DE&S Security Operations 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 role 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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.

Job description

As the Security Operations Lead, you can base yourself at any of the following Defence Munitions (DM) sites

• DM Beith, Beith, Ayrshire KA15 1JT
• DM Gosport, Gosport, Hampshire PO13 0AH
• DM Kineton, Kineton, Warwickshire CV47 2UL
• DM Longtown, Carlisle, Cumbria CA6 5LX
• DM Plymouth, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth, Devon, PL5 2TX
• DM Crombie, Nr Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 8LA
• DM Glen Douglas, Glen Douglas Road, Arrochar, Argyll and Bute, G83 7AZ

Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) are recruiting for a Security Operations Lead to support security operations across our Defence Munitions (DM) sites. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in safeguarding complex, high-risk environments that directly support UK defence capability.

As a Security Operations Lead, you will ensure an effective and proportionate security posture across sites, facilities, estates and operational teams. You will lead and influence physical security operations, maintaining preparedness for security incidents and events, and ensuring risks are identified, managed and mitigated appropriately.

You will have confident leadership skills gained from a security operations environment, with experience in resilience, risk management, assurance and governance. Working closely with a wide range of stakeholders, you will provide clear and practical security advice and contribute to the development and implementation of security policies and procedures.

Having experience of working in an Explosives Environment would be beneficial as would familiarity with the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) Foundation and Operational Requirements Process.

DE&S offers a supportive and inclusive working environment, with strong emphasis on professional development. You will have access to learning opportunities and support to enhance your security expertise, with clear routes for career progression within the defence security profession.

Please note the role requires regular travel to visit DM sites across the UK.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance at your base site is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% / 3 days 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

• Managing security risks by overseeing Physical Security operations appropriate to the Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (WOME) setting and the deployment of security measures to effectively protect assets, (information, people, buildings and equipment) throughout the estate.
• Planning, testing, and responding to security/emergency incidents.
• Conducting assurance of all risks pertaining to site/facility/estate security, providing evidence-based risk mitigations to decision-makers.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant regulation and legislation, providing site/facility/estate level guidance on the implementation of these through site security instructions or orders.
• Assuring the implementation of effective security governance, guidance, education and training for all staff across the site/facility/estate.
• Maintaining effective strategic relationships with Policing and Guarding providers, including external Home Office Police Forces.

Person specification

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

• Lead Essential Criteria - Previous experience of working within Security Operations.
• Experience in a leadership role and delivering effective outcomes.
• Demonstrable experience managing risk and security governance.
• Demonstrable experience managing stakeholder relationships and influencing decisions.
• Evidence of using written and verbal communications skills.
• Hold or be willing to attain the Establishment Security Officer course in the first six months of employment, with the assistance of DE&S.
• Hold a valid Driving license to travel to sites across the UK.

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

• Core Behaviour 1: Leadership – CSBC3
• Core Behaviour 2: Communicating and influencing – CSBC3
• Technical Competence 1: Risk Understanding and Mitigation – Practitioner level
• Technical Competence 2: Protective Security - Supervised Practitioner level

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,100, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,775 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)