Navy Command Principal Security Advisor – Personnel Security (Per Sy)

Job summary

The MOD has a responsibility to protect the security, independence and interests of the UK; at home and abroad; working closely with our allies and partners. Navy PSYA Personnel Security is seeking to recruit a Per Sy SEO to join a small civilian team delivering risk management and assurance relating to personnel security. The team handles a diverse range of security challenges and the postholder will play a pivotal part in responding to these issues that come from working in a large organization.

You will require excellent stakeholder relationship skills, working across the RN, MOD and wider Government to develop solutions as well as influence and develop wider security policies. You’ll be comfortable working with other stakeholders from diverse organisations to manage security issues and ensure that Defence security is protected.

This is a fast paced and high-profile role that involves handling and resolving of some of the most demanding and challenging personnel security challenges in Defence, providing an excellent opportunity for a keen security professional to make a genuine difference at the very heart of national security.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance in Portsmouth Naval Base.

Job description

You will be responsible for a diverse range of responsibilities which may include managing personnel security investigations, support the development of security culture and shape policy. The post holder will produce the vetting forecast, contribute to Defence Vetting Transformation and oversee the RN vetting application process. You’ll be required to set direction and act as an expert for queries from across the RN.

The postholder will be comfortable working with staff, both service and civilian, at all ranks and grades, providing timely advice that helps improve our security posture. The role supports operational delivery in challenging circumstances. You will take a strategic view, balancing the need to deliver routine but urgent outputs alongside strategic business plan delivery. Providing advice and direction, you will enable prioritisation of workloads, acting as a role model demonstrating leadership behaviours.

Previous experience of working with the RN would be beneficial.

The post holder will be a Line Manager/Countersigning officer of a team of 6 MOD civilian personnel

Responsibilities are included in the Terms of Reference.

Person specification

Essential:

• You will have proven People skills with leadership and management experience.
• You must also meet the nationality requirements for access to STRAP material. The requirement is mandatory and essential. This is a RESERVED post.
• You will require good communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
• You must have the ability to work reactively at short notice, to rapidly changing priorities and work streams as required.
• Analytical thinking and judgement/problem solving
• Understanding of Data Handling Principles
• You will already hold a valid Developed Vetting (DV) clearance or otherwise be able to achieve and hold this clearance. This requirement is essential.

Desirable:

• You will have a full understanding of the Business Units and organisations as well as the rank/rate structure of the RN.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

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.

• 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.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) and will assess: Behaviours and Experience

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 statement of suitability in no more than 500words 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 the following:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

If there is a large volume of applications, the sift will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Interviews will be conducted Face to Face in Portsmouth

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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 : NAVY PSYA PER SY VETTING TEAM
• Email : NAVYPSYA-PERSONNELSECURITYGRP@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

20250110- NC CS Applicant Pack Booklet - O (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 1607kB)20260312- SEO PERSY - RN - TORs Opens in new window (pdf, 264kB)EXTERNAL PACK (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information updated (1) Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)