Credit: Mohamed Hassan/Stockvault

The government is seeking a new leader for the global IT system allowing officials to access Secret-level documents.

The Rosa IT service was implemented 2018; it was developed by the Cabinet Office, working in close conjunction with the National Cyber Security Centre.

The service allows about 15,000 users from across about 40 departments and agencies – including the likes of nuclear power facilities, as well as embassies and diplomatic missions across 166 countries – to access and collaborate on data and documents classified as Secret. 

This is the middle tier of security classification, between Official and Top Secret, and is applied to “very sensitive information that justifies heightened protective measures to defend against determined and highly capable threat actors; for example, where compromise could seriously damage military capabilities, international relations or the investigation of serious organised crime”.

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Registered users of Rosa, which was known as ‘Foxhound’ during its development, can access this information via a network of several thousand desktop and laptop terminals. Several hundred printers are also connected to the secure system.

The network is managed, on behalf of the Cabinet Office, by the Rosa Service Organisation (RSO), which sits within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 

The RSO is seeking a new leader, with an annual salary of £110,000 on offer for a position described in the job advert as “a unique and exciting role”. 

“You will build capacity and enable progressive change to meet the growing need within UK government bodies for secure Secret-level communications”, the advert added. “Working closely with partners in the Cabinet Office and trusted suppliers, you will ensure the Rosa offering evolves to remain one step ahead of a growing range of sophisticated threats to national security.”

Applications are being sought from candidates with “broad IT and global operational and service delivery experience along with up-to-date knowledge and experience of applying information technology industry trends, frameworks and developments to drive incremental change and improvement”.

The role as head of RSO will be based in the FCDO’s offices in East Kilbride, a large town several miles to the south of Glasgow. 

The recruitment is being run by executive search firm Veredus. Applications are open until 9am on 28 February.