First Secretary Defence, British Defence Staff (SE Asia)

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence is seeking a highly capable First Secretary Defence to join the British Defence Staff South East Asia team based in Singapore. This is a unique overseas role at the heart of UK Defence engagement in the Indo-Pacific, providing regional insight, stakeholder engagement and financial oversight to support UK Defence policy and strategic objectives.

The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping Defence understanding of the South East Asia operating environment, maintaining strong relationships with regional partners and representing UK Defence interests in a dynamic and strategically important region. The role offers the opportunity to work closely with UK missions across the region as well as with international partners, contributing to the delivery of Defence diplomacy, engagement activity and high-level visits.

As part of a small and high-performing team, the post holder will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, managing competing priorities while delivering high-quality outputs to senior stakeholders. This is a demanding but rewarding role that provides significant exposure to policy, strategy and international engagement at the operational and strategic level.

Job description

The successful candidate will provide regional insight to support London-led policy development and decision-making, ensuring that Defence engagement in South East Asia is informed by accurate and timely analysis. They will represent UK Defence at regional and multilateral forums, engaging with a wide range of international stakeholders and partners.

The role includes developing regional expertise to identify emerging risks and opportunities, building and maintaining effective networks across government, foreign partners and defence organisations, and producing high-quality analytical reporting for senior audiences.

The post holder will also support the planning, coordination and delivery of high-level defence engagement and official visits in Singapore and across South East Asia. In addition, the role carries responsibility for managing delegated financial authority, ensuring that resources are used effectively and in accordance with MOD policies and governance requirements.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

We are looking for a motivated and professional individual with strong policy, stakeholder engagement and delivery skills, capable of operating effectively in an overseas environment with a high degree of independence.

Essential criteria include experience in policy development, strategy or a related field, along with strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to clearly present complex information to senior audiences. Candidates must be able to demonstrate effective stakeholder engagement experience and the ability to build and maintain productive working relationships across organisational and international boundaries.

Applicants should have experience in financial management and governance, with the ability to manage delegated budgets responsibly. The role requires the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and deliver outputs to tight deadlines. Eligibility for Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance is essential.

Desirable criteria include knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region and prior experience working in an international or overseas context.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• 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%

In addition to a competitive salary, this role attracts a range of overseas allowances and benefits in accordance with MOD overseas terms and conditions, including support for relocation.

The role offers 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years’ service, in addition to public and privilege holidays. Flexible working options are available subject to operational requirements.

As an overseas posting, the successful candidate will also benefit from a comprehensive package including furnished accommodation, education support where applicable, and access to healthcare provision, all in accordance with MOD policies.

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

This post offers full relocation allowances subject to availability. Cost of Living Overseas Allowances is payable based on personal circumstances and marital status.

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.

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.

Candidates should apply via Civil Service Jobs by submitting a CV and a statement of suitability outlining how they meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Sift you will be assessed on Experience. The Sift will take place from 20th July 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, where they will be assessed against relevant behaviours including Seeing the Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Working Together and Leadership.

The selection process may also include additional assessment methods as appropriate. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

Interview anticipated to take place during the week of 10th August 2026, and will be conducted virtually.

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.

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.

This Vacancy will be assessed at SEO Grade.

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 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 mitigation's can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

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.

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 : Tim Curnock
• Email : tim.curnock@fcdo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please see Further Information document attached.

Attachments

Further Information - External (4) Opens in new window (docx, 39kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)