About the job

Job summary

Join the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and have a future that matters: Be proud; Be challenged; Be unique.

Job description

Do you want to join the 2021 Government Security team of the year and be part of our Gold Standard security service?

The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) provides high quality security services at approximately 100 MOD sites across Great Britain. The MGS has guarded the Defence Estate for over 25 years including high profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London and His Majesty’s Naval Bases at Portsmouth, Devonport and the Clyde. We provide access control, military working dogs, control room operations and other security services. We play a vital role supporting the Defence Mission and work to protect the defence estate and personnel from crime, terrorism, espionage and sabotage threats.

The MGS is part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and employs over 2,500 staff. MGS Officers are often the first point of contact with the MOD for employees, visitors and contractors and we pride ourselves on our professional, customer-focused culture.

All our Security Officers are required to have excellent customer service skills and must be willing to go above and beyond to support security operations across the defence estate. Due to the high profile and strategic locations of the sites we guard, it is essential our Security Officers have a strong work ethic, are able to work as part of a team, are observant to threats and are capable to challenge and de-escalate difficult situations if required. We also require our Security Officers to have good written and verbal communication skills. Our Officers must have resilience and remain positive and friendly in all weather conditions and on all occasions.

We provide our staff with a market leading salary, excellent sickness benefits, together with a defined benefit civil service pension. Free full uniform will be provided.

We are a growing organisation with opportunities for good quality staff to progress their security careers.

The MGS holds the Committed to Equality Gold Standard and we positively encourage applications from all under-represented communities and from all types of working backgrounds.

See more information about the MGS, please read the candidate pack and watch our Security Officer YouTube video https://youtu.be/nzSK9OPOoDI

About MGS

The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) is a professionally qualified body of Civil Servants who provide unarmed guarding services at approximately 100 MOD sites across Great Britain. The MGS has guarded the Defence Estate for over 25 years including high profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London and His Majesty’s Naval Bases at Portsmouth, Devonport and the Clyde. The MGS plays a vital role supporting the Defence Mission and works closely with its security partners

The MGS is part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and  employs over 2,500 operational and support staff. The MGS is managed by a Head Office team, dispersed strategically around the country.

MGS officers are very often the first point of contact with the MOD for employees, visitors and contractors and we pride ourselves on a customer-focused culture, working to DIO’s Values as well as our own core values of honesty, integrity, professionalism and efficiency.

We are passionate about the services we deliver and work hard to keep pace with developments in the security industry, as we seek to be the unarmed  guarding provider of choice. The MGS holds the Committed to Equality Gold Standard and we positively encourage applications from all under-represented communities.

Person specification

Main Responsibilities

The key duties of a Security Officer are as follows. 

Please note that these duties can vary from site to site.

•    Controlling vehicular and pedestrian access and exit to/from site
•    Issue of passes using site IT systems
•    Reporting of environmental issues
•    Issue and receipt of keys
•    Patrolling on foot and in a vehicle
•    Searching of vehicles, baggage, personnel, buildings and open areas
•    Escorting visitors
•    Traffic management
•    Checking identity on site (ad hoc)
•    Writing reports on breaches of security or defects and maintaining daily logs
•    Referral of complaints
•    Reporting MGS infrastructure defects
•    Dealing with demonstrators and intruders as directed by those holding operational control
•    Safeguarding classified information and material
•    Cooperating with other security providers
•    Collaborating with emergency services and invoking emergency procedures
•    Operating and monitoring security systems; CCTV and alarms etc
•    Operating and communicating effectively over the telephone and/or radio
•    Reporting safety hazards and accidents in accordance with current instructions
•    Carrying out, if required, initial action at the scene of any incident
•    Other tasks commensurate with the grade

Travel Requirements

Where close area working arrangements are in place staff may be required to attend other sites within their travel to work area (one hour from their home) on a detached duty basis.

Desirable Experience & Skills

A background, qualification or interest in the delivery of site security and/or customer service will be an advantage.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,100 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.

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Applications will be sifted using the details you provide on your CV so it is important you read the attached documentation ‘How to complete a CV’

At application you will be assessed against the following:

Experience:

• CV - Including Job History and Previous Skills & Experience

 At interview you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

Application sifting is scheduled to take place on week commencing: 08/01/2024

Interviews are currently taking place remotely and will be conducted week commencing: 22/01/2024. A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews. 

 A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews.

To assist with your application please find attached below:

1. MGS Brochure
2. How to Complete a 'CV'

For help and support with your application check out our Civil Service Careers Homepage and the How to apply section

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.