Navy Command - Assistant Head of Security Operations
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 28th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The job is based in His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport in Plymouth, a site of national and strategic military importance. The Assistant Head of Security Operations is a challenging and rewarding role that provides the Naval Base Commander (NBC), a Royal Marine Brigadier and the site's security Responsible Person, with the assurance that HMNB Devonport is compliant with the requirements of defence security policy. The position reports directly to a fellow Civil Servant, the Head of Health & Safety, Security and Assurance (HSA).
The role requires leadership and management of a team of security professionals in the delivery of a layered security system which meets the requirements of Defence Policy, external assurance and regulatory scrutiny. Where the site is not compliant the successful applicant is required to use appropriate security risk management to provide reasoned and evidenced options and mitigations to senior leadership. The post directly Line Manages 3 Senior Executive Grades and is the Counter-Signing Officer for a number of other staff.
The role requires a strong level of understanding of security, risk and business resilience principles, with most role specific objectives linked to the development of protective measures designed to match a full range of threat vectors, targeted against personnel, assets (equipment, building, material) or information.
HMNB Devonport is a nuclear site and this post requires the successful candidate to be the lead security operations Subject Matter Expert in the protection of the nuclear material, assets and information on site. The role works alongside a fellow security lead who is focussed on meeting the regulatory and assurance frameworks, the operational lead provides the evidence of a sound security management system and delivery.
Operational drivers to the role require the job holder to work closely with the on-site Security Forces made up of armed capable Ministry of Defence Police, RN and MOD Guarding Service staff. The role ensures their delivery against an approved Tasking Agreement, and the job entails close engagement with these uniformed teams. In addition, the position leads regular Ops planning, Exercise planning and conduct, Threat Vulnerability Assessments and the authoring of coherent Operating Procedures and Plans to enable the maximum effect from the team.
The role also provides a lead Intelligent Customer role in the delivery of contracted security services.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
The primary roles are to plan and implement appropriate security systems and response, directly and in liaison with site security forces, so that personnel, material, assets and facilities are protected from hostile activity; to provide NBC, as the Head of Establishment, with assurance that HMNB Devonport is compliant with the requirements of security policy and, where not compliant with Policy, implement Navy Command and DNO/E security risk management processes to provide options in accordance with NBC’s risk appetite; to lead on the development, implementation and embedding of the workstream to ensure appropriate and proportionate security effect is provided to enable site input to the continuous at sea deterrent.
Day to day the role entails communication and problem solving across this complex site, engaging with range of military, MOD civilian and contractor stakeholders.
There is an assurance role across commercial boundaries and crucially the post monitors and guides the activities of the onsite Industry Partner (Babcock), who own and operate part of the site and are responsible under contract for the delivery of security guarding, infrastructure and site access permissions, clearances and management. To that end, an awareness of MOD Commercial and Financial processes and regulations would be advantageous. The job holder will work closely with the other Industry Partners on site to enable a coherent security culture programme and develop trusted links to engender a common approach to security standards.
The role requires a confident and capable communicator; security is a crucial area of delivery under constant senior level focus. The job holder can expect to be trusted to brief autonomously to MOD senior levels and the site hosts regular national and international VIP visitors.
Stakeholder engagement is key to the post and understanding the big picture in the delivery of national security and where local security fits in to the whole is essential. The successful candidate can expect to travel regularly across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise/UK. Travel and overnight stays in Bristol, London, Clyde and Portsmouth are most common.
The applicants will be required to have an evidenced Business Continuity and Resilience to aid collegiate planning with various stakeholder groups.
The job is varied, challenging and busy and is set within a site with a bright future, in a specialist area of importance and potential growth. The organisation under NBC is undergoing change co-incident with this job advert and change-management skills, industry and flexibility will be required to succeed.
Further detail of the post’s responsibilities are included in the attached Terms of Reference.
Person specification
Expert Generalist Security knowledge.
Practitioner in Business Resilience and Continuity.
Strong Leadership and Management skills at a senior level.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Generalist Security (Expert) (full definition in Security Profession Competence Framework)
- Business Continuity & Resilience (Practitioner) (full definition in Security Profession Competence Framework)
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Low cost on-site gym facilities and on-site parking for the role
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
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Things you need to know
Selection process details
Selection by Interview, preferably face to face.
Assessment of experience by Personal Statement, technical skills under Defence Security Profession Competence Framework and behaviours under the Civil Service Competency Framework (docs attached).
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability (750 words).
At Sift/Interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing The Big Picture
Technical Skills:
- Process and systems for defining and assuring measures necessary to maintain Defence (or other Organisation) critical outputs.
- Business Continuity & Resilience (Practitioner) (full definition in Security Profession Competence Framework)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Chris Warn
- Email : christopher.warn100@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
info@csc.gov.uk.
