New Opportunities: Networks and Cyber Security - Senior ICT Specialist (HEO) in the Civil Service

Role Overview

• Salary: €59,435 to €75,788
• Grade: Higher Executive Officer
• Work Pattern: Full Time
• Employer: Civil Service

The Role

The Networks and Cyber Security – Senior ICT Specialists recruited from this competition will be directly involved in delivering on a range of Government strategies within their appointed organisations. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a larger team delivering on the ambitions of Ireland to be a digital leader and enabling digital engagement with the State by businesses, members of the public and public servants.

Successful candidates will be integral members of teams that are delivering network and cyber-related infrastructures and services to support their colleagues internally as well as critical projects of national importance and public prominence such as the National Childcare scheme, interactions with the Revenue Commissioners, digital solutions supporting subsidies in the agri-food sector, company registrations, the census, Driver Licence Online, social welfare supports, registering key life events such as birth, marriage, deaths, and employment permits and the gov.ie portal, which is now the primary source of information on Government and Government services and is one of the most accessed Irish websites and solutions to meet Ireland’s targets for Europe’s Digital Decade.

The panel formed from this competition will be used to fill vacancies across the Civil Service. Applicants should note that the majority of vacancies will be in the greater Dublin area.

Requirements

Essential

Candidates must have on or before the competition closing date:

• Hold a degree qualification at Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major award (i.e. an ordinary level degree), or higher, in a relevant computing or computational discipline and at least 3 years directly relevant* hands-on ICT networks and cyber security experience from your employment to date.
  OR
• Hold a degree qualification at Level 8 on the NFQ major award (i.e. honours degree), or higher , with computing or computational modules taken in the final year and at least 3 years directly relevant* hands-on ICT networks and cyber security experience from your employment to date.
  OR
• Hold a major award qualification of at least Level 6, or higher, on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) in a relevant computing or computational discipline, for example: an NFQ Level 6 qualification from a Post Leaving Cert Course at an ETB, or the FIT Tech Apprenticeship and at least 5 years directly relevant* hands-on ICT networks and cyber security experience from your employment to date.
  OR
• Have achieved at least two industry-recognised certifications one of which must be in an area relevant to this role and at least 5 years directly relevant* hands-on ICT networks and cyber security experience from your employment to date.

Examples of relevant experience should be appropriate to Networks and Cyber Security and include, but are not limited to, areas such as networking or cyber security solution implementation, configuration and support/ administration including WAN/ LAN, enterprise firewalls and perimeter defence infrastructure, and penetration testing.

During this recruitment process, candidates must be able to demonstrate:

• Achievements, from their career to date, of where/ how they have delivered ICT/ digital solutions, or any elements thereof, to the benefit of the business of their organisation in the area of networks and cyber security;
• That they can provide effective leadership, to a team of ICT, digital and business specialists ensuring a focus on continuous improvement and service delivery;
• Leadership skills in an ICT environment in their career to date;
• Initiative with a proactive approach to the introduction of ICT-based digital solutions;
• Excellent communication skills and be comfortable working as part of and at times leading a team or project group;
• Strong analytical thinking, leadership, communication and networking skills;
• A clear ability to organise and prioritise work tasks in a busy work environment which is characterised by competing demands from a range of different work areas.

Relevant Industry Certifications

Vendor-based certifications in the telecommunications, networking and cyber arena, considered relevant and appropriate for candidates for this recruitment competition, which should have been achieved in the past 5 years, at intermediate level, or above, include but are not limited to:

• Cisco (CCNA/ CCDA or higher), HPE and Aruba, Juniper, Brocade, Check Point, Citrix, Microsoft (e.g. MTA, MCP, Microsoft 365 Certified, Microsoft Azure), Palo Alto, Fortinet, IAM, DBA, Security, Data Centre, etc.;
• Operating systems (incl. Microsoft Windows operating systems, Linux, desktop and mobile);
• Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, IBM and Microsoft Azure cloud technologies, Virtualisation (VMWare, HyperV, etc.);
• Other frameworks, methodologies and industry recognised certifications such as: CompTIA (e.g. N+, S+), CISSP, CITA, COBIT, iSAQB TOGAF, Agile, DevOps, IASA, ISTQB, CSDP, ITIL, Lean Six Sigma, etc.

Other Industry-based certifications, which can be combined with a relevant telecommunications, networking and cyber arena certification, could include any of:

• Service management – e.g. ITIL, foundation level or above;
• Project management – e.g. Prince and PMI, foundation level or above;
• Knowledge domain-specific awards such as the Special Purpose Award in Business Analysis at Level 8 on the NFQ.

Please see the Candidate Information Booklet for full details of the role.