Alternate Cryptographic Custodian

Job summary

As an Alternate Cryptographic Custodian, you will be responsible for the ordering, management, distribution and in-service provision of Cryptographic material and services within Blandford Garrison, including using bespoke MOD IT systems and applications. The post sits within the Distribution and Accounting Facility (DAF) of Blandford Garrison Support Unit.

Blandford Garrison Support Unit sits within The Defence School of Communications and Information Systems (DSCIS) under the Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT), which is responsible for delivering all technical training across Defence to meet the operational demands of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.

DCTT has 2,500 military, civil service and contractor staff based across six locations and we value our diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage mutual respect, actively foster kindness and fairness, and promote a healthy work-life balance. We invest in our people, offering career and personal development opportunities and recognising staff efforts and commitments.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week Monday to Friday. Due to the nature of the role, remote working will not be possible. There may also be occasions when you are called out to visit the DAF if the Intruder Detection System operates.

Job description

Key duties include (but are not limited to):

• Working as part of a small team delivering and managing MOD Cryptographic items, which includes whole-life accounting (bring to account with the Quartermaster’s department, storage, account checking, distribution and destruction) and communicating internally and externally with customers and stakeholders. Delivery of Cryptographic material using many different systems for the ordering, maintenance and delivery of the equipment and key material under their charge.
• Raising external paperwork for Assurance musters and checks of holdings, whilst maintaining delivery and accuracy of Cryptographic material, utilising the bespoke in-house computer systems.
• Recognising any breach of security policy and taking immediate upward reporting action to mitigate.
• Perform out of normal working hours Duty Custodian on-call duties as required (paid allowance applies).

Person specification

Applicants will need to demonstrate previous experience of maintaining accurate records, liaising with stakeholders and meeting service timelines. An awareness of security matters would be beneficial.

You will need to be self-motivated and flexible with a keen attention to detail. You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, be IT proficient and willing to undertake additional post-specific training if not already held (Cryptographic Custodian training & Cryptographic Accounting training).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,866, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,072 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days paid annual leave rising by 1 day per completed year of service to a maximum 30 days.
• Eight public holidays per year, plus 1 day’s grant leave for HM The King's birthday.
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year.
• 6 days special leave per year for volunteering activities.
• A wide range of Defence discounts, such as Healthcare, Insurance, Motoring, company discounts with Virgin, Vodafone, and Microsoft Office. Find more discounts at https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/all-benefits/
• Advance of pay to purchase travel season tickets or ‘cycle to work’ scheme (upon completion of 6 months service).
• Over 60 growing staff Networks to join.
• Enhanced maternity, parental and adoption leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing.
• Gymnasium (contributory membership) with up to date cardiovascular and static weight equipment and Gym classes.
• On-site retail catering outlets offering refreshments as well as subsidised staff canteens.
• Subsidised cinema showing latest releases.
• Free onsite parking.
• Free access to Royal Signals Museum

Hybrid Working:

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements 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.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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.

At sift, Candidates will be assessed against their CV and the following:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and influencing
• Working Together

At interview, Candidates will be assessed against the following:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and influencing
• Working Together

Applicants will be subject to an initial sift. If successful at sift, candidates will be invited to attend an interview at Blandford Camp date to be confirmed.

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It 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.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil 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.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Michael Batten
• Email : michael.batten101@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

20230201 - Air Command's Applicant Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 499kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)Defence Internal Brief Notice Opens in new window (docx, 39kB)