About the job

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 9,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, firefighters and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such using data to aid understanding of our workforce is vital.

Within the Army Information Directorate, the Cyber and Security pillar is led by a 1* Senior Civil Servant. An exciting vacancy exists within the Principal Security Advisor's (PSyA) Team to develop, manage and cohere CI and security operations. We are looking for a talented and motivated individual to join us.

Could you oversee and manage policy, investigations, and legislative requirements as the desk lead for  Army CI activity? Do you want to be engaged in the identification and mitigation of physical, personnel and cyber threats?  Do you want to work in the growth area of cyber and security, working in support of Defence and national security? We are seeking a strong communicator able to engage with multiple stakeholders who can work efficiently and at pace, across multiple IT systems and security classifications.  You will also be required to support the wider federated CI capability across Defence. 

You will line manage a military and civilian CI professional undertaking activity in line with current legislation and within Defence policy and permissions, including RIPA and IPA, representing this activity at the Investigatory Powers Commissioners Office (IPCO) on a bi-annual basis. 

There is considerable opportunity for project work, particularly around improving outputs and developing operational - analytical linkages across the Army, including on deployed operations.

Secure behaviours play an integral role in protecting both the UK, and our Armed Forces. You will develop a broader understanding of the physical, cyber, technical and personnel threats facing the Army and there is a significant opportunity for CPD alongside role-based training.

This role works within an inclusive and innovative team in the Army Headquarters in Andover. The HQs supports operations and directs, develops and delivers the people, equipment, training and sustainment to ensure the Army is ready to protect the nation by being ready to fight and win wars on land.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This is a Reserved post requiring Developed Vetting clearance and STRAP access and is open to UK Nationals only due to the nature and classification of the data. The role of SEO Counter Intelligence (CI), leading a team of 2 professional CI personnel, is vital to support and enable activities and projects by providing CI management and advice in support of the Firm Base and Field Army. The role will co-ordinate threat mitigation activity in partnership with stakeholders across the Army, Defence, and the wider government security community.  Daily tasks require the management of competing work streams of varying priorities and delivering advice to senior staff whilst under time pressure.

We are looking for a talented and motivated individual who is a team player, but is equally comfortable working on their own, to coordinate, cohere and assure Army CI activity within the Defence CI federation. The successful candidate must be comfortable engaging with wider Defence, government, and industry on all areas of CI, have a firm understanding of legislation relating to CI and represent Army at IPCO.  Attendance and participation at meetings, presentations and conferences across the UK will be required from time to time, including occasional overnight stays.

We are looking for a person with previous experience working in a CI or investigations environment, ideally with management experience (of investigations). Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. The successful candidate will be required to:

1. Maintain and develop Army Headquarters legal assurance and governance under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).
2. Maintain assurance, governance and oversight to all Army CI Operations.
3. Manage and report on the relevant risks, and associated deliverables, to both 1* and 2* Risk Boards.
4. Line manage a HEO Civil Servant, and a SO2 military CI professional to ensure the content and quality of their outputs.

They will also need to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and confidently with a broad range of people using a variety of styles (oral and written).
2. Work independently, as well as part of a wider team.
3. Use research to gather stakeholder and audience insights from a variety of sources to inform plans.
4. Have keen attention to detail and proof-reading skills.
5. Be excellent at relationship-building and problem-solving.
6. Manage CI&Sy events, such as routine team building events.
7. Own, manage and oversee the regular updating of CI&Sy products including applications, Defence Connect groups and SharePoint pages.
8. Be confident working across the O365 suite of applications.
9. Produce evidence of GCSE English (A-C).

This is a Reserved post open to UK Nationals only due to the nature and classification of the information.

You will be required to obtain Security Check clearance to apply.

Person specification

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who can handle the pressure of coordinating a wide range of activities and should be comfortable working within the Security profession, willing to challenge established norms and process and be prepared to adapt to changing priorities. Applicants should also have effective written and verbal communication skills and display a positive and professional attitude.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes £11,631 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 and Experience.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. 

Applicants are to apply online.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture – Application
• Communicating – Application and interview
• Leadership – Application and interview
• Making Effective Decisions – at interview

 

Applications will be sifted on the first 3 Behaviours.  In the event of a significant number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the 2 lead Behaviours: Communicating and Seeing the Big Picture. The remaining elements will be tested at interview.

You will be required to provide a personal statement aligned with the job requirements and showing that you have the knowledge and recent practical experience relating to the job description.

Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history, full details of education and qualifications and previous experiences and skills.

Application sifting is scheduled to take place on week commencing within 10 days of closing date.

Interviews will take place at Army HQ. A minimum of 5 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews.  We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs. 

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.

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.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

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.