About the job

Job summary

Under the Army TLB Information Directorate, the Cyber and Security pillar, headed up by 1* Senior Civil Servant, has a diverse and highly capable workforce. An exciting job role exists in the Principal Security Advisor's (PSyA) Team to develop, manage and cohere Army Counter-Intelligence (CI). We are looking for a talented and motivated individual to join us, working to a military line manager and managing a mixed military/civilian team.

Could you oversee and manage policy, investigations, and legislative requirements within the Army’s Counter-Intelligence activity? Do you want to be engaged in the identification and mitigation of threats across the physical, personnel and cyber domains?  Do you want to work in the exciting growth area of cyber and security, working in support of Defence and national security?

If you are a strong communicator able to engage with stakeholders across the Armed Forces & government, work efficiently and at pace, and maintain well organised file structures across multiple IT systems and security classifications, we need you.  You will also be required to support the wider federated CI capability. 

You will line management two professional Counter-Intelligence personnel; one military SO2 and one HEO civil servant tasked with leading, supporting and enabling activities and projects.  This will include the leadership and management of counter-intelligence operations and investigations.  This will include legislative and policy authorisations in line with current UK legislation and MOD policy and permissions.  In addition the post provides oversight, governance and assurance of Army CI operational activity, reporting to the PSyA.

Secure behaviours play an integral role in protecting both the UK, and our Armed Forces, against external and internal threats. Through this role, you will have the opportunity to develop a broader understanding of the threats facing the Army across the physical, cyber, technical and personnel domains.  You will also become a member of the Government Security Profession, and there are further opportunities for continued professional development.

Job description

This is a Reserved post requiring Developed Vetting clearance, STRAP access and is open to UK Nationals only due to the nature and classification of the information. The role of SO1 Counter-Intelligence (CI), leading a team of 2 professional CI personnel, is vital to support and enable activities and projects by providing Counter-Intelligence 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 Counter-Intelligence activity within the Defence CI federation.

The successful candidate must be comfortable engaging with wider Defence, government, and industry on all areas of Counter-Intelligence, have a firm understanding of legislation relating to Counter Intelligence 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.

This role works within the inclusive and innovative Cyber and Security team, part of the Information Directorate within Army Headquarters, the nerve centre of the British Army. The Army Headquarters provides forces to support operations around the globe and directs, develops and delivers the people, equipment, training and sustainment to ensure the Army is ready to meet the UK’s security and defence needs.  This post is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to develop and progress their careers. 

This post is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Person specification

We are looking for a person with previous experience working in a Counter Intelligence 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 SO2 (C2 Band) 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. Own, manage and oversee the regular updating of CI&Sy products. 
7. Be confident working across the O365 suite of applications
8. Produce evidence of GCSE English (A-C).

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.

Candidates will be required to complete an online Civil Service Judgement test.

The Civil Service Judgement Test is not bankable and therefore must be taken on every vacancy where it is applied.

Should you be invited to complete the online tests, please allow sufficient time to complete the tests and the remainder of the full application form; only candidates who are successful at the test stage will be invited to complete the remainder of the application by clicking ‘Submit Application’. Your application must be completed by 23:55 on the closing date of the vacancy. Late submissions cannot be accepted. The tests are not timed, as they work by giving you harder questions if you answer the previous question correctly, and easier if you get it wrong. You should allow up to an hour for each test, and each test must be completed before you will be invited to complete the second part of your application. Internet access will be required for the duration of the test. Please refer to the attached Candidate Guidance for further information.

Candidates that reach the minimum required pass mark will have their results saved as a banked score against the following tests:

• New Civil Service Verbal Test
• New Civil Service Numerical Test

When a candidate has a banked score they’re not asked to re-take the same test providing it is set at the same level. Scores will be banked for a 6 month period from the date of test completion. If a candidate is invited to take the same test against multiple vacancies, the banked score will be recognised against all vacancies and all active applications will progress.

 CSJT scores cannot be banked as each test is generated from the behaviours required for a specific role which will vary between recruitment campaigns.

If you require any particular arrangements (for example due to a disability or health problem) to be made in order for you to complete the online test you MUST contact the DBS Enquiry Centre on 0800 345 7772 BEFORE accessing the online test.

Opening  times  Mon -Friday 0800- 1600 hrs.

Applicants are to apply online.

You will be required to provide a personal statement (750 words) 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

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

• Communicating – sift and interview
• Seeing the Big Picture – sift and interview
• Leadership – sift and interview
• Making Effective Decisions – at interview
• Delivering at Pace - at Interview

In the event of a significant number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the:

• Communicating and Influencing.
• Seeing the Big Picture.
• Leadership.

The remaining elements will be tested at interview.

Application sifting is scheduled to take place within 10 working days of the closure of the advert with Interviews taking place at Army HQ 2 to 3 weeks later (tbc).  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.

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.