CMEP Logisitics Officer, COBR Unit

The COBR Unit leads the Government’s response to acute emergencies - domestic and international, malicious and non-malicious - and drives further professionalisation of emergency management within government. The unit sits within the National Security Secretariat (NSS).
The NSS keeps the UK safe, secure and prosperous by bringing together the UK’s national security community, providing high-quality support to the Prime Minister and the National Security Council and maintaining centre-to-centre relationships internationally. Working within the wider Cabinet Secretariat and led by the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser (NSA), we assist the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in the development, coordination and implementation of its highest priority objectives.
In 2023 the Crisis Management Excellence Programme team (referred to as CMEP) was launched in the COBR Unit and focuses specifically on professionalising and building crisis management capability across Government. Operating across government your work as part of this team will be key in driving readiness at both the national and local level for the biggest risks that threaten the UK. You will be part of a small and highly dedicated team, working to enhance the UK’s crisis management capabilities.
Here at CMEP, our work is varied, interesting and impactful across government. Our vision is Enabling Excellence in Crisis and our objective is to deliver constantly high standards and professional expertise in central government crisis management. As a department we are committed to building and working in an inclusive and supportive working environment and will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
Responding to emergencies
COBR Unit on call rota: you will be asked if you wish to join a formal COBR Unit on-call rota for civil emergencies, to monitor emerging risks and form the backbone of initial responses where necessary, for which an allowance is payable.
Whether you join the COBR Unit on call rota or not, as a member of the COBR Unit, in addition to your normal day-to-day role, you may be called on to fulfil roles to assist the Government’s response during crises. On these challenging occasions, you may help lead the response to an evolving situation, often contributing outside your normal area of responsibility., You will be an active member of the team and need to be a self-starter. This will be a stretching and varied role and the post holder will need to be dynamic with the ability to pivot and work at pace. Please note, that this role supports the logistics for delivery of our portfolio of training which is delivered in-person from government premises in central London.
Key areas of responsibility include:
+ Monitoring and responding to the CMEP Mailbox incoming and outgoing correspondence.
+ Supporting the Training team and Exercising teams in handling all the necessary logistical requirements for in-person and virtual training delivery.
+ Coordinating and managing logistical arrangements for training and exercising - booking meeting rooms, welcoming visitors, arranging catering, submitting reception lists.
+ Managing relationships with Private Offices across government to support the logistics and delivery of the Top Crisis Leaders Programme which is part of CMEP’s portfolio of training.
+ Providing day-to-day support to and acting as a point of contact for the Heads of Teams, working with internal and external stakeholders, private offices across government and arms-length bodies and agencies.
+ Working closely with the external providers to determine delegates' training and booking progress.
+ Maintaining an effective forward look, keeping delegate registration and contact lists updated, managing electronic filing and inbox systems to enable the smooth running of the training and exercising programmes CMEP delivers.
+ Coordinating and managing logistical arrangements for meetings - booking meeting rooms, welcoming visitors, arranging travel.
+ Support the delivery of in-person community events across HMG., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the interview process:
+ Managing a Quality Service [lead]
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Delivering at Pace
Application process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 1000 word (maximum) personal statement providing examples of how your skills and experience match to those against the essential person specification.
For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Links – Statement
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Selection process
During the blended interview you will be assessed against the four behavioural statements you completed during the application process. The interview will assess both behaviours and strengths.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 25/11/24
Expected interview date/s – w/c 16/12/24
Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Further information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
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 security check (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
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
o UK nationals
o nationals of the Republic of Ireland
o nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
o nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
o nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
o individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
o Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

The individual will need to work flexibly across the core workstreams that include Training, Exercising, Community and Policy. Your role will be hands on where the ability to work adaptably as part of a team and juggle competing priorities is essential.
+ Highly organised, efficient and able to manage a varied work-load.
+ Have strong verbal and written communication skills and IT skills.
+ Demonstrate accountability with strong judgement and decision-making skills.
+ Ability and experience working autonomously and collaboratively with both the wider team and with departments across government or working within the private sector to support delivery outcomes.
+ Inspire others through your positivity, drive and energy to achieve outcomes.
+ Ability to remain calm and effective in a fast-paced environment.
+ Have the ability to meet tight deadlines and effectively prioritise.

Alongside your salary of £33,200, Cabinet Office contributes £9,618 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role.
+ An environment with flexible working options.
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
+ A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
+ A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.