Defence Nuclear Organisation - Project Security Officer

Job summary

The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) is responsible for the provision of the nuclear deterrent, encompassing our submarines and nuclear warheads, while also advising on UK nuclear planning and fostering international co-operation on nuclear matters. With a multidisciplinary team of over 700 professionals, the DNO brings together expertise in science, engineering, finance, policy, programme delivery, and more. We work in partnership with the Royal Navy, the Submarine Delivery Agency and the Atomic Weapons Establishment as the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE).

Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated, and our people feel supported, included and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world.

As part of the DNO Corporate Operations Deputy Directorate, you will join the DNO Workplace team within Corporate Services, working at the centre of a high-impact, enterprise-level programme. The team delivers and maintains the working environment across the DNO estate, ensuring workplaces are secure, safe, resilient and fit for purpose to enable the DNE to operate effectively. Alongside day-to-day delivery, the team leads a major programme of transformation to create a modern, integrated and enterprise-aligned workplace that supports collaboration, productivity and a strong employee experience.

As a Project Security Officer, you will play a key role in shaping how security is built into this transformation. You will influence projects from the outset, ensuring security is considered early in design and decision-making, not added later. This is an opportunity to directly shape infrastructure, working environments and ways of operating across a complex, multi-site estate.

You will apply your security expertise to support projects across their full lifecycle, providing clear, pragmatic advice to ensure solutions meet required standards while remaining deliverable. Working closely with project leads, you will address a broad range of security considerations, including information handling, zoning and secure operating environments.

You will collaborate with DNO PSyA, Establishment Security teams and wider stakeholders to deliver a coherent and proportionate approach to security. Your input will enable the safe and effective delivery of workplace projects that are critical to the DNO mission.

This post is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

You will act as the DNO-wide lead for workplace security, providing authoritative advice and ensuring security is embedded effectively across a complex portfolio of workplace projects and programmes.

Operating across the full delivery lifecycle, you will set and maintain the security framework for workplace activity, ensuring that security risks are identified early, managed proportionately and do not impede delivery. This includes shaping how security requirements are applied within infrastructure, zoning and workplace design decisions.

You will lead the development and assurance of key security artefacts, including Security Aspects Letters (SALs), grading guides and security inputs to projects. You will provide clear, pragmatic advice to programme boards and senior stakeholders, enabling informed decision-making and ensuring compliance with MOD policy and standards.

At site level, you will act as the named security lead for priority workplace projects, working with delivery teams, DIO and suppliers to resolve issues, support implementation and escalate risks where they impact cost, schedule or assurance.

You will also act as the principal interface with DNO PSyA, ensuring alignment with security policy and driving continuous improvement in workplace security processes, guidance and ways of working across the organisation as well as working with Defence Nuclear Enterprise stakeholders and Establishment Security leads

This role requires strong professional judgement, the ability to influence without direct authority, and confidence engaging senior stakeholders across the DNO, DNE and Establishment Security leads.

As the post holder will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process. Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.

Person specification

Essential Qualifications:

• Evidence of relevant security training or equivalent practical experience.

Essential Skills:

• Proven ability to identify, assess and manage security risks, including escalating issues that impact delivery, compliance or assurance.
• Experience of providing clear, pragmatic security advice to project teams, balancing compliance requirements with delivery needs.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across security, project, commercial and technical communities.
• Experience of producing and assuring security documentation, such as Security Aspects Letters, grading guides or equivalent artefacts.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across a portfolio of work, maintaining quality and pace in a dynamic delivery environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief senior leaders and translate complex security issues into clear, actionable guidance

Desirable Qualifications:

• Membership of Security Institute
• Project Management qualification

Desirable Skills:

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of applying MOD security policy and standards (e.g. JSP 440) within a project or operational environment.

• ability to effectively prioritise and coordinate multiple tasks and activities in a dynamic environment, ensuring deadlines are met while maintaining attention to detail and quality.

• Ability to build constructive and mutually beneficial working relationships with stakeholders (Civilian and Military).

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

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 (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 annual leave rising to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• On-site Gym
• Cycle Loan (Advance on Salary)
• Thank You Scheme
• Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA)
• Defence Discount Service
• On-site Nursery (site dependent)

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.

This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per the Civil Service Nationality Rules. For further information please see the attached document.

Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history/qualification details/previous skills and experience. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.

Candidates will be required to provide a Personal Statement which should be a maximum of 500 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential/desirable requirements for the role.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV,Personal Statement and the following:

Behaviours

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

The requirements for the role have been benchmarked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview.

If a large number of applications are received, the initial sift will be based on your CV, Personal Statement and Working Together and Managing a Quality Service.

However, evidence should be provided against all behaviours as requested.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

You will also be assessed on your relevant experience for the role at Interview.

Further Information:

The Defence Nuclear Organisation plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of the UK’s independent strategic nuclear deterrent. To help enhance security, staff working for the DNO are encouraged to always exercise a high level of discretion in sharing information or talking about their work. As part of the application process, we ask that you do not tell anyone other than your partner or close family member about your application to join the DNO. You should not mention your application on social media or discuss it with anyone else at this stage.

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 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 : DNO Recruitment Team
• Email : DNO-ExternalRecruiting@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

Civil-Service-Nationality-rules Opens in new window (pdf, 218kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)