About the job

Job summary

This position is based Nationally

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Overview

The MoJ Group Security Team sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice, enabling good security practices through the provision of security policies, guidance, and education, by understanding Personnel security risks from all parts of the Ministry of Justice and providing assurance to the departmental SIRO, the Permanent Secretary, and other senior stakeholders that these risks are being effectively managed in the delivery of MoJ objectives.

The Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) Security and Information Group (SIG) has a broad range of responsibilities including Personnel Security and National Security Vetting.

We are seeking to recruit people from a diverse group of backgrounds to make sure we have a wide range of skills to strengthen our security capability across government. We value the fact that our different backgrounds, cultures, genders, experiences, and ways of working produce a more effective team. Each one of us has a part to play in helping government to keep the United Kingdom secure.

Role Purpose

Do you have strong customer service and administrative skills; an ability to plan your workload effectively and follow standard procedures and security protocols? Are you approachable, enthusiastic and want to deliver a quality service?

MoJ Group Security is looking to recruit an Administration Officer to join our existing team and to support us in the delivery of a high-quality Personnel Security and National Security Vetting (NSV) service to the wider MoJ estate.

The post holder will be responsible for providing high quality administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the department, as well as supporting the effective delivery of small system changes across a range of business processes, which are vital in ensuring  MoJ Group Security is able to effectively manage the personnel security issues across MoJ, including the delivery of National Security Vetting (NSV) services in conjunction with our vetting provider, Protective Security Centre.

The role is part of the Government Security Profession and sits within the Personnel Security specialism. Although experience in personnel security or national security vetting is helpful, it is not essential. This role is also suitable for career changers, graduates, returnees to work, amongst others; there really is no single ‘type’ of person who can succeed in this role. If you do not currently work inside the Government Security Profession or the Civil Service but feel you have the transferable skills to succeed in this role, then please consider putting yourself forward. 

Job Description, Duties and Responsibilities –

This is an ‘admin heavy’ role in a busy department so we are looking for the right candidate to help us deliver on our objectives. The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• Provide high quality administrative support to the department and relevant senior managers.
• Ensure that the MoJ Group Security Team’s mailboxes are managed appropriately and that all queries are responded to in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain the National Security Vetting Contact list and the National Security Vetting Matrix.
• Support and train the National Security Vetting Contact’s.
• Support the Personnel Security Advisor in delivery of National Security Vetting Contact and Insider Risk training sessions, working towards being able to deliver sessions independently.
• Provide secretariat function in support of any governance process or steering groups established in support of personnel security, including maintaining the personnel security actions logs and risk register.
• Support the team in the development, implementation and management of automated processes.
• Support effective communications of policies, processes and guidance to all relevant stakeholders.
• Assume responsibility for updating the NSV SharePoint HUB, Intranet pages, policies and processes.
• Record and manage security incidents and trends.
• Assess and approve policy dispensation requests, such as Residency and onboarding at risk.
• Assess and approve DV requests and support in maintaining the Aftercare requirements once DV clearance has been issued.
• Administrate the department’s security incident management tool (ServiceNow)
• Contribute to the effective planning, delivery of other projects and administrative tasks, as necessary.
• Continually explore and undertake personal and professional development opportunities.

Skills & Qualifications Essential criteria

Essential skills:

• Experience of and a high level of competence in, administrative tasks gained through working in an office-based or other relevant environment (private/public sector).
• Experience of stakeholder management and customer service provision.
• An understanding of the principles of data protection and a strong commitment to confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive personal or organisational data.
• A high level of competence with MS Office365 products, including MS Word and MS Excel.
• A proven ability to deliver an ‘at volume’ service consistently and at pace, whilst adhering to service and policy standards.
• A willingness to undergo National Security Vetting in order to achieve SC, including ongoing adherence to the standards and behaviours expected of a clearance holder.

Desirable skills:

• A background in personnel security, particularly a knowledge of National Security Vetting processes and administration tasks.
• Experience in delivering presentations, training, and briefings in a professional environment.
• Experience in producing reports in PowerBI.

Application Process

This vacancy will be using Success Profiles to assess Behaviours. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview.

We will assess you against the following behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Hybrid working

The flexible working arrangement of Hybrid working means the individual must be present at their base office for a minimum of 2 days every week, however this is based on business need and could be subject to change going forward.  This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently.

Flexible working hours

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. We are happy to accommodate any reasonable adjustments you may require during the selection process. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

The Security Information Group offers flexible working subject to local agreement.

This post is advertised as Permanent & Full Time.  The unit is supportive of and encourages flexible working and compressed hours candidates will also be considered.

This role can be based Nationally, with the possibility of occasional travel into London and across England and Wales.

New entrants to the Civil Service will join on the minimum of the pay range.  

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours

Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit

Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit

Making Effective Decisions - 250 word limit

Experience

CV

Statement of Suitability - 750 word limit

A sift based on the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

Behaviours

Delivering at Pace

Making Effective Decisions

Additional Assessment(s)

Presentation

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,223, Ministry of Justice contributes £7,377 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, Strengths and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.