Defence Business Services (DBS) - DBS AFVS Vets Services SEO COS

Job summary

Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?

Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence?

Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry. DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.

• Our Vision - To support UK defence customers with outstanding service every time.
• Our Mission – Together we will proudly support Defence, continuously improving and delivering flexible,timely, sustainable and value for money services that underpin the whole force and enhance operational capability.

DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society.

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as 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.”

Come and join the DBS community today!

https://youtu.be/gUw0ToaRGgk

Job description

Role Purpose and Overview

Veterans Services (VS), part of the Defence Business Services Armed Forces and Veterans Team, delivers essential welfare support to the Armed Forces community across the UK. Through national Triage and a widely dispersed network of Case Managers, VS works in partnership with the Single Services, local authorities, service charities, voluntary organisations, and government departments to provide holistic support to service leavers, veterans, and their families.

Our services include transition support in line with the MOD’s Holistic Transition Policy (JSP 100), advice for bereaved families, guidance on Armed Forces compensation and pensions, and information on how to access welfare, healthcare, accommodation, employment, and financial support. With main operational hubs in Kidderminster, Norcross, Centurion, Belfast, and Glasgow, in addition to Field Team locations across the UK, we are now seeking a Chief of Staff to strengthen strategic leadership and organisational effectiveness across the service.

Joining VS offers the opportunity to work in a high-profile, fast-paced environment that attracts significant public, ministerial, and media attention. As a key partner in the UK-wide rollout of VALOUR, the MOD’s enhanced support model for the Armed Forces community, the Chief of Staff will play a central role in coordinating delivery with VALOUR HQ and supporting the transformation of veterans’ services across the UK.

Chief of Staff – Key Responsibilities

The Veterans Services Chief of Staff is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring the coherent, efficient, and strategically aligned operation of Veterans Services. As a trusted advisor to the Assistant Head and Deputy Head, the postholder provides organisational leadership, strategic coordination, and operational oversight across a geographically dispersed service. The VS Chief of Staff is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, acting as a proactive self‑starter who can anticipate emerging needs, initiate solutions, and drive progress within parameters given. Core responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Drive strategic planning and service development to ensure Veterans Services delivers against MOD and DBS objectives.
• Coordinate cross‑cutting projects and initiatives, ensuring consistent governance, performance oversight, and continuous improvement.
• Lead business planning, risk management, corporate reporting, and assurance functions.

Operational Delivery & Service Performance

• Oversee operational effectiveness across the national VS footprint, promoting consistent, high-quality service standards.
• Facilitate cross-team alignment, resolving issues, removing barriers, and enabling teams to deliver at pace.
• Champion a collaborative, high-performing culture across dispersed teams and multiple sites.

Stakeholder Engagement & External Representation

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the OVA, VALOUR partners, government departments, the single Services, local authorities, and the third sector.
• Represent Veterans Services at national meetings, partnership forums, and events, acting as a credible, senior ambassador for the organisation.
• Provide strategic engagement support to senior leadership, ensuring coherent messaging, preparation, and briefing.

Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the design and delivery of service improvement projects, enabling Veterans Services to adapt to evolving needs and policy priorities.
• Support the implementation of the VALOUR programme, ensuring integration with VS operations and contribution to Government commitments for veterans.
• Identify opportunities to enhance processes, digital systems, workforce capability, and organisational efficiency.

Executive Support & Governance

• Prepare briefings, reports, and governance documentation for senior leadership.
• Manage leadership forums, decision logs, and board coordination.
• Deputise for Assistant Head when required.

Line Management & Team Development

• Line manages the VS Business Management Team, Complex Case Management Team and a Surge Field Team.
• Promote staff wellbeing, professional development, and succession planning.
• Ensure consistent standards and practices across dispersed teams. Monitor KPIs.

Training will be provided, and the postholder is expected to maintain professional development in line with Civil Service requirements and role-specific learning needs.

Travel & Working Environment

This is a national role requiring frequent travel across the UK to support dispersed teams, meet stakeholders, and represent Veterans Services at events and military or government locations.

• Travel may include overnight stays.
• A full UK Driving Licence is essential.
• The role operates in a hybrid environment, balancing remote working with regular in‑person engagement.

Contract Information

• Hours: 37 hours per week.
• Location: National - Office locations Glasgow, Norcross & Gosport (frequent UK-wide travel required).

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable experience in strategic planning and operational delivery, with the ability to translate vision into achievable, measurable outcomes in addition to the ability to work flexibly in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, responding rapidly to changing priorities.
• Strong understanding of Armed Forces and Defence structures, and how they interact with wider government and third‑sector partners.
• Proven leadership capability, with the confidence to influence, challenge, and build effective relationships at senior levels.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and public‑speaking skills, able to engage diverse audiences with clarity and impact. must be an effective communicator and confident presenter, capable of engaging, influencing, and building trusted relationships at all levels.
• Advanced problem‑solving and critical‑thinking abilities, able to identify issues, anticipate risks, and develop pragmatic solutions with strong organisational, analytical, and decision‑making capabilities.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and support geographically dispersed teams, both remotely and in person.
• High levels of empathy and emotional intelligence, with a genuine commitment to supporting people through complex circumstances.
• Full UK Driving Licence and willingness to undertake frequent UK‑wide travel, including overnight stays when required.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working within the MOD or broader public sector, with an understanding of associated culture, policy, and governance.
• Awareness of devolved government structures and regional policy differences across the UK.
• Knowledge of Armed Forces Resettlement and Transition processes, including associated support pathways and partner organisations.
• Experience in governance, risk management, and performance oversight, ensuring compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Strong digital literacy, including proficiency in MS Office, collaboration platforms, and case management systems, combined with the ability to quickly learn new tools and technologies

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• An environment with flexible working options Monday-Friday
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service (pro rata). In addition to 8 public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for His Majesty The King’s birthday
• Hybrid working where role permits
• An opportunity to be considered for Reward and Recognition
• Family-friendly policies including - parental leave and adoption leave
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional and personal development of skills
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Minimum of 15 days special leave in a rolling 12 month period for volunteer reserve commitments
• Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days per year
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%

Allowances

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

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. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

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, Strengths and Experience.

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, a sift will be conducted on your Primary: Behaviour - Leadership. In this instance the remaining elements will be tested at interview.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Experience:

• CV
• Personal Statement Please provide information of how you meet the criteria set out in the job description. You may wish to further include examples of how you have tackled similar tasks or demonstrated the skills outlines in the job advert.

At interview you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

You will also be assessed against strengths.

In the rare case where individuals have exact matching scores, the order of merit will be determined based on the behaviour scores at interview in the following order:

1. Behaviour - Leadership
2. Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
3. Behaviour - Communicating and Influencing
4. Behaviour - Working Together

If candidate scores are still exact, the merit order will then be determined on the sift score in the below order or priority:

1. Career - Personal Statement
2. Behaviour - Leadership
3. Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
4. Career - Job History
5. Behaviour - Communicating and Influencing
6. Career - Qualification Details
7. Career - Previous Skills

We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn’t always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months.

Application sifting to take place week commencing: 23/03/2026

Interviews are currently taking place via MS Teams and will be conducted week commencing: 20/04/2026

A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs.

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 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: DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@mod.gov.uk

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.

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.

To assist with your application please find attached -

DBS Candidate Information Guide - Working for Defence Business Services - Arial Nova GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

(26) UK Ministry of Defence: Life , LinkedIn

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 : Mark Devine
• Email : mark.devine108@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeam@MOD.gov.uk in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

Attachments

Defence Civil Servant Offer 2024 Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)