Senior Cyber Responder

Job summary

Senior Cyber Responder

Salary: £43,088 – 44,752 plus a location allowance of £1,750 and excellent benefits

Location: Based in Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes with the flexibility of 60% hybrid working.

Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

At FCDO Services we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Job description

Our Technology and Operations team is at the forefront of digital solutions and services for FCDO and Government. They provide best in-class solutions for our clients, helping to shape and support a data driven future for UK government. Whether it’s creating bespoke, secure software, offering programme and application support or moving an entire embassy’s servers to a Cloud platform. No matter the task, they are on hand to support. Join them in this important role and you’ll have the opportunity to lead them on the next stage of our exciting journey.

• Providing innovation to government partners
• Delivering best-in-class solutions
• Working at the cutting-edge of technology
• It all matters
• Develop your cyber security skills as you work to keep the UK safe from threats

As a Senior Cyber Responder within our supportive and tightly knit team, you will identify and analyse security incidents, develop recovery plans and forensic capabilities, and help provide a security consultancy service to our organisation and the customers we serve. This role offers the opportunity to further develop skills and expertise through on-the-job training, gain exposure to advanced incident response activities, and undertake digital forensics across a wide range of devices. Responsibilities include using, developing and designing approaches and tools to investigate and recover from cyber security incidents affecting complex software systems and infrastructures across our network, including applications, servers and laptops. The role also involves conducting scheduled tests and checks to monitor compliance with incident response and recovery plans, and taking responsibility for the task management of an Associate Cyber Responder.

Additional responsibilities include analysing security breaches and recommending solutions to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring in the future, as well as communicating the potential business impact of vulnerabilities. With a strong commitment to promoting security awareness across the organisation, you will share knowledge and expertise with colleagues, coach other associates, and maintain professional development in line with emerging technologies and industry best practice. You may also be required to participate in the team’s 24/7 on-call service, supporting the investigation and remediation of security issues as they arise.

Grow your career as you help us achieve our vital global mission

Confident, self-motivated and a collaborative team player, it’s important that you have practical experience of resolving complex technical IT problems and in cyber security this may have come from other relevant roles such as (Soc Analyst, Security Analyst, Security Engineer) or in an IT role with strong exposure to security issues. Capable of using a variety of tools to manipulate and interpret data, and able to produce clear technical documentation, you should also have an NVQ Level 4 in Cyber Security or its equivalent experience – for example CompTIA Security+, SANS SEC401 or a Level 4 Apprenticeship.

With the confidence to work in a fast-paced environment, your excellent interpersonal and communication skills will allow you to liaise with a diverse range of stakeholders and take on important leadership tasks. You will be at an advantage if you’ve completed a management training programme, and an understanding of information risk assessment, risk management, threat assessment, compliance monitoring and controls testing would be desirable. This is a role where there’ll be plenty of opportunities to develop your career, take on more responsibilities and progress within our organisation.

Please be aware that we can only accept applications for this role from British citizens with sole nationality – we cannot accept applications from dual or foreign nationals.

Discover the support you need to grow your career further

But we’re always looking to improve – just like you. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It’s a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about vetting at fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

To find out more about our benefits and our organisation, please visit fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Closing date : 20th September 2026

Person specification

We are looking for people with:

• • Experience in cyber security
• Working experience in IT resolving technical problems
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively in a team
• Able to manipulate and interpret data using a variety of tools
• Able to produce clear technical documentation
• NVQ Level 4 in Cyber Security or equivalent (e.g. CompTIA Security+, SANS SEC401, Level 4 Apprenticeship

Qualifications

NVQ Level 4 in Cyber Security or equivalent (e.g. CompTIA Security+, SANS SEC401, Level 4 Apprenticeship)

Behaviours

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

• Developing Self and Others
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Experience in cyber security
• Working experience in IT resolving technical problems
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively in a team
• Able to manipulate and interpret data using a variety of tools
• NVQ Level 4 in Cyber Security or equivalent (e.g. CompTIA Security+, SANS SEC401, Level 4 Apprenticeship)

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Experience in cyber security
• Working experience in IT resolving technical problems
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively in a team
• NVQ Level 4 in Cyber Security or equivalent (e.g. CompTIA Security+, SANS SEC401, Level 4 Apprenticeship)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,088, FCDO Services contributes

£12,482 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension
• A leave allowance of 25 days per annum
• 9 days per annum public and privilege days
• Free Shuttle bus available between Central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

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.

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide your CV, a personal statement, and provide answers to some job specific/technical skills.

Your CV and personal statement will not form part of the assessment they will provide an insight into your work history and experience.

Your CV should include:

• no personal identifying details
• career history with key responsibilities
• achievements
• qualifications

Your personal statement should outline your interest in the role.

Candidates will only be sifted on answers provided to the technical/ job specific questions which are outlined in the application form.

If we receive a large number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the Lead Criteria only . If you pass the initial sift you will be progressed to full sift or directly to interview.

Those that are successful will be invited to a Face to face interview.

At the interview you will be asked a blend of questions on technical/job specific skills and behaviours. The candidate will need to complete a job specific exercise.

Candidates who are judged to be close to meeting the criteria may be considered for other positions in FCDO Services which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

This role is a reserved post and to be eligible to be appointed you must be a sole British Citizen

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 developed vetting (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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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 : FCDO Services Recruitment Team
• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Fcdoservices.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact FCDOServices.Recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk in the