About the job

Job summary

As the Royal Navy Assistant Corporate STRAP and Special Access Programme (SAP) Security Officer (Assistant Corporate STRAPSO/SAPSO), you will be assisting the Corporate STRAPSO/SAPSO for the overall safeguarding of STRAP and SAP material, facilities, and assets across the Naval Service, ashore and afloat. As a member of the Navy PSyA Staff you will be located at MIXG HQ HMS Collingwood or HMNB Portsmouth (Jago Rd); however, you will be required to routinely travel to RN establishments, ships, and submarines across the United Kingdom and overseas. You will also routinely liaise with the wider Partners Across Government (PAG) Enterprise, the Single Services STRAP/SAP community, where you will represent the RN as the Single Service lead and subject matter expert.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

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 office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. 

Job description

STRAP is a supplementary security control framework for handling sensitive material derived from intelligence, whilst a SAP is used to protect the MOD’s most sensitive military capabilities and programmes. On behalf of Navy PSyA, you will be responsible for the overall safeguarding of STRAP and SAP material, facilities and assets across the Service. The specific responsibilities are further detailed below:

• You will be assisting in certifying and de-certifying STRAP/SAP facilities, this will also require you to provide advice and guidance to Project teams for new build STRAP Certified Areas/SAP Facilities. In this capacity you will be required to make timely and effective risk management decisions, within the bounds of national security policy.
• You will be advising and acting as a focal point for STRAP and SAP Security Officers throughout the RN, providing guidance and direction as one of the STRAP/SAP subject matter experts.
• As a STRAP and SAP SME, you will ensure that the RN adheres to Cabinet Office policy regarding STRAP security compliance. 
• You will be liaising with the PSyA Security Assurance coordinator and STRAP/SAP inspection teams, in order to co-ordinate inspection programmes and to monitor the implementation of the remedial action plans.
• You will routinely liaise with STRAP Administration and UK SAP authorities (across Government) as the RN STRAP/SAP security lead and subject matter expert. 
• You will be responsible for maintaining STRAP/SAP security databases.
• You will be based as a Navy PSyA Lodger Unit within MIXG HQ located in HMS COLLINGWOOD, Fareham  or Portsmouth Naval Base however, your role may require you to frequently attend in person STRAP /SAP facilities or meetings across the UK

Please be advised that NCHQ and PSYA are undergoing some organisational re-design and over the next 6-12 months this position may evolve or change to meet new business requirements.

Person specification

• You will already hold a valid Developed Vetting (DV) clearance, or otherwise be able to achieve and hold a DV Clearance. This requirement is mandatory and essential. Further information on Government Security Vetting can be obtained at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels
• You must also meet the nationality requirements for access to STRAP material. Any specific queries in relation to this should be directed to the application contact details. This requirement is mandatory and essential.
• You will have well founded or have extensive knowledge of MOD Protective Security processes, ideally with direct experience working within the MOD’s Security Policy Framework (SPF).
• You will have experience in applying Risk Management Principles.
• You will have extensive experience of adapting and incorporating CPNI physical security standards to security related projects and programmes.
• You will be adept and comfortable delivering verbal and written briefing up to senior management level.
• You will be able to travel throughout the UK (and where necessary overseas).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,528 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.

The selection process will consist of an application form sift, followed by a single round of interviews for suitable candidates.

Candidates will be required to complete a CV and Statement of Suitability (500 words) at application stage.

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

Once the advertisement has closed, a sift will take place and successful candidates will be invited to interview.

At Interview, you will be assessed against the same Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

Due to the nature of the role, candidates must hold (or be able to obtain) Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.

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.