DIO – Ministry of Defence Guard Service – Security Operational Manager Day Worker

The Challenge

Do you want to join the 2021 Government Security team of the year and be part of our Gold Standard security service?

The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) provides high quality security services at approximately 100 MOD sites across Great Britain. The MGS has guarded the Defence Estate for over 25 years including high profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London 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 is part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and employs over 2,500 staff. MGS Officers are often the first point of contact with the MOD for employees, visitors and contractors and we pride ourselves on our professional, customer-focused culture.

All our Security Officers are required to have excellent customer service skills and must be willing to go above and beyond to support security operations across the defence estate. Due to the high profile and strategic locations of the sites we guard, it is essential our Security Officers have a strong work ethic, are able to work as part of a team, are observant to threats and are capable to challenge and de-escalate difficult situations if required. We also require our Security Officers to have good written and verbal communication skills. Our Officers must have resilience and remain positive and friendly in all weather conditions and on all occasions.

We provide our staff with a market leading salary, excellent sickness benefits, together with a defined benefit civil service pension. Free full uniform will be provided.

We are a growing organisation with opportunities for good quality staff to progress their security careers.

The MGS holds the Committed to Equality Gold Standard and we positively encourage applications from all under-represented communities and from all types of working backgrounds.

See more information about the MGS, please read the candidate pack and watch our Security Officer YouTube video https://youtu.be/nzSK9OPOoDI

The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) is a professionally qualified body of Civil Servants who provide unarmed guarding services at over 100 MOD sites across Great Britain. The MGS has guarded the Defence Estate for over 25 years including high profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London and His Majesty’s Naval Bases at Portsmouth, Devonport and the Clyde. The MGS plays a vital role supporting the Defence Mission and works closely with its security partners

The MGS is part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and employs over 2,500 operational and support staff. The MGS is managed by a Head Office team, dispersed strategically around the country.

MGS officers are very often the first point of contact with the MOD for employees, visitors and contractors and we pride ourselves on a customer-focused culture, working to DIO’s Values as well as our own core values of honesty, integrity, professionalism and efficiency.

We are passionate about the services we deliver and work hard to keep pace with developments in the security industry, as we seek to be the unarmed guarding provider of choice. The MGS holds the Committed to Equality Gold Standard and we positively encourage applications from all under-represented communities.

We employ approximately 4,900 staff from a very diverse range of professions, and we work across the world; in Germany, Cyprus and the Falkland Islands, Norway, Poland, Kenya, Belize, Nepal and Oman.

You can view our YouTube video to see more about our work

Main Responsibilities

The key duties of an Operational Manager (OM) are as follows.

• To ensure the correct posture of physical and tactical resources to manage sites and maintain operational preparedness for security incidents, in line with local Joint Business Agreements/General Statement of Security Requirement (GSSOR’s).
• Oversee the management of resources, including people, and expenditure whilst ensuring a positive and inclusive working environment
• Lead Physical Security operations and set governance structures to appropriately meet the risk appetite, overseeing effective Physical Security to protect assets and people throughout the estate. Liaise with Unit Customers and Heads of Establishments on a regular basis about service delivery and any problems/issues arising. Following agreed prioritisation of tasks and risks
• Comply with relevant regulation and legislation
• Ensure all posts and tasks are risk assessed and Health and Safety policies and processes are followed at all times
• Liaise with Unit Customers and Heads of Establishments on a regular basis about service delivery and any problems/issues arising. Following agreed prioritisation of tasks and risks.
• Cooperating with other security providers at the Unit to provide a high-quality security service.
• Provide Head Office with returns when requested regarding staffing levels, personal case work, audits and weekly completion of PORT, recording achievement of tasks, overtime and other operational data.
• Ensuring National Security Inspectorate (NSI) compliance at all Units within your Area of Responsibility (AOR) auditing paperwork and processes and amending and updating local documents when required
• Reviewing rosters, Joint Business Agreements/ General Statement of Security Requirement (GSSOR’s) and Assignment instructions on an annual basis to
• Consulting with Trade Unions on local changes and building positive and effective relationships with all stakeholders.
• Carry out all MGS/MOD/Management training including Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) to ensure effective understanding and management of Health & Safety within their Area of Responsibility (AOR).
• The successful candidate will also have line management responsibilities at other sites within the area.

Travel Requirements

Some Operational Manager roles may cover more than one site and require routine travel using official vehicles between Units. There will also be an expectation to travel in order to attend meetings, training courses or carry out Personnel case work at other locations throughout the UK.

Desirable Experience & Skills

A background, qualification or demonstrable interest in the delivery of site security and/or customer service will be an advantage.

Environmental Factors / Hazards Associated with the Post

Travelling between the three sites on a regular basis.

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

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

We enable our people to work at the right place, with the right people, at the right time.

We believe that if we look after our people, they will be passionate about delivering great things for our customers.

We understand the importance of life outside of work and our industry leading flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance.

The MOD Discover My Benefits page lists the full set of benefits. Some of the many benefits you will receive include:

• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Free Uniform
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club, Gym and / or site shops

This post does not offer any assistance with relocation allowances.
Please be advised the department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Learning & Development

• Professional and Personal Development of skills
• Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by DIO
• Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by DIO

Employment Hours

42 hours (including a paid break per day) based on full time. This post is responsible for managing 28 staff over three sites and requires continuity for staff and the customers.

DIO is passionate about ensuring that we are a top performing organisation and a great place to work. We host a diverse range of talent where everyone feels valued and supported enabling our people to thrive, bring greater creativity and innovation to achieve higher organisational performance. We are committed to be an equal opportunities employer and creating a culture where everyone can bring their whole self to work and individuality is truly appreciated.

This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our 6 staff networks covering Disability, Faith and Belief, Gender Equality, LGBTQI+, Race, Social Mobility and 3 networks dealing with employee wellbeing and support: Speak Safe Volunteers, Mental Health First Aiders and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisers.

Our staff, future and current will be guided by the 4 Cs and we encourage you to be curious and continuously strive for improvement, collaborative in an inclusive culture, ambitious and resilient and committed to Defence, empowered and able to challenge so you can play a key part in shaping the direction of our organisation.

DIO commits to offer its employees the following experience:

• Meaningful, purposeful work
• The ability to learn and grow
• The right opportunities and resources
• To care about your wellbeing
• To feel valued and included

About DIO

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is the estate expert for Defence, supporting the armed forces to enable military capability by planning, building, maintaining, and servicing infrastructure.

Our responsibilities include:

• Plan and deliver major capital projects and lifecycle refurbishment
• Provide utilities services
• Manage soft facilities management (i.e. cleaning and catering)
• Provide a safe place to train
• Allocate Service Families Accommodation
• Procure and manage routine maintenance and reactive repair
• Provide a central register of asset information to advise infrastructure planning
• Act as steward of the Defence estate
• Provide the unarmed guarding service

Job contact :

Name :
David M Fairbrother
Email :
david.fairbrother341@mod.gov.uk
Telephone :
07718788613

Recruitment team :

Email :
DBSCivPers-DIOResourcing@mod.gov.uk