View Vacancy - Assistant Cyber and Technology Adviser (Mexico City)

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Policy & Political roles)
Political

Main purpose of job:

Contribute to the delivery of FCDO cyber objectives across Latin America and the Caribbean , as set out in the UK’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. The FCDO is responsible for delivering the international dimensions of the National Cyber Strategy 2022 (NCS) and International Technology Strategy 2023.

Roles and responsibilities:

The British Embassy in Mexico City is looking for a highly motivated candidate for the post of Assistant Cyber & Technology Policy Adviser, Central America. Cyber features prominently in the UK’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy and is one of the UK's Top Tier security issues. The FCDO is responsible for delivering the international dimensions of the National Cyber Strategy 2022 (NCS) and International Technology Strategy 2023.

To do this, the FCDO depends on its growing International Cyber Network. We are adding new roles to bring a step change in the delivery of UK’s international cyber objectives; in a context where the threats to the UK and our partners is growing, and the UK’s expertise and leadership are increasingly in demand. This role will join a regional Latin America and Caribbean (LATAC) cyber network (with staff in Brazil, Mexico and Jamaica) and the British Consulate in Mexico City.


The FCDO and regional Latin America and Caribbean Cyber Network seeks to:

  • Support the governance of cyber, digital, data and critical technologies and promote a free, open, peaceful and secure cyberspace. 
  • Build capacity so LATAC countries have stronger capabilities, political resolve, governance, and systems for investigating and disrupting cyber threats and are more resilient. 
  • Raise awareness of cyber threats affecting the UK’s international partners, supporting them to respond to malicious activity in cyberspace and to deter future incidents. 
  • Project the UK on the international stage as a thought leader on cyber policy, and as a world leader in cyber security, technical capability and capacity building.
  • Provide FCDO and other UK government departments with timely and valuable analysis and insight about cyber, digital, data and critical technologies relating to countries in LATAC.
  • With DBT, promote the UK’s cyber security sector to businesses and governments in the region, enhancing trade in cyber security solutions between the UK and LATAC countries.
  • Support and advise staff in UK embassies and consulates in LATAC so they are delivering cyber and tech security objectives confidently and effectively.
  • Support delivery of the international cyber objectives of other government departments such as Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Ministry of Defence (MoD), in line with the NCS. 

The Assistant Cyber and Technology Adviser will join a small regional network covering LATAC. The post holder is will divide their effort between Mexico (around 40%), rest of Central America (around 30%) and support to pan-regional initiatives in LATAC (around 30%). The job holder will report to the FCDO’s Central America Cyber Lead. The position is based in the British Embassy Mexico City with opportunities for travel within Mexico and to other countries according to business need. 

In addition to supporting the strategic objectives of the network outlined above, the Assistant Cyber & Tech Adviser, Central America will:

  • Lead on the external and internal communications of the LATAC cyber network by projecting UK messages at events, developing materials in English and Spanish, and liaising with the communications teams of our missions in LATAC.
  • Build and maintain a network of contacts in the private sector, academia, government and other relevant organisations.
  • Provide concise, thoughtful and timely analysis and reporting on the latest developments in cyber and technology security issues in LATAC for senior officials and a range of UK government departments, in order to inform the UK’s international policies and UK engagement. For example, the job holder will ensure relevant officials are aware of regional cyber incidents and their impact, building a longer term picture of the LATAC context.
  • Build and maintain a good awareness of relevant UK government policies on cyber, digital, data and critical technologies, both international and domestic, and communicate these policies externally when needed.
  • Support the Central America Cyber Lead with bilateral engagement in Mexico and the region.
  • Provide administrative support to the wider LATAC Cyber network and support to pan-regional initiatives in LATAC as required.
  • Support in the design and delivery of projects in support of the above objectives. In particular, the job holder will support the delivery of a new cyber states threats awareness project, helping to pilot and scale up the UK’s work in this area.
  • There are likely to be opportunities to work with multilateral partners such as the Organisation for American States and Inter-American Development Bank.

The role presents unique opportunities to advance UK relationships with countries in Central America on cyber and technology at a time when these issues are of increasing importance on the international agenda.

Essential on arrival:      

  • Experience of programme management or working on projects.
  • Good knowledge of the cyber security and technology landscape in Mexico and Central America.
  • Good understanding of cyber security in an international context.
  • Good research, analysis, presentation and report writing skills.
  • Excellent written and spoken English and Spanish.
  • Ability to coordinate closely with a wide range of internal stakeholders across a large, international organisation.
  • Clear motivation and personal commitment to meeting challenging goals with a proven track-record of achievement.
  • Valid passport; the ability to attend official functions outside of office hours; and the ability to undertake domestic and international air travel, including overnight stays.

Language requirements: 

Language: English and Spanish

Level of language required: Operational 

Desirable: 

  • A BA/BSc degree in any subject or relevant professional experience. This is not a technical cyber security role, though an understanding of technical concepts is an advantage. We welcome applications from candidates with a range of educational backgrounds whether this is technical (e.g. computer science, engineering) or not (e.g. international relations, economics).
  • Experience working on cyber security or technology issues in either the private sector, NGO, academia or public sector.
  • An existing interest in UK government policies and objectives on cyber and technology security.
  • An existing network of contacts in the area of cyber and/or technology in Mexico.
  • An understanding of project management, procurement, design and delivery.
  • Communications experience and/or knowledge
Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Seeing the Big Picture
14 June 2023
Executive Officer (EO)
Full-time, Permanent
36
Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean
Mexico
Mexico City
British Embassy
1
MXN
30,125 MXN per month
monthly
31 July 2023

Candidates must be able to live and work in Mexico in their own right.  The successful candidate will be subject to a security clearance and professional reference checks.  

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.  Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’.  If during the reserve period of 6-12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Working Patterns:

Monday – Thursday 08:00 – 16:30, Friday 08:00 – 14:00

FCDO offers a flexible working policy and limited homeworking arrangements are possible on agreement with line manager

The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package.  This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.  All staff at the British Embassy and its Consulates in Mexico are expected to work towards the UK mission statement of Building a UK/Mexico partnership, which makes the world and us more prosperous and secure, and to embody the Embassy’s agreed values of Honesty, Respect, Inclusion and Professionalism.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.