Dstl
Deputy Principal Security Adviser
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Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JQ or Dstl Portsdown West, Fareham, PO17 6AD
If based in Dstl Portsdown West regular travel to Dstl Porton Down will be required.
At Dstl, our vision is to have a modern way of working efficiently, accommodating and enabling our people to create, collaborate and deliver.
To do this successfully in this job will require attendance at a Dstl location; Government Departments including wider MoD or Delivery and Mission Partner’s premises for 80% of your working time.
Where business needs allow, and with the agreement of your line manager, there may be the option for a combination of workplace and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement.
Job Summary
The Deputy Principal Security Adviser (PSyA) role supports the PSyA by leading and seeking to continually enhance Dstl Security governance and assurance framework.
The role is pivotal in supporting Dstl to demonstrate effective management of its security risks, by providing assurance on the effectiveness of key controls via the Dstl Security & Resilience Committee through to the Dstl Executive Committee (ExCo) and Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee (ARAC).
Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.
Job Description
The role has the following key areas of delivery responsibility:
- Supporting the PSyA in the maintenance and development of positive trust relationships with key external stakeholder groups that influence Dstl’s Licence to Operate.
- Leadership and coordination of Dstl Security Line 2 Assurance activities, ensuring the delivery of quarterly assurance reports and appropriate Management Information to enable ARAC and ExCo to make evidence-based decisions on the prioritisation of strategic risk mitigations.
- Development and coordination of Dstl Security strategy, ensuring this is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in MOD and Dstl strategic priorities.
- Central management of the Dstl Security Investigations Management Teams process, ensuring that Dstl delivers a Just Security Culture that learns from incidents and implements proportionate mitigations to address any identified vulnerability.
For more information on the essential criteria for the job, please see the job profile attached below.
Person specification
You will have proven experience of planning and leading security assurance activities across a range of complex operating domains.
You will have proven experience of working within and in support of governance structures in respect of boards, committees and associated Security Working Groups.
For more information on the essential criteria of the job, please see the job profile attached below.
Important Information
Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.
This role will require Developed Vetting and you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.
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Individuals within DSTL who hold dual nationality and currently hold the required clearance level may apply. If found suitable for the role further security discussions will need to take place before a formal offer can be made.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Seeing the Big Picture
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Changing and Improving
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Please give an example to evidence your proven experience of planning and leading security assurance activities across a range of complex operating domains.
- Please give an example to evidence your proven experience of working within and in support of governance structures in respect of Boards, Committees and associated Security Working Groups.
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- Please give an example to evidence your proven experience of working within and in support of governance structures in respect of Boards, Committees and associated Security Working Groups.
Alongside your salary of £60,448, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £17,511 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).
Benefits
Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:
- Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.
- Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).
- Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
- Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.
- Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
- Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
- Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
- Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.
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.
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Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.
If you are a current Dstl employee you must ensure your line manager is aware of your application and the potential situation regarding release dates.
The sift will take place from the 3rd November with applications assessed against the essential criteria outlined in the job profile.
Interviews will take place face to face at Dstl Porton Down from the 17th November and will consist of behavioural and technical competency-based questions and a 10-minute presentation.
Details of the presentation will be provided to candidates who are invited to interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.
This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.
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.
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)
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