Cryptographic Assistant

Job summary

Defence Digital ensures our Armed Forces remain among the most technologically advanced in the world. We do this by putting innovative and effective technology into the hands of over 200,000 users, from the boardroom to the front line.

We lead on cutting-edge data science, automation, and cyber security at scale. Our mission goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving digital innovation that impacts lives across the globe.

Watch our video to see what we do at Defence Digital!

Passionate about using your skills to make a critical difference? Your next career move could be here.

The tour length is 3-years, with a possible extension for an additional 2 years.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Crypto Services for Defence (CSD) operates in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, adhering to strict security protocols. As Cryptographic Assistant, you’ll support the distribution and in-service management of cryptographic equipment in Germany.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the receipt, secure storage, distribution and full lifecycle accounting of all cryptographic materials on base, ensuring compliance with Ministry of Defence (MOD) policies.
• Liaise with both internal and external customers and stakeholders to deliver and manage MOD cryptographic materials and services.
• Prepare external documentation and support internal audits and inventory checks, while maintaining accurate records of cryptographic materials, ensuring compliance.
• Support with identification of breaches of Crypto and Communication Security Policy, reporting them appropriately and contribute to the development of cybersecurity strategies, policies, guidance and awareness.
• Maintain and update all Electronic Key (EKey) processes, procedures and local working instructions, ensuring they are stored at their appropriate security classification levels.

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

Cyber & Specialist Operations Command Transformation

Cyber & Specialist Operations Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. Because of this, all posts within Cyber & Specialist Operations Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

Person specification

This role would suit an individual who can work to a high standard to ensure security policies are followed. We are looking for somebody with:

• Ability to manage physical stock, including asset storage, inventory management and record keeping.
• Strong IT skills to adopt and utilise a range of bespoke MOD IT platforms.
• Ability to support the integration of new technologies.
• Confident in maintaining accurate records and audit trails, to ensure compliance and accountability.
• Strong interpersonal skills to develop and maintain positive relationships with customers and stakeholders across the Defence community.
• A willingness to train and give advice to all crypto distribution users.

This position involves complex responsibilities, including participation in a 7-day on-call rotation for after-hours coverage.

This role also requires the ability to perform manual handling duties.

As part of your initial training, you must complete a mandatory residential 5-day Crypto Custodian course, which may include overnight accommodation based on the training location.

If not already held, successful candidates will be required to obtain DV clearance prior to taking up employment.

Due to the security requirements, this position is open to sole UK nationals only.

Additional information:

A full UK driving licence is essential, due to regular travel between the Defence sites, many of which are remote and not easily accessible via public transport.

We have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional skills development
• Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning
• Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by MOD

Dependent on the business need, there may be a requirement to travel to meetings and/or training in the UK and potentially to other overseas locations.

Please note that this role will be based on site daily, due to the classification of IT systems needed. There will be no opportunities for remote working.

Please read the attached document ‘SOFA Restrictions’ to confirm you are eligible to apply for this post.

Licences

Full UK driving licence.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,650, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,010 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Our benefits include:

• Learning and development tailored to your role with a dedicated minimum of 5 days per year.
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (by 1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of five years’ service.
• Ability to roll up to 10 days annual leave per year.
• In addition to eight public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday.
• A Civil Service pension.
• Parental and Adoption Leave.
• Discounts on a range of services within and external to the civil service – Defence Discount Service, Civil Service societies for Sports and Leisure, Healthcare, Insurance, Motoring, Company discounts with Virgin, Vodafone, and Microsoft Office.
• In year rewards and ‘thank you’ schemes such as vouchers and gift cards.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Find out more here - Discovermybenefits.

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.

Equality and Diversity

Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.

Defence Digital operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence Digital reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing.

Defence is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Defence Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with personnel and Trade Unions.

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.

To apply please complete the CV template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard, ensuring it highlights your relevance to the essential criteria listed in the person specification.

It is essential that all applicants provide a personal statement (max. 1250 words), assessed against your responses to the questions listed below.

Each one will be scored and make up part of your overall score to assess your suitability to be invited to interview:

1. Describe your working experience of being responsible for the management, recording and distribution (or provision) of a service or product, in line with a policy or standard.
2. Tell us about a time you have used your interpersonal skills to advise and/or guide stakeholders or colleagues, to ensure an objective is achieved.
3. Describe your experience of using your IT skills to maintain accurate records and/or audit trails, to ensure compliance and accountability.

Interviews

We’ll assess you against these behaviours and experience during the interview process:

Behaviours

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making effective decisions

Experience

• You’ll be asked questions regarding your relevant experience for this role.

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.

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 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 : Defence Digital Talent Acquisition Team
• Email : ukstratcomdd-hr-talentacqdel@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Please see further information document

Attachments

20241009 - Further Information - External (3) Opens in new window (docx, 34kB)_SOFA Restrictions Germany Opens in new window (docx, 58kB)Defence Civil Service Offer (4) Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)DD Campaign Pack 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 1889kB)