About the job

Job summary

Directorate of Overseas Bases (DirOB) is a mixed military and civilian team responsible for the operational command and management of the UK’s Permanent Joint Operating Bases (Cyprus, Gibraltar, British Indian Ocean Territory, Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands). In addition, the Overseas Bases team is responsible for several small, joint units based either overseas or who deliver their roles and missions overseas. 

Reporting to Assistant Head (AH) Future Concepts the post has responsibility to ensure that the HLB interests are appropriately represented in development of MOD and wider HMG strategies for the regions and countries in which our Overseas Bases are located.  

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities.  Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions. 

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

This is a high-profile position and offers a unique opportunity for a self-driven and motivated individual to demonstrate and prove their skills and attributes by delivering some of defences highest and complex priorities.  

Strategy lead is a key position in DirOB responsible for working with stakeholders to define, deliver and implement the strategic vision for all locations in Overseas Bases portfolio. Its key aims are: 

Delivery of UKStratCom Aims and Objectives

Work with stakeholders across MOD TLBs and build good relationships with them to deliver UKStratCom aims and promote the UKStratCom point of view when required. Develop relationships across Government and be able to articulate UKStratCom priorities to OGDs during strategy development and planning and implementation of options. 

Ministerial and Senior Engagement

Lead on drafting Ministerial submissions and briefing for UKStratCom Seniors on any future concept work. Prepare and provide verbal briefs to Ministers and UKStratCom Seniors when required. Senior stakeholder engagement including across HMG. 

Promotion of the Overseas Bases

Promote the work that the Overseas Bases conducts and ensure that the uniqueness of all locations is promoted and considered when strategies are being developed, including sustainability and climate change, innovation and space projects. Be the voice of the Overseas Bases to encourage their use for trials, capability enhancements, cross-HMG strategy development and opportunities and develop opportunities with international partners. 

Policy Advice

Lead for future issues arising out of the Overseas Bases, working closely with AH Futures and Policy, ensuring policy guidance is provided to Head Office and OGDs when developing future strategy. 

Line Management 

Line Management of one C2 member of staff, appropriately tasking them and maintaining oversight of their outputs. Support to the entire team and encourage their team in their learning and development objectives. Support and defend the team if required to external and internal stakeholders. 

Managing the drafting of responses to Prime Minister Questions and Ministerial Correspondence, as well as Freedom of Information Requests. 

Person specification

• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement skills and a proven ability to work with others to deliver shared aims and objectives. 
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders to deliver shared aims and objectives, including where possible Other Government Departments or international allies.  
• Experience of briefing complex issues to senior stakeholders or Ministers 
• Experience of policy & secretariat work and strategy development.  
• Applicant must be flexible and agile to enable management of a range of very different concerns in any one day. 
   
• Strong understanding of key capabilities and opportunities in the Overseas Bases to provide clear advice to colleagues to drive forward the best results, in line with policy guidance, permissions and authorities.
• You will also need to develop strong relationships with the command teams across the OBs, with opportunities for some international travel. Our bases are also utilised to deliver joint objectives with some of our NATO partners, so international engagement and an understanding of geo-politics is desirable.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes £11,631 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.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.  

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (Word count: 250)  

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

• Making Effective Decisions 
• Seeing the Big Picture

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

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

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.