’s digital capability.
- Cyber SLI. By delivering cyber security testing to a 10% representative sample of councils we have built a better understanding of levels of vulnerabilities within the sector. This understanding has informed our support offer as we work with partners to deliver a range of guidance, videos, training, and research to ensure cyber security is seen as a whole workforce issue. Many of these projects – and initiatives like them – will continue to be delivered in FY22/23. Cyber SLI remains focussed on building the sector’s cyber capability.
- CDT Improvement Policy. There are a huge number of CDT related improvement policy initiatives in central government that require our collaborative development and/or engagement. These include: the new Government Cyber Security Strategy, the New National Resilience Strategy, Public Service Network / Future Networks for Government (via Central Digital and Data Office), Digital Identity/Single Sign-On (via GDS), Cyber Security in the Supply Chain, Secure Connected Places, Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework, Telecom Digital Switchover, Ransomware, New Data Protection Regime (Data: A New Direction), Cyber Health Framework for Local Government, a review of the Computer Misuse Act, and the regulation of Online Harms.
To find out more information about LGA benefits, please visit http://www.local.gov.uk/benefits-and-working-lga and for information on Equality and Diversity at the LGA, please visit https://www.local.gov.uk/equality-and-diversity-lga
The role
As an advisor within the Improvement Division, you will be responsible for supporting the development and delivery of the Cyber, Digital and Technology (CDT) Programme. The successful candidate will focus on delivering programmes which support councils to become better equipped with the skills, knowledge and tools they need to design and deliver modern digital public services. This is an opportunity to deliver a high-profile programme which is a key priority for central government, councils and the LGA.
As we encourage flexible working at the LGA, we are happy to discuss the option of a home-based contract. The salary for a home-based worker is from £43,570 pa or office-based from £47,347 pa (including London Weighting). The office-based working will be in line with our transitional flexible working policy as we begin to go back into the office again following COVID-19.
This post will have an “on call” duty added to the job description (with an accompanying allowance of £150pcm). This will meet the realities of the role and the ongoing expectation of both DLUHC and the Cabinet Office that we have a 24hr, 365 days a year point of contact to deal with incidents, threats, and vulnerabilities.
Working in the Productivity Team within the Improvement Division, your main responsibilities will be to:
- Deliver projects which support councils to become better equipped with the skills, knowledge and tools
- Liaise with the policy team on cyber, digital and technology improvement policy.
- Lead on the procurement and delivery of a number of skills and education initiatives and projects.
- Lead on the LGA’s engagement on the improvement of cyber, digital and risk mitigation with internal and external partners, including councils, central government, universities, the voluntary sector, professional associations and other key stakeholders.
- Support the Head of Programme and Programme Manager with programme planning, project management, stakeholder engagement, reporting, contract management, and other tasks as required.
The requirements
- A team player willing to work flexibly to meet changing priorities
- You will have excellent organisational and people skills together with a good knowledge and a good understanding of the local government agenda and the current issues facing local government.
- You will need to have strong relationship building skills and show evidence of being confident and credible in supporting relationships with elected members, chief executives, senior officers and partners.
- Experience of managing a complex workload, preparing plans and meeting deadlines and milestones.
- A flexible approach.
- Effective knowledge management and the ability to understand and capture best practice and impact.
You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.
For enquiries contact Jamie Cross on 07856289407 or Jamie.Cross@local.gov.uk
Please note the Job Description is generic, with details of the role outlined above.
Closing Date: 5pm, Sunday 22 May 2022
Interview Date: Monday 6 June 2022, interviews will be held remotely
As a Disability Confident Leader, the LGA values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community