UK Ministry of Defence
Army - SJC - MGS Operations Manager - HMNB Portsmouth
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1/84 Scott Road
HMNB Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO13LU
Job Summary
Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Join the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) to protect Defence from threats such as crime, terrorism, espionage, and sabotage by providing the highest quality of security services through professionalism, excellence, and trust.
We are looking for a Security Officer to join our Gold Standard security service and provide a crucial role to the business requiring resilience, vigilance, and alertness. Due to the high profile and strategic locations of the sites we guard, it is essential our Security Officers and Managers have a strong work ethic, great teamwork, customer service and communication skills and must be willing to go above and beyond to support security operations across the Defence estate. If you can demonstrate this from past or current experiences, we want to hear from you.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) provides high-quality security services at over 170 MOD sites across the United Kingdom. The MGS has guarded the Defence Estate for over 30 years including high-profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London, Whitehall and His Majesty’s Naval Bases at Portsmouth, Devonport, and the Clyde. We provide access control, military working dogs, control room operations, and other security services. We play a vital role supporting the Defence Mission and work to protect the Defence estate and personnel from crime, terrorism, espionage, and sabotage threats.
The MGS has over 2,700 employees. MGS Security Officers are often the first point of contact for employees, visitors, and contractors on sites and we pride ourselves on our professional, customer-focused culture. Behind our operational workforce is a range of head office roles which support our security professionals to develop and execute the organisation’s strategy, managing its budget and resources, leading, and developing our staff, maintaining relationships with stakeholders, monitoring and evaluating our performance and identifying new opportunities.
All are working towards our vision to be recognised as an outstanding provider of security services and our five values underpinning this vision include:
- Integrity – Always do the right thing. Respect yourself and others. Treat people fairly.
- Vigilance and Preparedness – Keep careful watch for risks and incidents. Be ready to act.
- Professionalism – Know the job thoroughly. Seek continuous improvement. Maintain high standards.
- Helpfulness - Always be ready to assist people. Leave a lasting positive impression.
- Teamwork – Working with colleagues who are collaborative, respectful, open, and trustworthy, who are passionate about excellence and protecting Defence.
There are plenty of opportunities for development, access to funded professional qualifications, and specialist training. We are a growing organisation with opportunities to progress your security careers and if you align with our Values, we’d love to hear from you!
For more information about MGS, please look on YouTube using the links below:
Person Specification
The Operations Manager’s (OMs) main responsibility is to ensure that our security service is running smoothly to allow our operational employees to protect defence and be prepared for security incidents. As an Operational Manager you will manage Security Officer Supervisors ensuring they are supported to undertake the tasks to a high standard.
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Key Duties
- Oversee and manage the daily operations of the security team at units, ensuring the correct use of physical and tactical resources to maintain operational preparedness for security incidents in line with local Joint Business Agreements/General Statement of Security Requirements (GSSORs).
- Lead physical security operations and set governance structures to appropriately meet the risk appetite to protect assets and people at sites.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships by liaising with unit customers and Heads of Establishments (HOEs) on a regular basis, ensuring excellent service delivery through proactive problem-solving and agreed prioritisation of tasks.
- Ensure all posts and tasks are risk assessed and all relevant policy and legislation is followed.
- Provide Head Office with data returns when requested regarding staffing levels, personal case work and audits, recording achievements of tasks, overtime, and other operational data.
- Collaborate with other security providers at the unit to provide a high-quality security service.
- Ensure National Security Inspectorate (NSI) compliance at all units within your Area of Responsibility (AOR), auditing paperwork, processes, and amending or updating local documents when required.
- Review working patterns/rosters, Joint Business Agreements / General Statement of Security Requirement (GSSOR’s) and Assignment Instructions on an annual basis.
- Consult with Trade Unions on local changes.
- Act as a role model and actively encourage a positive and inclusive working environment.
- Carry out all MGS/MOD/Management Training including Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) to ensure effective understanding and management of Health and Safety within your Area of Responsibility (AOR).
- Option to be On-Call Duty Manager
All new starters will participate in a mandatory two-week residential Foundation Course, followed by on-the-job training. Additionally, we offer an annual programme of mandatory online training, along with a dedicated Workforce Development Team to support you with your training needs.
Essential Criteria
- A background, qualification, or interest in the delivery of site security and/or can demonstrate experience in delivering customer service.
- Full UK Driving Licence (as travel to other sites may be required and public transport may not be a viable option)
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
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).
- On-site parking
- Some sites offer gym facilities
- Dining facilities
- Highly competitive pension scheme
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.
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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.
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, previous skills and experience.
At sift, Candidates will be assessed against their CV and the following:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
At Interview, Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following:
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
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