Army - Guarding and Physical Security Manager

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence, Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, Cyber & Digital Transformation, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff to support the British Army.

Responsible for the delivery and oversight of Security and Guard Service provision across the NATO Support and Training Centre (NSTC(G)) (Germany) area of responsibility. Includes support to the Firm Base in Sennelager Garrison and Ayrshire Barracks (Mönchengladbach), enabling the projection and sustainment of combat power at readiness. The position contributes to providing strategic options for Defence on the European continent and supports the British Army’s combined arms manoeuvre training centre of excellence, while reinforcing consent to train through strong Anglo‑German relations.

The role provides strategic leadership, assurance, and oversight of all guarding and physical security activity across the NSTC(G) area, ensuring the protection of MOD personnel, assets, and infrastructure. It includes command and control of the Germany Guarding Service (GGS), maintenance of compliance with MOD security regulations, delivery of assurance and audit activity across multiple sites, and coordination of security responses in the absence of the Establishment Security Officer. The post also leads critical security improvement projects, including enhancing training and assurance capability in line with Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT) standards, ensuring both operational effectiveness and the continuity of business critical security functions.

The post reports to the Commander, NSTC(G), through the Deputy Chief of Staff. The tour length is three years, and the position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

You will play a critical role in delivering effective guarding and security across the NSTC(G) area. Providing leadership, assurance, and continuity for a dispersed workforce and ensuring the protection of MOD personnel, infrastructure, and assets across multiple locations.

Key Responsibilities are:

• Leadership & Management
  • Provide command, control, and direction to approximately 113 GGS personnel, ensuring cohesive, disciplined, and effective guarding operations across all NSTC(G) sites.
  • Maintain continuity of security leadership, including acting on behalf of the Establishment Security Officer when required.
• Security Oversight & Assurance
  • Oversee and coordinate guarding and physical security activity across the NSTC(G) area, ensuring compliance with MOD policy and security standards.
  • Conduct scheduled assurance visits to Athlone Barracks, Ayrshire Barracks, and Normandy Barracks, producing assessments and ensuring timely implementation of remedial actions.
  • Maintain and monitor compliance with MOD security regulations, internal controls, and Firm Base security requirements.
• Risk Management & Incident Coordination
  • Identify, assess, and escalate security risks affecting the Firm Base, ensuring vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.
  • Act as a key point of coordination with internal and external stakeholders, enabling effective incident response and informed decision making.
• Training, Development & Standards
  • Lead the development and upskilling of the Germany Guard Service Training and Assurance Team to ensure alignment with Defence Systems Approach to Training standards.
  • Drive continuous improvement in training delivery, assurance activity, and compliance with Defence security requirements.
• Continuous Improvement & Project Support
  • Manage ongoing security improvement initiatives, ensuring consistency of guarding policy and security standards across NSTC(G) sites.
  • Support the delivery of security related projects directed by HQ NSTC(G) or Regional Command.
  • Provide essential business continuity within a “one brick thick” organisation where no internal redundancy exists for this role.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

We are seeking a highly motivated individual who brings enthusiasm, professionalism, and a strong background in guarding. You will thrive in a diverse team comprising of multiple employment types and will demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively while maintaining focus on roles, responsibilities, and collective outputs. A clear understanding of how your work contributes to the wider organisational picture is essential, as is the ability to integrate effectively with colleagues and drive shared objectives.

Essential Skills & Qualifications:

• Proactive, adaptable, and committed to continuous improvement.
• Able to build strong working relationships, contribute positively to team culture
• Support the delivery of high quality guarding capability across the organisation.
• Full Cat B Driving Licence (manual)
• Clear and confident communication both verbally and written
• Ability to analyse risks, interpret information objectively, and make sound judgements under pressure
• Capable of prioritising multiple demands while maintaining oversight of security across dispersed locations
• Strong organisational and planning skills are necessary to coordinate activity across multiple sites and manage time effectively
• Proven experience in managing a guarding and Security Service

Desirable Skills:

• Conversational German Language
• Assistant Advisor Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Management of Locally Employed Civilians
• Understanding of NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
• Understanding of German Collective Tariff Agreement (CTAII)
• Working knowledge of Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT)

Licences

Full Cat B Driving Licence (manual)

Behaviours

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

• Developing Self and Others
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

For overseas service: This post offers full relocation allowances subject to availability. Cost of Living Overseas Allowances is payable based on personal circumstances and marital status.

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

Discover My Benefits:

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

This post offers full relocation allowances subject to availability. Cost of Living Overseas Allowances is payable based on personal circumstances and marital status.

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.

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.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Personal Statement - of no more than 250 words detailing how you meet the essential skills required
• Behaviour - Leadership
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Leadership.

Your Developing Self & Others, Making Effective Decisions and Managing a Quality Service will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Experience – Question based on personal statement
• Behaviour - Developing Self & Others
• Behaviour - Leadership
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held via Microsoft Teams. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

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.

This vacancy will be assessed at HEO grade

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.

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 mitigation's can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• 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)
• 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)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• 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 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 : Edward Dunlop
• Email : Edward.Dunlop681@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please see Further Information document attached

Attachments

20241009 - Further Information - External (3) Opens in new window (docx, 34kB)Defence Civil Service Offer (3) Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)