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Job summary

This is a dynamic and influential role at the heart of Defence spectrum policy, with a particular focus on space-related regulatory and spectrum management issues. It is an exciting time to join the Ministry of Defence Spectrum Policy team as it transitions under the new operating model.

You will support the Deputy Head Spectrum Policy in delivering four key workstreams that shape how Defence engages with national and international partners on space spectrum matters. The role offers a unique opportunity to develop expertise across both policy and technical aspects of the electromagnetic spectrum, while influencing decisions that affect Defence capability now and, in the future.

You will be responsible for space issues within Defence, across Government, carrying out international engagement on spectrum and space issues and finally, lead of space issues within the world radiocommunication conference.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Within Defence

You will work closely with the Defence Electromagnetic Spectrum Authority (DEMA), the Space Command Satellite Filings Team, and CSOC Space stakeholders. Responsibilities will include supporting satellite ground station licensing, spectrum requirements for UK space launches, and arrangements for sharing access between civil and military spectrum bands. You will also contribute to wider Defence space projects and emerging spectrum policy issues.

Across Government

You will engage regularly with departments and agencies including the UK Space Agency and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), helping to ensure Defence requirements are represented in the development of national spectrum policy.

International Engagement

You will represent Defence interests with international partners including NATO, the Five Eyes community and key allies, supporting collaboration on a range of space-spectrum issues.

World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC)

Space issues now account for a significant proportion of the WRC agenda, making this one of the most important areas of international spectrum policy. You will support the Deputy Head Spectrum Policy by providing advice and analysis on agenda items that could affect Defence access to spectrum and future military capability.

International Travel and Representation

This is a highly outward-facing role with significant opportunities for national and international travel. You will attend NATO and Five Eyes meetings, international working groups, and WRC preparatory conferences. You will also support forums such as the UK-US-Australia Satellite Spectrum Working Group, helping to advance Defence priorities with some of our closest allies.

World Radiocommunication Conference Programme

A core responsibility of the team is supporting Ofcom throughout the four-year WRC cycle, during which international agreements are negotiated that can significantly influence Defence access to the electromagnetic spectrum. You will focus primarily on space-related agenda items and contribute to the UK's preparations for WRC-27 in Shanghai. Successful candidates should expect to attend both preparatory meetings and the conference itself, alongside colleagues from across Government and industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and influence Government departments and Ofcom to ensure Defence priorities are reflected in UK positions for WRC agenda items.
• Develop policy advice and evidence-based recommendations on space spectrum issues affecting Defence.
• Contribute to the development of Defence spectrum policy and long-term strategic planning.
• Support the delivery of spectrum-sharing initiatives and other technical projects under the direction of the Deputy Head Spectrum Policy.
• Build productive relationships with stakeholders across Defence, Government, NATO, Five Eyes partners and industry.
• Represent Defence at national and international meetings, working groups and conferences.

Person specification

This is a rare opportunity to influence national and international spectrum policy while working at the forefront of Defence space capability. The role offers exposure to senior decision-makers, international stakeholders and emerging technologies, providing an excellent platform for professional development in both policy and space-spectrum disciplines.

To thrive in this role, you’ll need to be a confident communicator — someone who can build strong, collaborative relationships across a wide range of stakeholders. Whether you're working as part of a team or independently, your ability to take initiative, think creatively, and solve problems will set you apart.

We’re not just looking for someone who follows the rules — we want someone who knows when to challenge them. You’ll bring a practical, solutions-focused mindset and the confidence to push boundaries when needed.

You’ll need to see the bigger picture, understanding how complex factors including international politics, influence decisions, particularly in the context of the WRC, where global spectrum policy is shaped on the geopolitical stage. This is also a role where continuous learning is key as you’ll be expected to learn on the job, stay curious, and keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies that impact Defence every day.

You would be expected to have:

• Experience in international collaboration, ideally through involvement in the WRC process; however, other relevant international engagement will also be considered.
• Proven track record in supporting complex, high-impact initiatives, including the creation of insightful reports and strategic briefings tailored for senior decision-makers.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills with national and international partners.
• Experience working in the space sector in a technical capacity would be an advantage.
• Degree in an engineering discipline or 2 years experience in a Space or Spectrum role

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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%

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. (1250 Word Max)

At sift, Candidates will be assessed against their CV and Statement of suitability and the following:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on your CV, statement of suitability and Communicating and Influencing

At interview, Candidates will be assessed against the following:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

The interview will be hosted on Teams and will last approximately 45 mins. You will be expected to give an oral briefing for 5 mins on a technical subject at the start of the interview. The title of the briefing will be given to you if you have been accepted for interview.

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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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 : Mr Ian Taft
• Email : ian.taft180@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : 07876597207

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 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 1777kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)