About the job

Job summary

Based at an overseas mission, with extensive travel across your allocated region.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for assessment and interview on site at Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes between 12th – 16th Feb 2024.

With a background in electrical engineering, or technical installations, your technical skills and problem solving ability are second to none. You have a Level 3 qualification, or equivalent, in Electronic Engineering or another relevant technical discipline. You are methodical and able to keep a calm head. You have experience of working overseas. Or perhaps you’ve thought about working overseas, but have never known how to make it happen? If so, we want to hear from you.

At FCDO Services, we work with government customers, including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to help protect the UK’s interests around the world. We design and construct secure government buildings. We help earthquake proof embassies. We courier diplomatic packages across continents. We keep complex projects on track, and on budget. And we help install and maintain the secure systems that keep people, information and assets safe. And that’s where you’ll come in.

To deliver for our global customers, we need to understand the environment they’re working in and be on-hand to respond with speed when they need us. That’s why, alongside teams based in the UK, we have a network of expert colleagues located in UK Embassies and High Commissions (posts) around the world. As a Secure Technical Services Officer you’ll join this vital team, and be responsible for maintaining the operational integrity of all on-site secure communications and systems. Based at an overseas mission for a period of three to four years, this a fantastic opportunity if you want to live abroad, travel and immerse yourself in a different culture, all while playing a key role in ensuring the UK’s diplomatic network can run as safely and securely as possible.

Secure overseas embassies and protect the UK’s best interests

Job description

You will be the on-site expert on anything relating to technical security at post. This will include everything from perimeter and protective security such as CCTV and physical barriers, to secure radio and satellite communications, and intruder detection alarms. You’ll schedule and carry out regular inspections to maintain and ensure operational integrity. You’ll monitor for potential threats, whether due to wear and tear or attempted physical or cyber attack. You’ll also be on-hand to resolve any issues as they arise, fixing them when you can, or liaising with your colleagues across the regional network, or back in the UK, to provide a solution. Plus, you’ll be on-hand to complete any small installation works or upgrades to existing systems, ensuring they’re thoroughly tested and fit for use. You’ll also travel widely in your region to provide the same level of service and support to customers at other outposts. And as our local expert, you’ll also be the eyes and ears for colleagues based elsewhere, keeping everyone informed of any larger programmes of work that might be needed.

Provide essential support for our customers and colleagues

Your technical knowledge is key, but you’ll also need to be great at planning and prioritising your own workload. It’s a varied role, so you’ll be quick to adapt to new situations: things that demand you be resourceful; flexible; and calm. As our representative at post, you’ll also need to be comfortable building relationships with our customers, including Ambassadors and Heads of Mission. And of course, you’ll be the go-to person on all technical security matters, so you could find yourself sitting on committees, or liaising with local contractors to ensure standards are maintained, or providing training to other colleagues.

Develop the skills you need to help people everywhere

You may have gained your experience serving in the British forces, or as an electrical engineer, or installer of secure systems in the public or private sector, but whatever your background, you’ll find that your skills are transferrable. We’ll also make sure that you have all the specialist training you need for the systems you’ll be working with, and throughout your career with us. It’s the same job – but now with greater impact, worldwide travel, and a sense of pride that’s hard to match.

When you first join us, you’ll initially be based at our site at Hanslope Park Milton Keynes. This will give you a chance to learn about our organisation and time to learn the systems you’ll be working with. You’ll also have the chance to meet and shadow some of your colleagues. We’ll also help organise and support you with your relocation, and where applicable, that of your family who can accompany you to Post. After that time, you’ll have everything you need to join your post for three to four years. After that, you could move to another regional post, or join a different team in the UK or overseas to continue your career with us.

Be rewarded for your impactful work

Our overseas training and benefits make sure you’re supported before, during and after your post – including providing UK standards of family healthcare and education, and covering your accommodation, utilities and travel costs. Being a Civil servant you’ll also receive a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance and a Civil Service pension. Above all, it’s a chance to join a team with rare impact, experience living in a different part of the world and use your skills to help keep people and information safe. In short, it’s your job, bigger.

Because of the secure nature of our work, every colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about vetting on our website: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

Want to see your future team’s work in action? You can step into our Virtual Embassy, to see how we deliver for government customers and how you could help. Explore the embassy now at virtual-embassy.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk. Or find out more about us and what a career at FCDO Services offers, at: fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world.

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Hanslope Park based posts attract a Location Allowance of £1,750 per annum.

FCDO Services are regulated by the Civil Service Commission.

Person specification

 Customer/supplier relationship management
• Stakeholder management
• Interpret professional/technical documents
• Applied technical security
• Maintain STSO training standards
• Audit technical security systems
• Maintain technical security systems
• Incident management, investigation and response
• Compliance monitoring and controls testing

sential 
• Level 3 qualification, or equivalent, in Electronic Engineering or 
other relevant technical discipline
• Overseas experience in a related role 
• Technical problem solving
• Able to work effectively within a team and with a wide range of 
people at different levels of seniority 
• Strong customer service skills
• Able to work independently and maintain high standards of 
work under pressure

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,510, FCDO Services contributes £27 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

Shortlisting will be conducted against the Job Specific Skills, Knowledge & Experience outlined in the Role Profile.

Interviews will be conducted using a mixture of Behaviours and Job Specific questions, psychometric testing, presentation or job specific exercise.

Security

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.