SJFHQ Military Secretariat Manager

Job summary

The MS/H&A Manager forms part of the Central Staff and supports the three separate HQs that form Standing Joint Force HQ (SJFHQ) Group (Gp). The incumbent will be able to manage the administrative process of MS and H&A, develop group policy in these areas, provide staff with appropriate advice and support when dealing with single Service reporting in a Joint environment. The MS/H&A Manager will manage the complex MS and H&A process using the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system to raise, monitor, manage and review the appraisal process for all military staff within the Gp. They will be responsible for the timely management of the H&A process across the Gp and ensure that all deadlines set by higher HQs are achieved. The SJFHQ Gp is a high readiness deployable set of HQs and the MS and H&A manager, whilst not in a deployable role, will be responsible for ensuring that whether deployed on operations or supporting other defence requirements from the UK that the MS and H&A process is managed, supported and that key business as usual activity is maintained.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Due to the nature of the role, part time and job share arrangements may be considered, subject to the requirement that full-time hours are fully covered.

Job description

You will be:

• End to end management of the military appraisal process through the raising, monitoring and management of Serviceperson Joint Appraisal Reporting (SJAR/ Officer Joint Appraisal Reporting (OJAR) on Joint Personnel Administration (JPA). Monitor the results of all three Services promotion and command boards and ensure that timely and appropriate information is passed to the command group.
• Implement a robust hastening process that holds Reporting Officers accountable for missing the prescribed timelines for completion of appraisal and provide the command group with regular updates on any overdue reports.
• Responsible for the review of reporting quality across the SJFHQ Gp by reviewing completed appraisals prior to finalisation to ensure they are of a sufficient quality, are policy compliant.
• Develop the staffs understanding of appraisal reporting in a Joint environment by providing training and resources to help the creation of reports within a complex Joint environment.
• Responsible for the oversight of the Civil Service appraisal process across the SJFHQ Gp.
• Manage the administration of the SJFHQ Gp H&A process for both King’s Birthday Honours and New Year’s Honours and ensure that HLB and TLB timelines are achieved. Manage the operational H&A process ensuring that SJFHQ Gp citations for operations are process through the Op H&A process.
• Develop SJFHQ Gp H&A policy and provide advice and guidance to staff regarding the process and the creation of citations. Advise the SJFHQ Gp on any changes to H&A policy and the implications for the HQ. Monitor the outcomes the various H&A cycles and provide SJFC and his commanders with updates on the progress of ongoing H&A
• Support the Rear Operating Group with any additional administrative requirements when elements of the SJFHQ Gp are deployed on operations.
• Undertake learning and development and upskilling as required

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with people at all levels within the organisation.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to write succinctly and clearly for a range of audiences.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise your work when asked to contribute to multiple projects at once.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of using MODnet
• Personal Attributes and Skills:
• The ideal candidate will:
• Be a motivated self-starter with the ability to work at pace and eager to learn new skills.
• Have the ability to build and maintain long-lasting working relationships.
• Be comfortable and confident working both autonomously and as part of a team.
• Have the ability to plan, organise and work well under pressure, managing conflicting demands effectively and employing high levels of personal organisation.
• Confident written and oral communicator who is comfortable working closely with senior stakeholders.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 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%

Northwood HQ is a well-served site, offering a variety of facilities such as gym, nursery, salon and local shop. Transport links are good with a regular shuttle service to Moor Park tube station and limited access to free on-site parking (subject to capacity and on first come first served basis). There are several catering options and opportunities to join the Northwood Officers' Mess. As a civil servant, flexible working is encouraged and opportunities for professional and personal development are available and tailored to your role. The Permanent Joint Headquarters promotes and values a culture of inclusion and diversity within its 500 staff of military and civil service personnel. Additional benefits include a Civil Service Pension, and an annual leave allowance starting at 25 days, increasing annually thereafter.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this 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.

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

Candidates will be required to provide a Statement of Suitability (750 words max).

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of Suitability and the following Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

In the event of a high number applications, the sift will be based on the CV and the Statement of Suitability only.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

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

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.

Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) generates and operates specialist capabilities, ready to fight across all domains to make the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

Always on, we are across every UK operation, delivering the capabilities you don’t usually see - or those you can’t.

From cyber warriors and medics to intelligence analysts, special forces, educators, and Defence attachés, our collective expertise delivers the warfighting edge Defence needs to deter threats and secure the nation today and prepare for tomorrow.

CSOC unites Defence’s cyber and specialist capabilities under a single, military command alongside the Royal Navy, British Army, and the Royal Air Force - acting as the UK’s fourth Military Command. For more information, please see here.’

Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to design the way in which the new Military Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, posts within CSOC are/or may become subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

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 : sharon Andrews
• Email : sharon.andrews119@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

CSOC Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1777kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)