Security Operations Manager Lead STSI

Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support 
Salary: £36,000 per annum (plus generous benefits)
Grade: Senior Technical Specialist I 
Working Pattern: Full time, Part time, Job Share, Flexible Working
Contract Type: Permanent

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

DE&S has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies.  This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence. For further information about the NAD Group, please visit: National Armaments Director Group - GOV.UK

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

Nationality, visas and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only.] [A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job description

The role of a Physical Security Operations Manager is to ensure the correct posture of physical and tactical resources to manage sites and maintain operational preparedness for security incidents.

We are currently looking for an Establishment Security Officer (ESyO) to join the NADG Non-Explosives Sites Team (NEST) general management group at MOD Ashchurch, with the responsibility of MOD Ludgershall. Our security professionals play a vital role part in assessing, evaluating and implementing security policy and strategy within Project Teams, NADG Establishments and the wider Defence Industry community. You will have primary responsibility for the physical security and integrity of the whole site and will be required to work closely with multiple stakeholders and establishment lodger units in supporting and enabling security policy and procedures. Your main duties will include regular monitoring, audits and self-inspections of all aspects of physical security, creating/maintaining mandated site security policies and assisting the wider NEST security teams. 

The successful candidate will be expected to attend the MOD Establishment Security Officers Course and Business Continuity training (residential and on-line) and could eventually become a member of the Security Institute.

Candidate would be responsible for Ludgershall site.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60 % of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. You will be expected to travel from Ashchurch to Ludgershall at least once a month to undertake perimeter and building security checks, therefore a full UK driving licence would be beneficial. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

What you’ll be doing

• Providing SME advice at the appropriate organisational level on how to deliver proportional, practical security outcomes, within the parameters set by relevant regulation, policy and procedures and advise on any residual risk.

• Create and maintain mandated site security documentation (e.g. Site Security Instructions, Site Security Risk Register, Business Continuity Plans, Site Recovery Plan).

• Maintain physical security operations and governance structures to manage risk and deploy physical security effectively to protect assets and people across the business area. 

• Plan, test and respond to security/emergency incidents or concerns, including those raised by third parties, to include preparing briefs on security issues for internal and external stakeholders. 

• Comply with relevant internal and external security regulation and legislation and ensure these are adhered to by all staff, contractors and site visitors.

• Receive and investigate all submitted incident/occurrence reports.

• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of security fundamentals and the current threats to Defence assets.

• Liaison with local emergency services and Counter Terrorist Security Advisor (CTSA) to understand the current threats and trends affecting the landscape and how to mitigate against them.

• Promote protective security, educating personnel on the threat and providing SME advice to others.

• Carry out other Head of Establishment team activities/responsibilities to support additional site outputs as tasked.

Person specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Experience of delivering and implementing security activities. 
• Demonstrable experience of leading multiple stakeholders to deliver effective security activities and Control Measures 
• Candidates must either hold the unit Security Officers Course qualification or be willing to achieve within the first 6 months of joining 

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Managing a Quality Service CSBC 3

• Core Behaviour 2: Communicating and Influencing CSBC 3

• Technical Competence 1: Applied Physical Security - Working

• Technical Competence 2: Risk understanding and mitigation - Working

Offered benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days

• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission 

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-candidate-information-pack

• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions

• Civil Service Code: The Code - Civil Service Commission 

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Disability Confident:

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Conflicts of Interest:

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Selection Process Details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check your application to ensure that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.

2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• CV Review

• Core Behaviour 1

• Core Behaviour 2

• Technical Competencies

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:  

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1 
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2 
• 3rd: Technical Competencies 
• 4th: CV Review 

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criteria, and/or an additional assessment. Please note for this specific assessment, the Lead Criteria will be:

•           Experience of delivering and implementing security activities.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.  

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email (NAD-Recruitment-Complaints@mod.gov.uk.) If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission

Offering at a lower level

If you’re not successful at interview, we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.