About the job

Job summary

UK Space Command, is the Defence lead for space operations, space workforce, and space capability. A Joint Command staffed by personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, Civil Service, contractors and alongside our allies and partners, we are at the forefront of activity to make space safe, secure, and sustainable for all generations.

As part of the Central Pillar within UK Space Command, the Satellite Fillings Management Team (SFMT) safeguard and ensure the continuation of the strategic planning and management of the SKYNET and other Defence constellation frequency filings. Satellite Filings, and its associated management, which continues to be a critical function of the UK Defence Space enterprise.  

The Ground Station and Satellite Fillings Coordinator is the primary lead in Defence to cohere the activity and relationships of ground stations (a critical link for satellites) across the UK with UK Space Command, and also ensures that current and future defence satellite constellations adhere to International Telecommunication Union regulations and UK policy. This role will help to support key defence tasks for UK Space Command and ensure access to our space assets. This role will work together with stakeholders within and outside Defence to support the SFMT, build expertise for Ground Station and Satellite Filling Coordination within MOD, for this incredibly critical and niche area of work.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This is a brand-new role within the ever-growing Defence space sector, sitting at the heart of the UK Space Command Satellites Filling Management Team. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring Defence ground stations are registered (as necessary) with Ofcom procedures in a timely manner, and that Satellite Fillings are conducted in a timely and effective manner for all current and future satellite constellations They will be responsible for ensuring smooth operations for Defence, and to deliver new levels of performance, benefit, service delivery and value for money for the Defence Space Portfolio. Whilst Satellite fillings is a growing, evolving portfolio, the successful candidate can likely expect their role to encompass:

• Frequency coordination between ground stations and satellites, and coordination with Ofcom for registration and licensing of new ground stations.
• Support UK Space Command’s operational activity and capability development work, ensuring that International Telecommunication Union fillings are in place, both for current and future satellites.
• Undertaking performance and quality assurance checks on-site (where possible) at Defence Ground Stations, to not only build relationships with customers, but also ensure overall compliance.
• Providing updates and briefs to seniors and external stakeholders
• Develop and maintain a network of contacts, internal and external, and work collaboratively to ensure Ground Station management and satellite fillings meets the needs of UK Space Command and its stakeholders.
• Ensure planners and operational stakeholders across UK Space Command and Defence have up-to-date information on ground stations and satellite fillings, including providing input into briefings.
• Build UK Space Command’s corporate knowledge of Satellite Fillings and Ground Station management.
• Capture lessons across the Satellite Filling Management Team and develop ideas for enduring improvement

As this is a new role for Defence and is not undertaken by any other area across MOD organisations, there will be a chance for the successful candidate to shape and grow the role. There will also be potential to explore wider Learning and Development opportunities for this role.  

Person specification

The successful candidate will be able to show adaptability and initiative to lead the ground station programme for the SFMT and support its ongoing satellite filling work. They will be able to give direction to the programme and support strategic decisions in-line with the Defence Space Strategy and National Space Strategy. They will be a self-starter and be comfortable working with minimal oversight.

They will be able to rapidly build relationships and have expertise in managing stakeholder relations across a range of Government and external partners.

This role will likely involve occasional travel across the UK; the successful candidate should be willing/able to travel.

Essential criteria

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an affinity for communicating complex subject matters in an understandable manner.
• An ability to deliver work in a nascent environment, with competing pressures that require prioritisation.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with external and internal partners.
• Experience of providing high quality advice to Senior Managers alongside demonstrating the ability to problem solve and present evidence, analysis and options in a clear, structured and planned way.

 Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and experience of the Defence and/or Space enterprise.
• Familiarity with Ofcom ground station licensing requirements.
• Familiarity with all relevant ITU recommendations pertinent to the operation of satellites, particularly those operating in the government frequency bands.

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.

Behaviours:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

All Behaviours assessed at Interview stage; only Seeing the Big Picture assessed at sift.

Experience:

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

Personal Statement – 500 Words: Please use your personal statement in 500 words to explain how your skills and experience align, with evidence, with the essential and/or desirable points in the person specification section of the job advert.

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.