About the job

Job summary

As the Royal Air Force (RAF) Corporate STRAP and Special Access Programme (SAP) Security Officer (Corporate STRAPSO/SAPSO), you will be responsible for the overall safeguarding of STRAP and SAP material, facilities and assets across the Service. As a member of the Principal Security Advisor (PSyA) team you will be principally located at Headquarters Air Command, RAF High Wycombe; however, you will be required to routinely travel to RAF establishments across the United Kingdom. You will also routinely liaise with the wider MOD and Government STRAPSO/SAPSO community, where you will represent the RAF as the Service lead and subject matter expert.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As the Royal Air Force (RAF) Corporate STRAP and Special Access Programme (SAP) Security Officer (Corporate STRAPSO/SAPSO), you will be responsible to the Senior Security Risk Coordinator (SSRC), vice Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) and Director Cyber Defence and Risk (CyDr) for the overall safeguarding of STRAP and SAP material, facilities and assets across the Royal Air Force. STRAP and SAP are supplementary security control frameworks for handling sensitive material derived from intelligence, whilst SAP is used to protect the MOD’s most sensitive military capabilities and programmes. 

On authority of the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC), co-ordinated by GCHQ on behalf of UKIC and the MOD, you will be responsible for implementing STRAP policy and processes and providing assurance of compliance to MOD and UKIC standards. Similarly, but within different Governance structures and risk appetites, you will be responsible for the implementation of SAP policy and processes and providing assurance and compliance to Air and MOD.

As a member of the HQ Air Principal Security Advisor Team (PSyA) you will be principally located at Headquarters Air Command; however, you will be required to routinely travel to RAF establishments across the United Kingdom. You will also routinely liaise with the wider MOD and Government STRAPSO/SAPSO community, where you will represent the RAF as the Service lead and subject matter expert.

Specific responsibilities are further detailed below:   

• On authority of the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC (managed by GCHQ on behalf of UKIC), provide advice to the Chain of Command,on all STRAP security matters. In addition, provide advice to all Business Area, but particularly SAP Compartment Owners (SCO) in Air Cap (and SPECAP) related to the security of SAP information and capabilities. 
• Line manage a team of six people including military and civilian personnel. 
• As the lead for all matters relating to the security for STRAP & SAP within Air, including certification of facilities and Personnel Security assurance, engage with heads of Other Government Departments, MOD, SAP Partners, and NATO allies ensuring Air is securing STRAP in accordance with UKIC policy requirements, and MOD SAP policy requirements. 
• Develop and maintain HQ Air STRAP directives, compliance, and policies based on UKIC policy, and develop and maintain HQ Air SAP directives, compliance and policies based on HQ Air risk appetite, and MOD policy, and SAP Compartment Owners within Air Cap. 
• As Air’s senior representative for STRAP & SAP security, representing Air at MOD level and with UKIC and Partner Nations, and lead STRAP and SAP security advice at Governance Boards within Air. 
• Assure Air Capability Programme Boards and processes, providing STRAP & SAP advice and direction to Senior Responsible Owners. 
• Act at the Air authority for the certification of STRAP Certified Areas (SCAs) & SAP Facilities (SAPFs).  
• Oversee and assure compliance with delegated risk appetite for all STRAP applications on behalf of UKIC (led by GCHQ) and oversee and assure SAP applications on behalf of SCOs and Dir Capability. Monitor and assure the continued suitability of STRAP & SAP applicants and those inducted alongside PSyA Personnel Security and Counter-Intelligence teams. 
• Direct & manage all security investigations related to STRAP & SAP, and implement recommendations, including oversight of resulting remedial actions or sanctions. 

Person specification

• You will already hold a valid Developed Vetting (DV) clearance, or otherwise be to achieve and hold a DV Clearance. This requirement is mandatory and essential. Further information on Government Security Vetting can be obtained at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels
• You will also require a DBS check
• You must also meet the nationality requirement's for access to STRAP material. Any specific queries in relation to this should be directed to the application contact details. This requirement is mandatory and essential.
• You will have well founded or extensive knowledge of Government (ideally Defence) Protective Security processes, ideally with direct experience working within the Defence Security Function.
• Ideally, you will have experience in applying Risk Management Principles. 
• You will be adept and comfortable delivering verbal and written briefing up to senior management level.
• You will have experience working in a STRAP or SAP environment.
• You will be able to travel throughout the UK (and where necessary overseas). 
• External candidates joining the MOD, who are new to the Civil Service, will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,670, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,570 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

Applicants should apply using the Civil service Jobs website, completing the online application form. The selection process will consist of an application form, a sift, followed by a single round of interviews for suitable candidates.

At Application and interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours

• Communicating and influencing
• Leadership
• Making effective decisions
• Seeing the bigger picture

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 into 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.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.