About the job

Job summary

This is a genuinely exciting time to join the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) within the Ministry of Defence (MOD). You will be at the heart of real Defence issues delivering against one of the Department’s top three priorities, in a high-profile area which is rarely out of the news.

The DNO was established in April 2016 to oversee all aspects of nuclear business within the MOD and across the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise. The ‘Enterprise’ comprises the people that design, produce and maintain the submarines and nuclear warheads, and provide the necessary infrastructure and support. It includes organisations such as the Submarine Delivery Agency, Royal Navy, UK Strategic Command, Atomic Weapons Establishment as well as industry partners such as BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Babcock.

Our mission is to keep safe and capable submarines at sea today and in the future. We need a capable and credible nuclear deterrent to successfully deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life.

We are recruiting for an Executive Assistant to support the Defence Nuclear Enterprise People and Skills leadership team (the Senior Responsible Owner and Programme Director). The team sits within the DNO People and Skills Transformation programme, which was established to develop a coherent, resourced nuclear skills organisation with a revised and empowered people and skills governance structure, representing the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE).

The post will be based at MOD Abbey Wood (Bristol) but will require occasional travel to other DNO sites in London and Aldermaston (Reading).

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week

Job description

The post encompasses a wide range of secretarial, office management and business support elements, requiring discretion, efficiency, and a calm manner. This role may undertake the following activities:

• Diary management.
• Managing key relationships across MOD, wider government and with industry partners.
• Ensuring business continuity across both the team and wider organisation.
• Supporting meetings.
• Being the first point of contact for the office.
• Understanding the priorities for senior management and reflecting that in diary commitments.
• Prioritising senior managers time and ensuring that the wider team are aware of developments and key meetings.
• Day to day business management.
• Looking after inward and outward visits.
• Hosting VIP visitors.
• Managing travel

Person specification

We are looking for an enthusiastic and talented individual to join our committed and friendly team. This role will provide the right candidate with a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference at the heart of one of the most sensitive and high-profile programme areas within the MOD. The successful post holder will need to build their understanding of the MOD and the Defence Nuclear landscape at pace and the following experience is desirable in support of an application:

• Organisation and communication skills are essential to succeeding alongside management of relationships.
• Experience working within an administrator background or/and previous experience working as an Executive Assistant or Personal Assistant.
• Experience working with complex diaries and booking travelling arrangements via Government software.
• Previous experience in an assistant or admin role.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Applications.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,641 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 post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per the Civil Service Nationality Rules. For further information please see the attached documents.

Candidates can apply online via the Civil Service Jobs website by completing the application form before the deadline shown.

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.

Candidates will be required to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 500 words, outlining their skills, experiences and suitability for the role.

At Sift:-

You will be assessed against the Behaviours:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Personal Statement and CV

If a large number of applications are received, then the sift will be based on CV and the Personal Statement only. 

At Interview:-

You will be assessed against the Behaviours:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Experience

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 security check (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.