Cyber Security Specialist

The role

As a Cyber Security Specialist, you will play a vital role in safeguarding Natural Resources Wales' digital infrastructure, systems, and data. You'll proactively identify, assess, and mitigate cyber threats, helping to ensure the organisation remains resilient in an evolving risk landscape.

This role is central to implementing and maintaining robust cyber security controls, ensuring compliance with key legislation and standards such as NCSC guidance, ISO 27001, and GDPR. You'll support the delivery of NRW's cyber resilience strategy by working across the organisation and with external partners to embed secure practices.

You'll have the autonomy to investigate incidents, assess risks, and respond to security issues affecting DDaT (Digital, Data and Technology) assets and operations. Findings will be reported weekly to the DDaT Security Board, and you'll be responsible for reviewing and updating the DDaT risk register to reflect emerging threats and mitigation actions.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to either the Bangor or Cardiff NRW office and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Travel between Bangor and Cardiff may be required, any face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Tracey Gilliland

at Tracey.Gilliland@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will be face to face (details of location will be shared in advance)

Due to the nature of the work the successful candidate must be eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance. This generally requires five years' continuous residency in the UK. Further details on eligibility can be found on National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK Offers will also be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

What You Will Do

• Monitor security alerts and threat intelligence feeds to detect and respond to cyber incidents.
• Lead or support incident response activities, including investigation, containment, eradication, and recovery.
• Manage and maintain security tools such as Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), endpoint protection, vulnerability scanners, and firewalls.
• Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and coordinate remediation efforts.
• Ensure compliance with public sector cyber security frameworks and deliver cyber security awareness training and phishing simulations to staff, promoting a culture of security across the organisation.

Advise on security requirements for digital transformation projects, ensuring alignment with organisational policies and risk appetite.

Review new systems and services for security risks, promoting secure-by-design principles throughout their lifecycle.

Liaise with internal stakeholders, external partners, and national cyber security bodies (e.g., National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), law enforcement).

Be responsible for out of hours (OOH) operational management of NRW's entire ICT Security service on rota basis.

Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post

Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy , together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post

Be committed to your own development through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).

Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Required to take part in incident response activities

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills

In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method.

• High level of technical expertise and skills including detailed knowledge of Azure Stack

if you do not meet the level A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Benefits

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97% (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme)
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
• generous leave entitlements for all your life needs
• commitment to professional development
• health and wellbeing benefits and support
• weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose
  
  

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

Please keep reading

We're passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We are committed to equal opportunities, and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We want to attract and retain talented and highly skilled staff, so we make sure that o

ur pay scales remain competitive. We advertise the full pay scale on our job descriptions. Appointed candidates start at the first point of the pay scale and annual increments are paid each year.

Unless otherwise stated in the 'Role' section of this advert, Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Although we hold a Skilled Worker visa sponsorship licence, it applies only to specific roles that meet both the eligibility criteria and salary requirements set out by the UK Government under the Skilled Worker visa route.

We want our staff to grow professionally and personally. From leadership development to access to further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge on variety of topics, stay current in their field and continue to learn as their career progresses.

We are a Bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards. Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW, and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills.

#TJN, CWJ