Job Description

Details

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Reference number

416763

Salary

31,500
Salary is per annum for full time staff.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant: MGS Full-Shift Worker

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

MOD - Army - Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS)

Type of role

Security

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Warcop Training Centre, Appleby-In-Westmorland, Cumbria, CA16 6PA

About the job

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Job summary

Join the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS)

Be part of the frontline protecting the UK's most critical Defence sites. Play a vital role in national security.

At the

Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS)

, we safeguard the UK's Defence estate, protecting personnel, assets, and critical locations from

crime, terrorism, espionage, and sabotage.

Our Gold Standard Security Service is built on professionalism, trust, and excellence-- and we're looking for

dedicated Security Officers

to join us.

Who We Are

The

Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS

) provides

high-quality security services

at

over 170 MOD sites

across the UK, including high-profile locations such as

MOD Main Building in London, Whitehall, and His Majesty's Naval Bases in Portsmouth, Devonport, and the Clyde.

Why Join Us?

A meaningful career -

Play a crucial role in national security and defence.

Career development -

Access specialist training, funded qualifications, and internal progression opportunities.

Job security -

Be part of a well-established organisation with over 30 years of service.

A strong team culture -

Work alongside professionals who value

integrity, vigilance, professionalism, helpfulness, and teamwork.

Our Vision & Values

Our goal is to be recognised as an

outstanding provider of security services

, guided by our core values:

Integrity -

Always do the right thing, treat others fairly.

Vigilance & Preparedness -

Stay alert, ready to respond.

Professionalism -

Maintain high standards, continuously improve.

Helpfulness -

Provide excellent service, leave a positive impression.

Teamwork -

Work collaboratively, support colleagues, and protect Defence.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

As a

Security Officer

, you will:

Ensure site safety and security -

Protect Defence personnel, visitors, and property.

Conduct patrols -

Monitor designated areas on foot or by vehicle, ensuring compliance with security protocols.

Control access -

Check credentials, issue passes, and escort visitors as required.

Perform searches -

Conduct thorough security checks on vehicles, baggage, and personnel.

Respond to incidents -

Identify risks, manage security breaches, and escalate as needed.

Assist employees and visitors -

Provide professional and courteous support on-site.

Monitor security systems -

Operate CCTV, alarms, and communication devices.

Manage traffic and parking -

Control vehicle movement and ensure safe site access.

Report and document -

Maintain security logs and complete detailed incident reports.

This role requires excellent communication and organisational skills, as well as the

ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Shift Pattern & Flexibility

This is a shift working position at 48 hours per week including breaks. The successful candidate will be expected to work nights, weekends, bank holidays etc as stipulated by the shift pattern agreed at the Unit depending on site requirements. This will be an average of 48 hours in a calendar week, this will be 12 hour shifts each week rostered between Sun - Sat. This will include being rostered in a flexible manner (termed a flexible week) within the shift roster. During the flexible week, the working days and shifts will routinely be stipulated in advance but may be changed at short notice, (this should be no less than 48 hours). The exact shift pattern will be explained in full during the interview.

Training & Development

We are committed to ensuring you have the

skills and confidence

to succeed in your role.

New starters will complete a mandatory two-week residential Foundation Course,

followed by structured on-the-job training.

You will have access to ongoing professional development

, including an annual programme of online learning.

Our dedicated Workforce Development Team

will support your training needs, ensuring you continue to build expertise throughout your career.


If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

What We're Looking For

Are you

resilient, alert, and highly organised

? Do you thrive in a

team-based, high responsibility

environment?


We need individuals who can

stay vigilant, act decisively, and provide outstanding customer service

in security-sensitive locations. If you have

previous experience in security or customer service

, we want to hear from you!

You must also maintain a good level of physical fitness, as the role involves prolonged periods of standing, patrolling large areas, and responding quickly to incidents.

A background in administration and strong IT skills

(including Microsoft Office and electronic booking-in systems) will also be beneficial, as you will work closely with office-based personnel.

Behaviours

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


Communicating and Influencing


Working Together


Managing a Quality Service

Medical

MGS applicants are required to attend an MGS Security Officer Medical Check.

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence.


Evidence of qualification will be required at interview.


All qualifications/licences declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalent Qualifications will not be accepted.

Behaviours

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


Working Together Managing a Quality Service Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

------------


Alongside your salary of 31,500, Ministry of Defence contributes 9,125 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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.


Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/


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 28.97%. A generous annual leave allowance. Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave (pro-rated to your contracted hours) 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 Cafeterias and Shops. Entitlement to apply for Blue Light and Defence Discount Cards.

Free MGS Security Uniform.



This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.


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.

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

If you align with our values and have experience in security or customer service we would love to hear from you.

At

application stage

you will be assessed against the following:

Experience:

CV including Job History and Previous Skills.


At

interview

you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

Working Together

Managing a Quality Service

Communicating and Influencing


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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.


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.


Application sifting is scheduled to take place on week commencing 04/08/2025


Interviews are due to take place via Microsoft Teams and will be conducted week commencing 25/08/2025


We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn't always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months. It is also possible that we may offer similar lower graded role/s to reserve candidates or, if no reserves are appointed, candidates that meet the lower grade criteria in merit order.


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. The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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 mitigation's can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.


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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.



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 security check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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) 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : MGS RH Email : MGS-RH@mod.gov.uk
#

Recruitment team

Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please see Further Information document attached.