Operational Lawyer

Joveo; England; On-site; GBP 69,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job description

Operational Lawyer Ref. 3470

Department: Specialist Roles

Location(s): Central Manchester, London

Salary:

London: GBP75,861

Central Manchester: GBP69,611

Flexible Working: This is a full-time role, however applications for flexible working (e.g. compressed hours or part-time at a minimum of 25 hours per week) or a job-share are welcome. Due to the classification and nature of the work, this role will be primarily performed in the office, however limited home working may be possible.

About Us:

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity and partnerships to identify, analyse and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks and espionage. At GCHQ you'll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

The Role:

We are looking for a qualified lawyer to join our Legal Directorate, where you'll advise on many of the highest profile and most sensitive matters across the organisation. Our various legal teams advise on a wide range of GCHQ's operational activity. This includes intelligence gathering and sharing, data handling, cyber effects, international partnerships, compliance and related litigation. It's fast-paced, unique work, often at the cutting edge of developments in both law and technology.

Dependent on your skills, experience, and preference – as well as the needs of the business – you'll be allocated to one of the following legal teams when you join:

1. The International team advises on legal issues related to GCHQ's intelligence co-operation with foreign partners and its use of cyber effects. International law is a key focus for this team and their role includes both operational advice and working with Government colleagues to support the UK's position as a responsible cyber actor internationally.
2. The Operations, Employment & Litigation team advises on matters relating to intelligence-gathering, data and compliance, employment law and litigation. This team focuses on the application of GCHQ's domestic statutory framework for the use and oversight of investigatory powers.
3. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Legal team advises on issues relating to NCSC's operational activity, commercial and regulatory matters. This includes the application of GCHQ's domestic statutory framework for the use of investigatory powers as it applies in the cyber security context.

The teams all advise on issues which can engage multiple additional areas of law including human rights, data, criminal, civil and public law.

Your role as an Operational Lawyer will involve, but is not limited to:

1. Working closely with colleagues in the Legal Directorate, who bring expertise across all areas of law which apply to GCHQ's operations.
2. Supporting colleagues in GCHQ's intelligence and effects missions, delivering user-friendly, risk-based advice.
3. Advising on the application of GCHQ's domestic legal framework as well as consideration of wider issues of domestic and international law.
4. Collaborating with partners across the UK Intelligence Community and the wider national security legal community to support Government foreign policy, security and operational objectives.
5. Potential line management responsibilities in the future (following promotion).

The role can be based in London or Central Manchester. Occasional travel will be required to effectively advise colleagues across our different sites. This will always accommodate business need as well as work-life balance. Infrequent travel overseas may be required.

As part of your application, if you're eligible, you will be invited to an online Insight Event where you will learn more about the role Lawyers play at GCHQ and have a chance to ask our team some questions. Please note, you will need to submit a completed initial application, to be considered. This will require you to complete and answer all of the following sections of our initial application form:

1. Your Personal details.
2. Answer our Eligibility questions.
3. Answer some security questions (Vetting).
4. Complete our equal opportunities questions.
5. Submit your initial application.

Once you start your application our Progress Tracker will help you see what sections you've completed (you will see a green tick against the sections you've completed). Please note if you don't complete all these details, or submit your initial application, you will not be eligible to attend the event. Anyone who has submitted an initial application, and passes our initial eligibility checks, will receive an email with details of the event.

About You:

To be successful, you'll need to be qualified to practice as a solicitor or barrister/advocate in England and Wales. You should also have at least two years' PQE in two or more of the following areas:

1. Investigatory powers law.
2. International law.
3. Human rights law.
4. Criminal law.
5. Public law.
6. Data law.

You'll have excellent powers of analysis, use of evidence, and appreciation of legal risk. The ability to think creatively about legal problems and give practical, risk-based advice in a readily accessible way. You'll be a motivated individual, able to pick up new areas of law at speed, prioritise effectively and work well under pressure.

You'll also be confident forging new client relationships as well as building and maintaining relationships with a wide range of people. Knowledge and experience of the UK's national security legal framework and a basic or deeper knowledge of GCHQ's legal framework would be beneficial but is not essential.

Candidates should demonstrate the following Behaviours in the Civil Service Success Profile Framework. The core competencies for this role are:

1. Seeing the big picture
2. Making effective decisions
3. Working together
4. Communicating and influencing
5. Continuously developing

You can find further information on Civil Service Behaviours here.

Training and Development:

As well as an induction into the organisation, you'll also take part in an induction course put together and run by colleagues in our Legal Directorate. We have an expert skills community dedicated to supporting you and from day one you'll be allocated a buddy and a Line Manager, who'll help you settle in.

We're committed to developing our staff and recognise this will look different for everyone. So, as you build your future with us, you'll be empowered to set your own direction for your career and to explore progression opportunities within the Legal Directorate as well as across the wider organisation.

As part of the Government Legal Profession, we have access to a Legal Information Online Network (LION) which offers Government training packages and contacts together with bespoke training from external legal firms. Plus, you'll also have access to a range of internal and external development opportunities, and a chance to apply for training and briefing opportunities throughout the department both at GCHQ and NCSC.

Rewards and Benefits:

You'll receive a starting salary of GBP75,861 in London or, GBP69,611 in Central Manchester.

Plus other benefits including:

1. 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays.
2. Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme.
3. Interest-free season ticket loan.
4. Excellent pension scheme.
5. Cycle to work scheme.
6. Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations).
7. Paid parental and adoption leave.

Equal Opportunities:

At GCHQ diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:

There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, see our website for information on the reasonable adjustments we can offer.

We're Disability Confident

GCHQ are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP's Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a fair and proportionate number of person-to-person interviews to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our 'Offer of Interview' (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:

Qualified to practice as a solicitor or barrister/ advocate in England and Wales, and have excellent powers of analysis.