Enterprise Physical Security Assurance Team – Physical Security Assurance Assessor

Job summary

About Defence Security and Resilience

Our mission is to deliver a secure and resilient Defence. We protect Defence people, assets and information across the UK and overseas, enabling critical outputs and operational capability. We lead the Security Function across Defence on behalf of the Defence Chief Security Officer, who also acts as the Head of Profession for Security, providing strategic direction and assurance against the threats identified in the National Security Risk Assessment

About the role

Do you want to play a key role in strengthening the security of Defence?

This is a unique opportunity to join the Enterprise Physical Security Assurance Team (EPSAT), a high-impact team at the centre of Defence security. You will help provide assurance to senior leaders—including the Chief Security Officer and the Defence Board—that physical security risks are understood, managed and controlled across the Defence enterprise.

Working across a complex and dynamic environment, you will engage with stakeholders across Defence and the wider security community to assess risk, identify vulnerabilities, and drive continuous improvement in physical security.

This is more than a policy or assurance role — it is an opportunity to influence how Defence protects its people, assets and operations at an enterprise level.

You will work on high-impact, real-world security challenges, gaining exposure to complex risk environments and engaging with senior leaders and expert partners across Defence and beyond. As part of a new and evolving team, you will have the chance to shape how enterprise physical security assurance is delivered, helping to define standards, strengthen governance and drive meaningful improvement.

Whether you are looking to deepen your experience in risk and assurance, broaden your understanding of Defence, or take on a role with genuine strategic impact, this position offers a unique platform to develop your career while contributing directly to national security outcomes.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As a Higher Executive Officer in EPSAT, you will support the delivery of enterprise-level physical security assurance across Defence organisations, sites and assets.

You will contribute to building a clear, evidence-based understanding of physical security risks and controls, helping to inform decision-making at senior levels. You will work collaboratively across organisational boundaries, bringing together insight from a wide range of stakeholders to strengthen Defence’s overall security posture. You will also support EPSAT oversight of all MOD Attractive to Criminal and Terrorist Organisation (ACTO) security incidents and assists= Service Police, Ministry of Defence Police and other agencies with investigations relating to MOD ACTO assets. EPSAT work closely with MOD and UK Law Enforcement to understand the current threat and raise awareness of MOD ACTO security inside and outside the Department

Responsibilities

You will:

• Support the development and delivery of the Enterprise Physical Security Assurance Plan, contributing to a coordinated programme of assurance activity.
• Deliver assurance activity across Defence organisations, sites and assets, helping to build an enterprise-wide view of physical security risk and performance.
• Understand physical security threats and risks, including those arising from emerging technologies, both within and outside the Department.
• Engage with stakeholders across Defence, including Front Line Commands and enabling organisations, to understand and assess security challenges and assurance requirements.
• Work with partners across the security and policing community (including DICI, DSTL, JTAC, NCA, NPSA and NABIS) to maintain a current understanding of the threat landscape.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of physical security measures, governance frameworks and risk management approaches used across Defence.
• Produce high-quality assurance reports to inform senior leaders and support strategic decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement in physical security, through influencing stakeholders, sharing good practice, and identifying trends and vulnerabilities.
• Contribute to the development of physical security policy, guidance and approaches in collaboration with wider DSR teams.
• Provide timely, accurate, comprehensive and relevant ACTO SME advice and guidance to units, establishments, TLBs, MOD Delivery Teams and others in the Department on the security and assurance of ACTO items, compliance with MOD policy, UK Firearms Legislation and identification and promulgation of good practice.

Oversee and monitor the timely and accurate reporting of the loss and recovery of ACTO items

Person specification

Essential

You will need to demonstrate:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a small team, using sound judgement and initiative
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to produce clear, accurate and high-quality written outputs
• Professional curiosity and a proactive approach to understanding complex issues
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Experience of identifying and assessing risk
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• DV clearance, or willingness to attain DV clearance

Desirable

• Previous assurance or audit experience
• A recognised audit or assurance qualification, or equivalent experience
• Understanding of, or experience in, Defence

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 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%

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.

At sift, you will be assessed against your Personal Statement (250 words) and the following behaviours:

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

In the event of a high number of applications, the sift will be based on Communicating and Influencing only.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

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

Candidates successful at application sift will be invited to an in-person interview which will be held at MOD Abbey Wood on a date TBC.

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 : Richard Symonds
• Email : Richard.symonds816@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : 07812 461066

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

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