Job description
Job summaryThe Ministry of Defence, Civil Service workforce isdiverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from cyber and digital transformation, police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, psychologists, storekeepers, and policy secretariat staff to support the British Army.
The Army Personnel Centre (APC) and Military Secretary Support Area are recruiting Executive Officers to support the delivery of important operational outputs across business areas.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job descriptionThere are two positions available and both involve leading a team, managing sensitive casework, supporting secretariat and boarding activity, handling information requests, maintaining accurate data, and providing clear advice to internal and external stakeholders.
This is a varied and rewarding role suited to someone who can work accurately, manage competing priorities, support staff, and deliver high-quality outputs in a busy operational environment. The successful candidate will help ensure services are delivered professionally, efficiently and in line with relevant policy, legislation and organisational priorities.
Key responsibilities:- Managing, supporting and developing administrative staff, including allocation of work, monitoring of progress, encouragement of professional development, and ensuring compliance with policy, training and procedural requirements.
- Overseeing casework, workflow, secretariat activity or boarding processes to ensure business outputs are delivered accurately, consistently and within required timescales.
- Providing advice, guidance and practical support to staff, colleagues, internal stakeholders and external customers in line with departmental policy, relevant legislation and current processes.
- Supporting, where applicable, the processing and management of information requests relating to archived Army records, family interest enquiries, third-party requests, disclosure activity, data protection and freedom of information requirements.
- Supporting, where applicable, Army career management and secretariat activity, including the co-ordination of appointment or promotion boarding activity, preparation of outputs, communication of results and assurance of relevant board processes.
- Maintaining accurate records, system data and management information in accordance with information management, data protection and security requirements.
- Producing statistics, reports, management information and trend analysis to support planning, forecasting and evidence-based decision-making.
- Planning, co-ordinating and supporting training, development and team engagement activity to ensure staff are equipped to meet business objectives.
- Contributing to continuous improvement, innovation and organisational change while role-modelling professional behaviours and supporting an inclusive team culture.
- Deputising for senior colleagues where appropriate and supporting additional tasks commensurate with the grade to meet changing business and operational needs.
Person specificationEssential skills required:- Ability to work accurately and at pace while maintaining a strong focus on quality, customer service and compliance.
- Confidence communicating effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to apply policy and guidance consistently within an operational environment.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and workloads effectively.
- Ability to support and work collaboratively with colleagues and wider teams.
- Ability to use evidence to inform decision-making and recommendations.
- Ability to contribute positively to a professional, inclusive and delivery-focused team environment.
Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
BenefitsAlongside 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).
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other benefits for Army civil servants include:
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service
- Highly competitive pension scheme
- Personal and professional development of skills
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave
- 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
- Learning and Development
Kentigern House as a location:
City centre
Transport connections
Social / cultural attractions
Kentigern House as a working environment:
Ongoing Bldg improvements
Tech Bar
Canteen
Costa Coffee outlet
Gym
Quiet areas / rooms; Multi Faith, Breastfeeding, Neurodiverse, Wellbeing etc
Car parking free (on a rota basis)
Excellent working environment
We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.
A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.
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 knowArtificial intelligenceArtificial 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 detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
At the application stage, you will be assessed against the following criteria, listed in priority order:
Personal Statement - 750 words demonstrating your relevant skills and experience in line with the essential criteria.
Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift may be conducted against the Personal Statement only. The remaining evidence submitted at the application stage will be assessed only if you are successful at this initial sift.
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following criteria, listed in priority order:
Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.
Further information:
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.
SecuritySuccessful 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 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 requirementsThis 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 ServiceThe 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 InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
Apply and further informationThis 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 :
Recruitment team
Further informationPlease 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:
[email protected].
Attachments Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB) MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB) ARMY Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 273kB) Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)