
Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) PSYA - SECURITY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT ADVISOR
Job summary
The Security Incident Management Advisor role is part of a small, busy team comprising The Warning, Advice and Reporting Point (WARP). This is CSOC’s focal point for all security incidents within the Command. You will triage/ record incidents, direct investigations and move reports onward to relevant departments. You will carry out data/ trend analysis, identify lessons to influence policy and allow CSOC Sub-Commands to understand their strengths and weaknesses in security.
This post sits within the Principal Security Advisor (PSyA) team which provides advice to Commander CSOC (4*) on all security issues relating to the command, including advising on HMG and MOD security policy; evaluating security risks and protective measures; and strategic oversight of all security activities across CSOC sites, units, and personnel worldwide. In addition, advice, direction, and support are given to the constituent organisations as and when required.
The WARP is the main point of contact for all general security questions and is responsible for ensuring security messaging is disseminated to Sub-Commands and formations in varying threat environments around the globe.
Working in a mixed civilian and military team, you will need to be flexible and adaptable, able to act on your own initiative, and quickly develop good working relationships with a wide range of customers.
Being embedded within a team of security experts will enable you to gain a range of knowledge and experience of how security functions in a complex and challenging environment. With exposure to the functioning of Defence, HQ CSOC, and the constituent organisations, you will gain valuable knowledge and experience across a range of security specialisations.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
You will directly assist the WARP Team Lead and PSyA by:
- Operating the CSOC Warning, Advice, and Reporting Point (WARP), the single point for the issuing
of security messages across CSOC and for the receiving of security incident reports via Security Incident reporting form (SIRF).
Triaging the security incidents and tasking the security investigations to relevant Sub-Command.
Managing the Incidents life cycle and making sure the incidents are brought to closure after successful investigations.
- Conducting statistical analysis, utilising Excel, and other tools, of the number and type of security
incidents in order to identify any patterns and trends.
- Assisting in the management of investigations into security breaches, incidents, and near misses
and to ensure that lessons are learned, and improvements made to mitigate against re-occurrence.
For example, this can include but is not limited to incidents concerning.
- Loss (of, for example, classified information, personal information, ID cards)
- Theft (of, for example, classified information, personal information, keys to secure office)
- Breach of security policy
- Incorrect transmission of classified information
- Insecure classified information (security cabinets/offices left open)
- Security incident concerning MOD Computer Networks
- Hostile Reconnaissance
- Intrusions onto Defence Property
- Loss/Theft/Recovery of Items Attractive to Criminal and Terrorist Organisations (ACTO)
- Assisting in delivering and fostering a strong security culture across the command, which values, protects,
and enables CSOC and wider Defence.
- Assisting team members on a range of security enquiries, tasks, or projects.
- Providing an office management function to ensure that requests for security advice are triaged in a timely manner and passed to the appropriate team member.
- Assisting in the general functioning and administration of the team.
- Some UK travel may be required.
*Note - Participation in the out-of-hours duty roster is required on a rotational basis.
Person specification
The position requires an enthusiastic individual with strong interpersonal, organisational and collaborative skills to be part of a small but highly motivated and energetic team.
The post holder will be required to prioritise and manage a busy workload and high volume of throughput, whilst balancing business needs.
The ability to understand the nature and severity of security breaches/ incidents, apply a triage process and direct counter compromise, impact assessment and investigative activity is therefore essential.
The post holder must be suitably qualified and experienced to make sound breach management assessments and judgements, utilising all available information to ask the right questions and direct the correct response actions within specified timescales.
The WARP utilises a cross-government incident management system and the post holder will be required to input and extract data, upload reports and other relevant document sets and maintain oversight of the status of incidents through life to closure.
This post is only applicable for Sole UK nationals
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
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%
- Excellent on-site facilities
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.Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.
Personal Statement:
Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (750 Word Max)
At sift, Candidates will be assessed against their CV and Statement of suitability and the following:
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
At interview, Candidates will be assessed against the following:
- Delivering at Pace
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
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 : CSOC PSyA Risk Ld
- Email : UKStratCom-PSyA-Risk-grp@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
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 Servant Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)CSOC Candidate Pack 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 1777kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Salary range
- £30,740 per year










