Security Services Group (SSG) - Security Technician London

Job summary

Join the team that protects the UK’s most important sites.

We design, install and maintain the advanced systems that protect Defence and Government sites across the UK and overseas.

We are looking for skilled and motivated Security Technicians to join our London and South East Team, delivering essential security services that keep Defence operations running safely and securely.

SSG is part of GUARDIAN, within Army Standing Joint Command, providing in-house specialist advice, design and maintenance across Government where high-assurance security is required.

With around 325 specialists, SSG delivers consultancy, design, project management, installation and through-life maintenance of electronic and physical security systems.

Our operational teams work 24/7 to maintain the systems protecting Defence and Government assets at home and abroad.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

You’ll be managed from the Woolwich office, travelling to sites across your region to maintain and install security systems. Most of your work will be field-based across your region, with occasional travel across the UK. Technicians are managed from Woolwich, tasked from home and paid from when they cross the M25 (or if they live within its boundaries from when they leave their home).

Job Purpose:

The role is responsible for delivering high-quality technical support and customer service, ensuring maintenance, installation, and minor works are completed efficiently and in compliance with health and safety standards. The position requires strong technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage customer relationships effectively.

Full system training is provided, so if you have a background in electrical, electronic or security engineering, we’ll help you build the specialist knowledge you need.

Key Responsibilities include:

• As required, act as the primary point of contact for customers, ensuring excellent communication and service delivery.
• As required, whilst on-site, respond promptly to maintenance and installation enquiries during core working hours.
• Participate in an on-call rota to provide 24-hour emergency service coverage.
• When instructed, conduct regular checks and audits on customer systems to ensure compliance and performance.
• Prepare accurate cost estimates for materials and labour for minor works, additions, and alterations.
• Deliver technical assistance at all levels and develop solutions to technical and design challenges.
• Supervise trades and subcontractors to ensure quality, safety, and adherence to project specifications.
• Complete all job-related administration accurately and report in a timely manner.
• Comply with all work-related and site-specific health and safety guidelines
• You may also be requested to support and mentor security technician apprentices

What’s in it for you:

This role offers variety, independence and purpose.

You’ll be part of a technically capable team, working with modern security systems across unique and sensitive sites.

Purposeful work: Play a direct role in protecting Defence and Government operations.

Autonomy: Tasked from home, you’ll co-ordinate your own schedule with direction from a regional team.

Development: Ongoing training and technical qualifications within the MOD’s security authority.

Equipment: A fully equipped, non-liveried company vehicle (with optional personal use), tools and uniform.

Occasional travel: Opportunities to support projects elsewhere in the UK and overseas (Gibraltar, Cyprus and Germany)

Employment Hours:

You will be contracted to work 37 hours a week, typically between 08:00-16:00, however through travel time, overtime and on-call duties you will have the opportunity to increase your potential earnings. It is not uncommon for SSG technicians to average 10+ hours a week in travel and overtime.

Your time will be typically spent working within your allocated region, however as SSG are involved in numerous overseas projects there are opportunities to work for short periods of time in Europe. This role will also require operating away from home providing support within the region and to the other SSG UK regional teams, staying in overnight accommodation as required.

Allowances:

Where applicable, allowances are provided, including:

• Travel Time (for travel outside of core hours).
• On-Call Allowance.
• Recall-to-duty Allowance.
• Travel and Subsistence for out-of-region and overtime assignments.
• This post does not offer any assistance with relocation allowances.
• £4,000 Market Skills Allowance (MSA)
• £3300PA Outer London Weighting Allowance (OLA)

Clearance

Once onboarded, the successful candidate will be put through the application process to achieve the higher Developed Vetting security clearance level.

Person specification

Essential Skills, Experience, Qualifications, Memberships & Licences

• A recognised, relevant Engineering background, Engineering Apprenticeship and / or Engineering qualification, i.e. Intruder Detection Systems, Perimeter Intruder Detection Systems, CCTV Systems and Access control Systems.
• Full UK Driving Licence (maximum of 6 points).

Desirable Skills, Experience, Qualifications, Memberships & Licences

• Engineering Council
• Security Institute
• HNC in Electrical or Electronic Engineering or equivalent
• NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Electronic Security Systems (IDS, VSS, etc) or equivalent
• ONC/OND in Electronic Security Systems (IDS, VSS, etc) or equivalent

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence (maximum of 6 points). Driving a vehicle is a requirement of the job; field technicians are tasked from home and are provided with a vehicle to carry their tools and equipment to/from sites which are remote and not accessible by public transport and in response to SSG’s 24/7 On Call Rota.

Qualifications

A recognised, relevant Engineering background, Engineering Apprenticeship and / or Engineering qualification, i.e. Intruder Detection Systems, Perimeter Intruder Detection Systems, CCTV Systems and Access control Systems.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Electronic Security Installation - Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,960, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,258 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Generous Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave increasing by one day per year to a maximum of 30 days after five years of service.
• Career Development: Benefit from continuous professional development opportunities within the security field, helping you grow and advance your career.
• Equipment: Toolkit, laptop and mobile phone.
• Company Vehicle: You will be provided with a non-liveried company vehicle, eligible for personal use (taxable as a benefit).
• Family Support: Access enhanced parental leave policies to support work-life balance during important life events.
• Exclusive Discounts: Enjoy savings through the Defence Discount Service (fees apply), offerings deals on a range of products and services.
• Health and Wellbeing: Receive Specsavers eye test vouchers and access on-site gym facilities (where available).
• Community and Social Perks: Join the Civil Service Sports Club (CSSC) or the Civil Service Club in London, providing access to a variety of social, cultural, and recreational activities (membership fees apply).
• On-Site Amenities: Many of our locations offer free parking, subsidised canteens, sports and social clubs, and on-site shops for your convenience.
• Inclusive Workplace: Join one of our Diversity and Inclusion Networks. We value diversity and are committed to creating an equal and supportive environment for all.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

We use the Civil Service Success Profiles framework to ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment of candidates. Your suitability for the role will be evaluated based on your experience, skills and demonstration of core behaviours throughout the process.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

At application, you will be assessed against your CV and the following Technical Skills:

• SSG Functional Competence Area 1: Electronic Security Installation – Practitioner

At interview, you will be assessed against your experience and the following behaviour:

• Working Together

What to Expect:

• The interview will explore both your professional experience and how your Behaviours align with the role's requirements, we recommend using the STAR format when answering Behaviour questions.
• Interviews are planned to take place on Microsoft Teams.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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 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 : Jenny Hughes, SSG Recruitment Team
• Email : jenny.hughes695@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

20241001_Single Skills Framework SSG v1.0-O (003) Opens in new window (pdf, 141kB)External Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Army Applicants Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 3932kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)