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When you come to DE&S, you’re joining a team that helps protect people all over the UK – and overseas too. We do that by providing cutting-edge tech, vehicles and equipment to the Armed Forces. Whether it’s the latest protective clothing for soldiers, or the smartest radar for new RAF jets, our projects keep UK military colleagues safe, so that they can protect life at home.
To do that, we need a real wealth of people from every background and skillset – all working together every day to do our best work. It takes accountants and engineers; HR specialists and IT experts. And we all have to keep learning, keep striving, to help the UK’s defences to stay ahead.
About the role
DE&S is looking for talented, motivated and skilled graduates to join our Corporate Services Group (CSG) Graduate Scheme and become CSG professionals of the future.
The CSG Graduate Scheme is a two year development programme focused around Corporate Services roles across different areas of DE&S.
The CSG Scheme currently offers five specialisms. You’ll be asked to select your preferred specialism when you apply. The specialisms are:
Business Support
The Business Support (incorporating Business Change) specialism (7 posts) is a development programme focusing on business roles across different areas of DE&S within the CSG function.
Your hands-on experience will be underpinned by DE&S specific training as well as study towards achieving a Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management through the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM). Within Business Change you will also work towards an APMG Change Management Foundation and Practitioner qualification.
Security & Resilience
The Security & Resilience specialism (3 posts) is a development programme focusing on business roles across different areas of DE&S within the CSG function with an emphasis on security.
It’s responsible for the effective delivery of security across DE&S. Effective security is crucial to the delivery of defence outputs. The aim of defence security is to support and enable operational success, and wider work of MoD, by protecting the people, information and physical assets needed to deliver it.
Your hands-on experience will be underpinned by DE&S specific training as well as study towards achieving a Certificate in Security Management from the Security Institute. In addition, you will also study towards achieving a Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management through the ILM.
Quality Management
The Quality Management specialism (2 posts) is a development programme to ensure DE&S have an effective system of governance in place, such as planning, directing or co-ordinating internal assurance/audit programmes as well as facilitating a culture of continual improvement.
Your hands-on experience will be underpinned by DE&S specific training, you’ll study towards your MoD Quality Licence and Practitioner status of the Chartered Quality Institute. You’ll also study towards completing an International Register of Certificated Auditors accredited Internal Auditor qualification. In addition, you will also study towards achieving a Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management through the ILM.
Policy Profession
The Policy Profession specialism (2 posts) is a development programme focusing on business roles across different areas of DE&S within the CSG function with emphasis on policy. The Policy Profession is a cross-government specialism that provides policy and strategy advice at the heart of government.
As a member of the Policy Profession specialism, you’ll be responsible for providing support to senior officials, including the DE&S leadership team and ministers, on parliamentary matters and high-profile business issues affecting DE&S. The profession covers several core business areas: Policy Secretariat, International Relations Group, Corporate Operations, Approvals Support and Corporate Performance and Risk.
Your hands-on experience will be underpinned by DE&S specific training as well as study towards achieving an ILM Level 3 certificate, together with a blend of on-the-job training supplemented by training drawn from MOD Policy Profession depending on individual roles and need.
Infrastructure
The Infrastructure specialism (1 post) is a development programme focusing on business roles across different areas of DE&S within the CSG function with the emphasis on infrastructure and estates. The Infrastructure specialism provides a range of services including policy and strategy work, planning infrastructure programme delivery and Facilities Management support across all the DE&S sites.
Your hands-on experience will be underpinned by DE&S specific training, as well as study towards completing an Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Managing Safely qualification. In addition, you will also study towards achieving a Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management through the ILM.
For all specialisms described, there’ll be rotations through several placements within DE&S, and you may also have opportunities to work in other business roles supporting the MoD’s vast estate and front-line commands.
You may have the opportunity to experience work placements within DE&S and the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA). Successful candidates may be required to re-grade into the SDA on completion of the scheme. The SDA is our sister organisation, an Executive Agency of the MoD.
After successful completion of the scheme you’ll be eligible for a re-grade interview and deployment into an appropriate role within the CSG function.
Please also be aware that due to the current COVID-19 circumstances your training will initially be conducted remotely with our training provider. This may change over time when our training provider is able to re-support classroom-based learning.
Due to the classification of work in some areas, applicants who hold a dual nationality may be restricted in where they can be placed.
Responsibilities
Your responsibilities will vary depending on the placement you’re in, but broadly speaking, we can tell you you’ll be:
- Undertaking specialism specific placement activities to develop your knowledge and experience and add value to your team and the business.
- Building and maintaining a network of internal business contacts and peers to share and gain knowledge and identify opportunities to learn and develop.
- Building awareness and understanding of how the CSG function and wider business operates to assist in own develop and career progression.
- Providing an administrative support service to specialist colleagues within the business and actively contributing to team meetings to help with the work of the team.
- Participating in assigned educational training to develop own capabilities in a defence context.
What you will be assessed against
Your CV must demonstrate the following essential criteria:
- You must have a degree, or will achieve a degree (minimum 2:1) by August 2022.
It is also beneficial to your application if you can demonstrate the following desirable criteria:
- Relevant experience, demonstrating business management, business change, quality management, security, policy/secretariat or facilities management skills, including through internships or placements.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Problem Solving
Benefits
Alongside training and development, you’ll receive the following great benefits:
- Flexible working arrangements so that your work fits in with your lifestyle.
- 25 days holiday a year, increasing one day a year to 30 days after five years.
- A competitive remuneration package and access to two Civil Service Pension options.
- Use of our on-site gym, restaurants, and cafes.
- A huge variety of high street discounts and savings.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating staff on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harms associated with second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Tobacco-Free Working Environment (TFWE) programme, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere, unless stated otherwise, in the Defence working environment by 31st December 2022. Those seeking, considering, or accepting employment should be aware of this requirement.
Things you need to know
Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.
People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.
Technical Competences - Defence Equipment & Support
Stage 1: Initial application. When you apply, you’ll be asked to select your preferred specialism from the five on offer.
Stage 2: Online numerical, verbal and Civil Service judgement tests.
If you pass all tests, you’ll then complete a full application and upload your CV. Your CV should clearly demonstrate the following areas as you’ll be assessed against them when we sift through CVs:
• Key achievements.
• Relevant experience.
• Applied knowledge and skills.
Please allow sufficient time to complete the tests and the remainder of the application form.
Stage 3: The top scoring candidates at sift will be invited to an assessment centre (subject to COVID-19 restrictions), where you’ll be assessed on two group activities and a formal interview, to discuss your key achievements, relevant experience and applied knowledge and skills.
In addition to the above, you'll also be assessed against the listed technical competence and behaviours in the advert, aligned to ourDE&S Behaviours which can be found attached at the bottom of the page. You'll also be asked to prepare a short presentation to be given at interview.
There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses (where incurred) for the assessment centre.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an assessment centre or interview.
For additional guidance on writing a CV for DE&S, please click here
Following completion of all pre-employment checks successful candidates can expect to start employment in September 2022.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
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.
Apply and further information
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 : Ben Truscott-Owen
- Email : DESHR-ETCoE-Recruitment@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team :
- Email : DBSCivPers-GraduateRecruitment@mod.gov.uk
Further information
Applicants should monitor their Civil Service Jobs application centre regularly for updates.
Some of MoD’s Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS) changed from 3 February 2014. Those TACOS changes applied to Broader Banded and Skill Zone staff who were new recruits to MoD or who were appointed to a post on substantive promotion, progression or advancement. On the same basis, the TACOS for Departmental Retained Grades changed with effect from 01 September 2014.
All employees joining MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.
Following the introduction of the new Government scheme Tax Free Childcare, the Childcare Voucher scheme has now closed to new entrants. Applicants should be aware that any move across the Civil Service on or after 5 October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You can find out more about Tax Free Childcare at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
