Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Chief Information Security Officer
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Job Role
This role can be based in either our London HQ in King Charles Street or our East Kilbride HQ. It may also be possible to be based in our Hanslope Park location in Milton Keynes. Regular travel to our other offices will be required and FCDO policies on Hybrid Working (minimum 60% in the office) will apply. Occasional international travel will be required.
Job Summary
The FCDO, formed from the merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development in September 2020, leads the UK's international diplomatic, development, and consular efforts. It employs around 17,000 staff across 180 countries and territories, supported by 12 agencies and public bodies. UK-based staff work in London, East Kilbride, and Milton Keynes.
Our vision for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is to make the UK stronger, safer and more prosperous, by leading and integrating delivery of the Government’s objectives abroad. FCDO is a truly global organisation, with a presence across five continents and partnerships spanning international, regional, national and local levels. We operate at the forefront of some of the most complex global challenges, advancing the United Kingdom’s national interest while contributing to global security and prosperity.
Our ambition is clear: to be recognised as a world leader in the use of technology and data to deliver diplomatic and development outcomes. To achieve this, we are driving one of the most significant and ambitious digital transformation programmes in government becoming faster, more agile, better informed, and more resilient in the face of global disruption.
Job Description
This role reports to the Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) and will be a member of the Digital, Technology and Security Directorate (DTaS) Senior Leadership Team, supporting the CDIO with the collective leadership of the Directorate.
As Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), you will support the safe and secure delivery of UK Foreign Policy and Development aims, playing your part in major global events. You will lead the FCDO’s operational cyber security effort, working with a team of information management and cyber security professionals to provide support, advice, challenge, assurance and continual improvement on information and cyber risk and the protection of FCDO’s data, infrastructure and assets both in the UK and our overseas network.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the function: Provide clear, visible leadership to a diverse, global information and cyber security function of over 60 professionals, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture and building deep specialist capability across FCDO.
- Set direction and deliver at pace: Define and drive FCDO’s information and cyber security strategy, policy and standards—ensuring they are agile, pragmatic and aligned to organisational priorities, while delivering measurable outcomes in a fast-moving environment.
- Own governance and assurance: Establish and continuously evolve robust security governance, risk and assurance frameworks, ensuring they are effective, proportionate and embedded across the organisation.
- Advise and influence at the highest levels: Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and ministers, communicating complex security risks clearly and enabling informed, timely decision-making by risk owners.
- Drive continuous improvement: Lead ongoing assessment and management of vulnerabilities, ensuring risks are identified, prioritised and mitigated effectively, and that policies and controls remain relevant in a changing threat landscape.
- Enable secure delivery: Develop and deploy clear, practical security guidance that supports colleagues and partners to operate securely across FCDO’s global platform without constraining delivery.
- Build partnerships and networks: Establish strong, enduring relationships across FCDO, UK Government and international partners, strengthening collaboration and sharing best practice on cyber security.
- Represent UK interests globally: Act as a senior ambassador for FCDO and the UK on cyber and information security, promoting, protecting and balancing national interests in international and regional forums.
- Communicate with impact: Engage, influence and negotiate confidently across a wide range of stakeholders and cultural contexts, tailoring messages for local and international audiences.
- Champion organisational capability: Support the development of professional security skills and career pathways within FCDO, ensuring the function continues to evolve as a leading digital, data and technology organisation.
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Person Specification
Working at FCDO offers a uniquely challenging and rewarding career. We are ambitious to be the world’s leading diplomatic and development organisation driven by impact, delivery and excellence. We are looking for exceptional individuals who thrive in complexity, operate with pace and purpose, and deliver meaningful outcomes in high-profile environments.
We Welcome Talent From a Broad Range Of Backgrounds And Value Transferable Skills. The Essential Criteria To Succeed In This Role And Be Selected Are:
- Senior leadership and delivery experience A strong track record operating at a senior level within complex organisations, spanning risk management, digital transformation and information security. You will have led large, diverse teams through demanding environments motivating people, prioritising effectively and delivering results despite constrained resources. You are a leader first, able to inspire, empower and drive performance across a multidisciplinary function.
- Pragmatic, agile and outcome-focused approach The ability to balance risk with delivery, applying sound judgement in fast-paced and evolving contexts. You will understand how to operate within defined parameters while confidently pushing boundaries where appropriate to achieve outcomes.
- Deep understanding of security in context Proven ability to interpret complex user, business and technology needs, and translate these into proportionate, practical security advice. You will understand operational security in real-world settings, including supply chain risks, and enable secure solutions rather than constrain delivery.
- Strategy, standards and governance expertise Experience of setting organisational direction through the development of policies, standards and frameworks that create secure, resilient and well-governed environments. You will bring strong knowledge of industry best practice and information security management approaches.
- Outstanding communication and influence Exceptional ability to communicate complex security and risk concepts clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences from technical specialists through to senior leaders and ministers. You will be credible, confident under challenge, and able to tailor your message to context and audience.
- Credible technical grounding A strong understanding of security technologies, system architectures and threat landscapes. You will be able to assess vulnerabilities, understand their impact on current and future systems, and engage confidently with technical experts while maintaining focus on leadership and outcomes.
- Analytical strength and problem-solving The ability to interpret and connect complex data and information, identify risks and opportunities, and develop clear, evidence-based solutions. You will be comfortable navigating ambiguity, diagnosing issues quickly and shaping effective responses.
- Resilience, accountability and growth mindset A driven, motivated individual who takes ownership, follows through on commitments and leads with integrity. You will demonstrate resilience in the face of challenge, continually seek to improve, and actively invest in your own development and that of others.
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Alongside your salary of £81,000, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office contributes £23,465 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).
Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead. You’ll benefit from a wide range of training and development opportunities, regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.
This Includes:
- 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 9 public and privilege holidays per year;
- A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire;
- Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers;
- Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle;
- The opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable); and
- Occupational sick pay.
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
How To Apply
You must be a British Citizen at the point of application.
The recruitment process is being undertaken by Global Resourcing on behalf of the FCDO. Please submit your full application by email to FCDO-CISO@Global-Resourcing.com by 9:00am on Monday 3rd August 2026. Please quote the role title in the subject heading of the email. All applications will be acknowledged and considered by the selection panel.
Your Submission Should Include:
- A CV setting out your educational and professional qualifications and full employment history, including an explanation of any gaps in your employment history.
- A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) explaining your personal skills, qualities
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