About the job

Job summary

Working a 24 hour on-watch roster, and based within the Defence Crisis Management Centre (DCMC), this post is one of 5 Deputy Chief of Defence Staff’s Duty Officers (DCDSDO) providing 24hr / 365 day military and policy informed situational awareness to the MOD joint higher command structure. The on-shift DCDSDO is functionally accountable, through the on watch CDSDO, to CDS and supports the Single Service Chiefs of Staff and the Director of Operations. The DCDSDO’s primary role is to assist the CDSDO in maintaining a constant watch over the defence environment using all available means, and using their military knowledge, experience and judgement to alert the CDSDO to significant military, political and presentational developments as they occur.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

In undertaking this role, the DCDSDO’s Principal Tasks are:  During silent hours, act as the first point of contact within MOD for all Single Service matters, including operational and commitments issues. Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of individual Single Service operations.  Keep the Single Service Chiefs of Staff (CAS, CGS and CNS) (through their POCs) informed of any significant events relating to their Services.  Support the CDSDO to coordinate the immediate Defence response to Single Service operations/incidents, including Military Aid to the Civil Authority and Military Aid to other Government Departments, in accordance with Joint and Single Service instructions.

The working environment is difficult/hostile and underground with no lift access. The DCMC site has no facilities for disabled access. In a crisis or emerging situation working hours may be long and the pressure to deliver intense. Applicants will need to be comfortable engaging at the very highest levels of Defence

This post is Full Time – due to the operational nature, location and shift pattern demands of the work involved this job is not suitable for part-time, flexible working, job share or working from home.

Hours of Work - 1752 hrs per annum conducted in 24 hour shifts with additional on-call requirements.
Shift Details: The DCDSDO operates a 24 hr shift roster within a 5 man DCDSDO team to maintain 24 hr/365 day per year coverage. The DCDSDO shift roster is based on a  non-negotiable 48/72 hour shift rotation pattern. 

Person specification

To thrive in this role you:

• Will have extensive and recent operational experience along with knowledge of military operations.
• Will be highly motivated, inquisitive, able to work under pressure and at pace, both in a very small team and independently.
• Will possess good briefing skills (both written and verbal).
• Will be able to work across stakeholder groups both inside and outside of the MoD.

Essential:  Extensive and substantial practical experience and applied knowledge of the military – gained either directly through military service or through working closely with military colleagues.

Desirable:  Awareness of the key issues that form Security Policy & Operations core business. 

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, Ability and Experience.

Application - CV and Personal Statement sift - followed by in person interview in London.

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

• leadership
• seeing the bigger picture
• making effective decisions 
• delivering at pace
• changing and improving

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.