Head Office - Personnel Security Lead

Head Office provides the Department of State function and political and military strategic direction for the MOD. It is accommodated in Main Building, MOD’s flagship headquarters.
This is an exciting role within the Security team of SSBRTA and has been created to develop, improve, and enhance the personnel security offer within Head Office.It is a fantastic opportunity to work in a varied, challenging yet supportive environment working with high profile stakeholders and business units to deliver the desired effect. The post holder will have line management responsibilities for a C2 (HEO) and work to a B2 (G7) Security Policy, Governance and Assurance lead and develop strong relationships with the Establishment Site Security officer, Business Units, Top Office Group and Directorate of Security and Resilience (DSR).
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week., A key part to your role will be to drive forward personnel security improvements in culture, education, and awareness through the implementation of the Personnel Security (PerSec) Strategy and development of the Personnel Security plan for Head Office.
You will also be the Head Office lead contributing to MOD’s Insider Threat Programme.
The post holder will be responsible for updating Head Office personnel security policies and putting in place procedures to ensure that Head Office is taking a proportionate risk-based approach to personnel security.
You will ensure advice is provided on travel using the latest threat intelligence and have oversight of Head Office’s vetting demand and prioritisation process and provide risk management advice to staff on appointing personnel at risk.
You will be responsible for the management of threat intelligence, including the provision of travel/security briefings to Business Units including scrutinising requests for authority to travel.
You will represent Head Office at various Departmental personnel security meetings and advise the Principal Security Advisor (PSyA) on changes to Departmental policy and wider Personnel Security changes.
The incumbent will liaise with other government departments on personnel security matters. The successful candidate will oversee Head Office’s vetting demand and prioritisation process and provide risk management advice to staff on appointing personnel at risk.
Occasionally you may be involved in helping to support the wider team in managing business resilience incidents occurring in Main Building and supporting the Head of Establishment in their broader responsibilities.
You may also be required to participate in the teams on call roster for which an allowance is payable.
Responsibilities include:
+ Develop and implement the Head Office Personnel Security Plan with an emphasis on security culture, training, and awareness.
+ Act as the Head Office lead on all aspects of Insider Threat Programme and liaise with the Directorate of Security & Resilience accordingly.
+ Oversee and manage the Vetting Intelligence Customer role including the vetting demand and prioritisation process.
+ Oversee the Head Office Personnel Security Risk Register, escalating risks as and when they arise including scrutinising requests to appoint at risk and advising on risk mitigation's.
+ Provision of proportionate risk-based advice to the Principal Security Adviser, Head of Establishment and Business Units on personnel security risk.
+ Oversee the implementation of overseas travel policy.
+ Oversee the establishment of a personnel security network to communicate personnel security matters., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Making Effective Decisions, 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: 1000) outlining how you meet the “Essential Criteria” in the job specification.
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
At sift, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:
+ Working Together
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Managing a Quality Service
This is a reserved post for UK nationals only to apply due to the required level of security clearance.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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.

+ Experience of working in a Personnel Security role and with UKSV.
+ Experience of line management.
+ An enthusiastic and engaging individual, who is comfortable in delivering change within an organisation.
+ A self-starter who is confident in dealing with a wide range of high-profile stakeholders across the Department and be comfortable challenging the status quo.
+ Experience of working in security or people area and is familiar with the principles of risk management.
+ We are looking for a team player, who has good communication and interpersonal skills combined with a calm and analytical approach to a wide range of business issues. The ability to clearly articulate the issues as they arise is essential so that decisions can be made under pressure.
+ A willingness to learn, develop, adapt and be flexible are key requirements.
The role provides significant opportunity to develop expertise in standing up a personnel security offer in a Department of State, stakeholder engagement and leadership skills.

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.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ Free use of on-site gym
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD 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/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.