About the job

Job summary

This is a unique and exciting role offering challenge, interest and variety.  Working as a security specialist who will provide advice to ensure, and checks to assure, that DSTL’s most sensitive activities and holdings and world class science are compliant and secure.

Working within a tight knit and high performing team, the Specialist Security Adviser role within the Compartmented Assurance and Governance Cell (CAGC) is part of the Enterprise Security Team in Dstl Operations within DSTL. This role is responsible for the coordination of licence to operate baseline security assurance activities and maintenance of mandated configuration records.  This post will work closely with Divisional Nominated Responsible Persons (NRPs), Site STRAPSOs, technical security capabilities, Personnel Security (PERSEC), Local Help Point (LHP) staff and external organisations. 

This role is a key enabler for secure and compliant business delivery operations and is essential to underpin DSTL’s licence to operate.  The impact of the Integrated Review requires additional focus on complex sensitive control management which this role directly supports. The post holder will be required to engage across a wide range of stakeholders, developing positive and productive relationships on which to build effective security culture.  

The post holder will be required to apply sound judgement in interpreting policy and process in a risk-balanced manner in order to maintain effective baseline controls whilst achieving the required operational outcomes.  The impact of this role will be to set positive conditions to enable increased Science and Technology output for DSTL Operating Divisions for highly sensitive operations/outputs. 

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.

 

Job description

In this role you will:
•    Take ownership of a range of information assets and associated processes in order to maintain integrity and assurance across critical baseline controls.  
•    Deliver a critical assurance service to DSTL Senior Security Risk Coordinator (SSRC) and External accreditation authorities in order to maintain the trust which underpins DSTL’s licence to operate.
•    Develop and agree assurance plans with relevant stakeholders (covering the spectrum of Special Access Programmes (SAP), Codeword (CW), ATOMIC,  NNPPI and PSA.
•    Monitor, report and maintain operational assurance records including tracking and assuring any remediation and audit activities.   
•    Conducting internal control assurance over specialist clearance aspects including read on and read off validation.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has:
•    Good collaboration and partnership skills which can be applied across multiple stakeholder communities to build and develop positive operational working relationships.
•    The agility to manage challenges with pragmatic problem resolution approaches to achieve risk balanced outcomes.
•    Confidence in managing data integrity within spreadsheets and data-bases 
•    Experience and evidence of operating in high security environments.
•    Good communication skills.
•    An interest in developing a future career path as a security professional.

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,620, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £7,457 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.We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting for this vacancy will take place week commencing 15th January 2024 with Interviews to be arranged from week commencing 29th January 2024. 

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.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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.