About the job

Job summary

The Homeland Security Group (HSG) unites capabilities and expertise to deliver better outcomes from the UK’s response to the most serious domestic threats – Terrorism, Cyber, State Threats and Economic Crime.

The group will strengthen coordination and collective focus across a range of growing and overlapping threats, whilst remaining consistent with existing strategies. Working with partners, HSG will foster more transparent and sustainable collaboration between national security, law enforcement and other relevant communities to enhance capabilities and leverage our response to threats.

As a part of the Home Office, the role of the Homeland Security Group is to:

• Support the Home Secretary to develop and implement strategies to keep our people and interests safe and secure.
• Build government capabilities to reduce national security risk.
• Reduce volume of, and harm from, economic crime, particularly for the most vulnerable.
• Work in partnership with public and private sectors in the UK and overseas to deliver better outcomes.
• Ensure legitimate economic growth and prosperity.

The Protect, Prepare, CBRE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives) and Science and Technology (PPCS) directorate is a part of HSG, and a key part of the national security community. In line with our directorate’s values, we represent the diversity of modern Britain in thought and outlook, delivering better outcomes in keeping our country safe and our citizens secure. We embed diversity and inclusion in everything we do and build a positive and safe environment for staff to bring their whole selves to work, to thrive and achieve their full potential. 

PPCS has a core set of cultural values that were developed by its staff and are central to its approach to business:  

• People: Courage, Inclusion, Compassion, Respect  
• Public Service: Resilience, Tenacity, Expertise, Composure  
• Collaboration: Integrity, Enthusiasm, Openness, Fairness  
• Support: Motivation, Passion, Trust, Honesty 

PPCS is a fast paced, challenging and highly supportive environment in which to work; providing staff with developmental opportunities whilst contributing to homeland security and the national security of the UK. 

Job description

We are seeking an Explosives Precursors and Poisons (EPP) Licencing Officer to manage the licencing programme for EPP on behalf of the Home Office and support the wider government agenda on counter-terrorism. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for providing a timely service to members of the public who wish to legally possess regulated explosive precursors and poisons.  This includes giving consideration of, and making recommendations on licence applications, engaging with operational partners who assist in this process and identifying future improvements. 

This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead on the end-to-end process of EPP licence applications, from the initial application through to issuing licences to applicants. This role sits in the Policy and Legislation team within CBRE Protect.

PPCS is proactive in offering suitable workplace adjustments, various working arrangements (Full-Time, Part-time, Compressed hours, Job Share), to ensure anyone, no matter their personal requirements can join our great team.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).  

Person specification

As an Explosives Precursors and Poisons (EPP) Licencing Officer, some of the key responsibilities of your role will be to:

• Conduct appropriate checks on licence applicants to verify their suitability to hold regulated substances and making recommendations to senior staff.
• Respond to queries from applicants on the licencing process in a clear and concise manner.
• Engaging with law enforcement partners in a swift and timely manner as required. 

The ideal candidate will be a proactive self-starter, keen to build knowledge and expertise of EPP work as well as the wider national security context, and who can quickly process information and summarise it succinctly both in written and oral form.

You must be able to work and take decisions at pace, as well as build and maintain excellent relationships with policy teams within HSG as well as with operational partners. 

Essential Criteria

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to develop evidenced proposals
• Strong organisational skills with ability to manage self and work as part of a team.
• An ability to form good relationships with colleagues and to seek information from them in a timely manner.
• Resilience under pressure and an ability to prioritise work to tight and competing deadlines. 

Desirable Criteria

• Proven track record of providing a customer-focused service.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

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.

As part of the application, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV (job history)
• A Statement of Suitability (Personal statement) (500 words maximum)
• Evidence of the lead Behaviour 'Managing a Quality Service' (250 words maximum).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The Statement of Suitability must be aligned to demonstrate how you meet the Essential Criteria as detailed in the job advertisement.

The sift will be held on the Statement of Suitability and the lead Behaviour. CVs will not be scored.

In an event where a high volume of applications are received, an initial sift will take place using the lead behaviour 'Managing a Quality Service'. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be either progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.

Successful candidates shortlisted for interview will be tested on all Behaviours outlined in the job advertisement.

Sift and Interview Dates

The sift will take place week commencing 22nd January 2024.

Interviews will take place week commencing 19th February 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Interviews will take place remotely. Candidates will be required to have access to:

• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams

PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.

Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview.

Further information

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If any is detected the application may be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process.

Please note: Developed Vetting (DV) clearance or a willingness to undergo DV clearance is an essential requirement for this role. Successful candidates will be permitted to start with SC whilst they undergo the DV clearance processes.

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to  bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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.