Head of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Team & Head of Defence, Ukraine Joint Unit
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 18th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The Head Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia (REECA) reports directly to the Director Euro-Atlantic Security. The Head Defence, Ukraine Joint Unit works to Director Euro-Atlantic Security and Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia (FCDO).
These are high-profile roles that combine senior leadership, policy formulation and advice, operational delivery and crisis management. They will be closely involved in the Strategic Defence Review and the post-holders will be required to exert significant influence and leadership across MOD, FCDO, wider Government and internationally.
Job description
Head Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Lead the Defence response to a resurgent and aggressive Russia (and Belarus)
- Managing defence bilateral relations with Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Working across Government to influence, shape and support HMG’s policy response while designing the part Defence plays within the overall framework.
- Co-chairing (with Head Military Euro-Atlantic Security) the cross-MOD Russia Single Mission Team that calibrates, orchestrates and exercises strategic oversight of all Defence activity relating to Russia.
- Working closely with international partners, including the US, on their approach towards Russia, to encourage alignment.
Coordinate closely with Allies, in particular the UK-led Ukraine QUINT (UK, US, Canada, Poland and Lithuania).
- Developing the UK’s Defence policy towards, and Defence relationships in, the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia and Moldova.
- Understanding our national interests in those regions and designing our strategy (ends and ways) tailored appropriately to each country.
- Ensuring a coherent approach to countering state threats in those regions.
- Overseeing programmes of bilateral activity that deliver against our objectives.
Being responsible for a significant amount of financial resource
- Developing proposals, obtaining funding through the bidding process, overseeing the management of approved programmes in-year, and assessing their effectiveness at milestones/ completion.
- Discharging with rigour financial management responsibilities, aimed at achieving maximum effect and value for money.
- Acting as a senior leader in the Security Policy and Operations area, as an inspiring role model, and as an active contributor in wider corporate activity translating this into meaningful action across Whitehall and impact across the UK.
- Managing and prioritising the apportionment of the MOD £3bn support to Ukraine.
- Managing and prioritising Defence Engagement Integrated Security Fund and Defence Assistance Fund workstreams, both within Defence and across Whitehall.
Head Defence, Ukraine Joint Unit
Developing the Defence relationship with Ukraine, to strengthen their resilience in both the short and the long term, in particular in the aftermath of the Russian invasion.
- Working with Ukraine to understand their immediate and long-term needs, cohering and sustaining the significant Defence efforts to build Ukrainian capability and capacity set against the Defence Intelligence threat picture and broader Government support levers.
- Providing policy direction to the MOD Ukraine Task Forces and International Capability Coalitions, informing the development of HMG’s 100 Year Strategic Partnership.
- Overseeing the future development of Operation ORBITAL, the UK’s training mission in Ukraine.
- Work with the British Defence Staff to design a sustainable support package.
- Promoting Defence reform, institution-building and Euro-Atlantic interoperability including through the Defence Reform Advisory Board and our Defence Advisors.
- Maintaining a very significant High Level engagement programme between the UK MOD and Ukraine.
- Ownership of, and accountability within, the Ukraine Line of Operation within the Defence Russia Campaign Plan, informing and shaping the Measurement of Effect for these workstreams.
- Delivering a consistent public and ministerial narrative on Defence Support to Ukraine.
- Leading the Joint Unit delivering a well-connected and respected capability at the top of government, with a motivated and empowered workforce, equipped to drive change and influence outcomes across the enterprise.
Leadership-common to both roles
- Representing Defence and Security interests across Government.
- Supporting visits by Ministers and Defence Chiefs.
- Leading personal engagement through defence diplomacy, conducting staff talks and seizing opportunities to further our influence.
- Sustaining the performance, engagement and development of teams between 10-25 people located in London and in the region.
- Providing policy leadership to the wider regional network of Defence Attachés and Advisors and British Defence Staff.
- Building a resilient team capable of performing equally well in crisis and in long-term policy development.
- Creating a nurturing environment for staff, where Inclusivity and Diversity are promoted, where positive behaviours are rewarded, and where people are developed, in support of the Directorate’s aim that its people be both Happy and Excellent.
- Developing credibility across Government and externally as experts on Ukraine, Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Person specification
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria:
- Outstanding leadership skills with the ability to build high-performing teams that deliver results at pace, while maintaining a focus on diversity and inclusive.
- The ability to set a compelling vision and top-level direction whilst managing competing priorities.
- Experience of working closely and credibly with senior officials displaying the ability to deliver cogent advice in complex situations with limited information.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communications skills, with experience of multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration internationally.
- Proven ability of building influential relationships and acting as a strategic thinker able to see the big picture, prioritise and be proactive.
- A track record of complex strategy development, from policy formulation to oversight of delivery.
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a strong field of candidates when there is a need to distinguish between candidates. This will be as a second sift, after the essential criteria has been considered:
- Experience of working on Russia, Ukraine or wider Euro-Atlantic subject matter.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
To apply for these posts, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this role. This should be completed no later than 23:55 Monday 18th November 2024 and will involve providing the two documents outlined below via the Civil Service Jobs portal:
- A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
Please state in your application which role(s) you are applying for.
Both documents are weighted equally in their scoring, so it is important to consider this when uploading your application. Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.
For further information about the role and full application process, please refer to the candidate pack attached below. If you wish to receive any material in a different format for accessibility, then please contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk.
We will also be offering an online Q&A session on Monday 4th November at 09:30-10:30 to provide an overview of the role and welcome any questions you may have. Candidates can access the meeting by clicking here. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SCS Recruitment Team
- Email : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk
