Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Kentigern House, Glasgow / Tomlinson House, Norcross, Blackpool / Centurion Building, Gosport About the job Job summary Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference? Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence? Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry. DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UKs Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement. Our Vision - To support UK defence customers with outstanding service every time. Our Mission Together we will proudly support Defence, continuously improving and delivering flexible, timely, sustainable and value for money services that underpin the whole force and enhance operational capability. DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society. We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. DBS has recently undertaken a review of its operational locations in the North West, and have consolidated all activities in Norcross, Blackpool. A further move, to the new Government Hub at Talbot Gateway in Blackpool, is scheduled to take place in 2026 Come and join the DBS community today Job description Primary Job Purpose To oversee the development, management and coordination of the provision of a progressive and high-quality Veterans Services Team, ensuring operational efficiency, output, levels and quality of service. To develop effective and appropriate business partnerships with a range of key stakeholders, via internal & external networking and steering group membership to support the work of veterans support and the progression of strategic business development initiatives across the UK by use of the newly created 13 Field Teams. Responsibilities Role Specific Accountabilities: Leadership and oversight of Veteran Support staff in the new 13 Field Team model which includes 4 teams in Northern Ireland. Overall responsibility for the provision of a progressive and high quality Veteran Support outputs, continuing development and co-ordination, ensuring operational efficiency, output, levels and quality of service. Accountability for the development of strategic business development initiatives for the Veterans Services Team. To promote and develop services for Veterans and in-Service personnel by influencing the development of effective policies and embedding new policies and protocols through close partnership working with a range of stakeholders, policy makers and MOD / tri-Service representatives. As the Veterans Services Team senior management team leader, develop and deliver the strategic steer for the future direction and development of Veterans Services Team associated business areas. Senior stakeholder management and engagement at senior levels within the Military, a range of 3rd sector organisations and other Government Departments / Devolved Administrations, Local Authorities and the NHS Role Specific Responsibilities: As Veterans Services Team G7 to be the liaison point within VWS to develop future business plans, operating protocols, responsibilities and key deliverables As part of the AFVS senior leadership team, define and develop future business plans which are in line with strategic objectives of AFVS taking account of changes within the Veterans agenda. Be responsible for the day to day conduct and organisation of business, with responsibility to refer issues with significant policy, strategy or resource implications to the DH / Hd AFVS. Requirement to understand and interpret wider business implications, using this knowledge to ensure delivery and enhancements of business requirements, whilst understanding and mitigating risks and issues. Oversee the development and monitoring of nationwide levels of service ensuring that consistent standards and practices are achieved and maintained in line with Department and Government Veterans' priorities. Support DBS business Governance protocols, including the reporting of KPI information and adherence to agreed process models. Engage with stakeholders in AFVS / DBS wider business and Welfare Delivery, within Regional and National Community Covenant initiatives, collaborative working with NHS, Dept of Health and Devolved Administrations and Local Authorities, contributing to the development and delivery of top level strategic business initiatives in support of Veterans to meet mutual business objectives Oversee and ensure the management of a cohesive, consistent and national approach for service provision including military transition area, whilst influencing and contributing within the defined Governance structures Provide advice and guidance on the use of resources, casework practices, processes and procedures to be adopted within the veteran support areas of responsibility. Proactively represent Veterans Services Team AFVS in project work, ensuring oversight of issues affecting Veteran Support and all other areas of business, contributing to decision making process, ensuring aspects of legislation, good practice, policy and process are correctly interpreted and applied to service provision / casework initiatives. Identify and address key risks relating to future demand and supply, where required Represent the interests of Veterans Services Team through attendance and proactive involvement within internal and external business / strategic meetings, engagement with ex-service charities and military transition stakeholders. Provide relevant input, direction and instruction in relation to decision making regarding ways of working between the Veteran Support team and 3rd party organisations and/or military partners in line with Department and Government priorities. Oversee and contribute where required to the development and coordination of professional service responses and official correspondence to corporate issues and initiatives Act as a point of escalation and support for Veteran Support staff Oversee the requirements for and delivery of effective training and development requirements for all staff within the area of responsibility Responsibility for the strategic direction, provision and delivery of kinforming services provided by VWS to civil servants working oversees, ensuring service provision remains agile and fit for purpose. Manage the strategic direction for kinforming and liaise with key parties involved in the end to end process to ensure positive and effective working relationships To support Deputy Head AFVS (Welfare & Support) as required. Person specification Required Experience Excellent leadership and motivational skills with proven experience of managing significant numbers of staff across multiple dispersed locations. Ability to influence along with excellent communication and presentation skills at all levels. Proven abilities within and extensive knowledge of Veterans Welfare issues and practices Ability to operate effectively in a politically sensitive environment Proven ability in management and development of effective partnerships with key internal / external stakeholders and business partners. An ability to think and act strategically, applying sound judgement in an environment where demand and priorities change quickly and frequently. Excellent organisation and planning skills A positive, responsive and flexible attitude toward change, and the management of change; Leadership and ability to role-model engaging behaviours Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Leadership Delivering at Pace Changing and Improving We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Leadership Benefits Alongside your salary of £59,690, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,292 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. An environment with flexible working options Monday-Friday 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service (pro rata). In additional to 8 public holidays per year, you will also receive leave for HM The Sovereign's birthday Hybrid working where role permits An opportunity to be considered for Reward and Recognition - £250-£5000 per year Family-friendly policies including - parental leave and adoption leave Learning and development tailored to your role Professional and personal development of skills A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity Minimum of 15 days special leave in a rolling 12 month period for volunteer reserve commitments Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days per year A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27% Allowances The post does not offer relocation expenses. 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. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Employment Hours This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected. Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience. Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit. Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the folowing success profile elements: Primary: Career/Experience - Personal Statement Secondary: Behaviour - Seeing the Big Picture At application stage you will be assessed against the following: Experience: CV Personal Statement - In no more than 750 words please include details of previous experience and how you meet the requirements for the role along with knowledge and experience of military service and associated veteran issues. Behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Leadership At interview you will be assessed against the following: Behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating & Influencing Leadership Delivering at Pace Changing & Improving Presentation - A 5 minute presentation (no slides) on the challenges of supporting veterans in the current environment. In the rare case where individuals have exact matching scores, the order of merit will be determined based on the behaviour scores at interview in the following order: 1 - Behaviour - Seeing the Big Picture 2 - Behaviour - Communicating and Influencing 3 - Behaviour - Leadership 4 - Career - Personal Statement 5 - Behaviour - Delivering at Pace 6 - Behaviour - Changing and Improving If candidate scores are still exact, the merit order will then be determined on the sift score in the below order or priority: 1 - Career - Personal Statement 2 - Behaviour - Seeing the Big Picture 3 - Career - Job History 4 - Career - Previous Skills 5 - Behaviour - Communicating and Influencing 6 - Behaviour - Leadership We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isnt always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months. Application sifting to take place early January. Interviews are currently taking place Face to Face and will be conducted early - mid January. A minimum of 2 full working days notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeammod.gov.uk 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. 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. To assist with your application please find attached - DBS Candidate Information Guide - Working for Defence Business Services - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (26) UK Ministry of Defence: Life, LinkedIn 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 (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 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) (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 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. 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This 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 : Name : Rob Rowntree Email : rob.rowntree236mod.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeammod.gov.uk Further information Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact DBS-EnhancedRecruitmentTeamMOD.gov.uk in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/ Attachments Defence Civil Servant Offer 2024 Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail