DE&S Corporate Security Adviser Lead

Job summary

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

Nationality, visas, and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country.

We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

SC clearance: This requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Some positions may require joining with SC clearance and obtaining DV once in post: This requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 10 years and obtain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining DV security clearance can be a lengthy process. You’ll join us once Security Check (SC) clearance is obtained, and then the more enhanced DV checks will continue after you’ve started your employment. If DV clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months, we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made.

Job description

This position can be based at either of the following DE&S sites –

• MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol, Avon, BS34 8JH
• MOD Kentigern Hose, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 8EX

As a Corporate Security Adviser Lead, you will play a pivotal role in safeguarding the integrity of DE&S projects by providing authoritative advice and guidance on security and risk management, ensuring full compliance with MOD policies and standards. Working closely with project teams, stakeholders, and external partners, you will identify, evaluate, and mitigate security risks to protect sensitive information, assets, and operational activities. In addition to this, you will provide assurance to defence industry partners and carry out ad‑hoc on‑site security assurance assessments, ensuring that Defence assets are appropriately protected across sites belonging to DE&S, the SDA, and industry partners.

You will promote a strong culture of security awareness and resilience across your assigned projects. This includes fostering effective collaboration between technical, operational, and security teams to ensure that security considerations are not only reactive but proactively embedded throughout project planning and delivery. Your leadership will be essential in balancing operational priorities with robust security measures, enabling projects to be delivered on time and within scope without compromising safety or assurance.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide security advice to DE&S Delivery Teams and Industry, including addressing and mitigating security risks and issues, and establish and maintain a security culture.
• Develop complex and innovative risk management plans, enabling DE&S to deliver balanced and cost–effective risk management decisions based on advanced threat principles and concepts.
• Lead risk assessment and mitigation plan development. Ensure that risk is embedded in DE&S governance processes and integrates risk management processes into appropriate business activities.
• Co-ordinate the security requirements and service requests for DE&S, acting as an intelligent customer to the HMG Security Centre’s of Excellence.
• Manage the development and maintenance of DE&S policies, products, and methodologies to drive continuous improvement.
• Develop and apply new concepts in Protective security, involving the other specialisms.
• Actively participate, on behalf of DE&S, with the HMG Security Centre’s of Excellence to ensure security consistency and maintain security and risk standards across DE&S and wider MoD.
• Explain the principal requirements of major legislative regulatory instruments relevant to security, and the legal and regulation relevant to the role. Review and implement alterations to operating procedures in response to changes in regulations. Report residual non-compliance to management in accordance with DE&S procedures.
• Maintain understanding of local and strategic threat environments, and trends affecting the landscape. Use local and strategic threat information in decision-making and planning. Communicate tailored threat information to relevant local stakeholders within DE&S.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Lead Essential Criteria - Substantial experience in conducting Risk Management Frameworks.
• Substantial experience of leading security teams in at least two security disciplines e.g. Physical Security, Personnel Security, Business Continuity, Information Assurance.
• Relevant industry or government qualifications and accreditations, such as the Security Institute Level 7 Diploma (e.g. CSMP Level 6 Diploma, Certified Protection Professional (CPP), CISSP, or similar), or demonstrable equivalent professional experience.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Communicating and Influencing - CSBC 4
• Core Behaviour 2: Seeing the Big Picture - CSBC 4
• Technical Competence 1: Protective Security – Practitioner level
• Technical Competence 2: Risk understanding and mitigation – Practitioner level

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,200, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,150 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So, whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission
• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code: The Code - Civil Service Commission

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Disability Confident:

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Conflicts of Interest:

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.

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

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1

• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2

• 3rd: Technical Competencies

• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to use the Lead criterion, and/or an additional assessment.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission

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

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 Ponsford
• Email : michael.ponsford101@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : michael.ponsford101@mod.gov.uk

Attachments

20250527 Success Profile Behaviours 2025 document v1-O Opens in new window (pdf, 11MB)DES Security Profession Competency Framework- official (002) (2) Opens in new window (docx, 70kB)