Following a restructure and growth in the organisation we are recruiting for multiple Private Secretary positions in the Warhead Group to assist our directors with managing their portfolios. These roles are high-profile, exciting opportunities in busy offices at the heart of Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO). They will enable the right candidate to gain invaluable leadership experience working at the heart of a busy and high-profile business area, engaging directly with senior officials across the department and Whitehall, and engaging a range of stakeholders on a critically important portfolio. We are looking for adaptable, organised people towork on issues at the heart of national security, defence, and international relations. This role will provide insight into some of the most sensitive and high-profile topicsin Government andenable you to develop a broad range of skills. We are open to applications from a wide range of backgrounds. If you bring a positive attitude and a commitment to getting things done, we will support you to fulfil your potential. While the topics in this portfolio are varied and can be complex, the Private Secretary role is in some way a simple one: first, you are responsible for knowing what needs to be done, what order it needs doing in, and how we can get it done most efficiently and effectively; and second, you are the key interface between the Director and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. The directors in Warhead Group have busy roles and are responsible for high-profile programmes. We are looking for adaptable, organised people to work on issues at the heart of national security, defence, and international relations. This role will provide insight into some of the most sensitive and high-profile topics in Government and enable you to develop a broad range of skills. We are open to applications from a wide range of backgrounds. If you bring a positive attitude and a commitment to getting things done, we will support you to fulfil your potential. While the topics in this portfolio are varied and can be complex, the Private Secretary role is in some way a simple one: first, you are responsible for knowing what needs to be done, what order it needs doing in, and how we can get it done most efficiently and effectively; and second, you are the key interface between the Director and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. The directors in Warhead Group have busy roles and are responsible for high-profile programmes. As a directors Private Secretary, you will work closely with them to manage their portfolio and liaise with their senior leadership and senior leaders in AWE. As a Private Secretary you will be involved in decisions and issues across the portfolio and have responsibility for providing advice and supporting meetings. You will also play a role in cohering a wide-ranging Directorate which is split across three sites. These roles also come with line management responsibility for an Executive Assistant. You will have specific responsibilities for the following: Providing day to day support to senior officials Delivering advice and briefings for meetings and to drive decision-making in support of DNE objectives. Working closely with teams to ensure preparation of papers in a timely and informative way. Working closely with private offices across DNO to ensure awareness of wider DNO priorities and provide insight to seniors on cross-cutting issues. Line management for an executive assistant. You will work closely with seniors but be part of a wider DNO private office team of friendly and supportive colleagues. DNO is a welcoming environment committed to ensuring that individuals development needs are met. As well as formal Learning & Development offered through DNO, a key benefit of this role is the platform and opportunity it provides to get involved in issues across defence nuclear and to craft it to meet your interests. As a Private Secretary in the Warhead Group, you will be based in either MOD Main Building, London, AWE Aldermaston Reading or Bristol Abbey Wood with frequent travel to London as required. Therefore, successful candidates location preferences will be matched wherever possible to where the Directors are based. This role will require in office attendance a minimum of three days per week; however, due to security constraints more frequent office attendance will likely be required. Requests for flexible and condensed working patterns can be considered but may be limited. Candidates should consider this and must discuss with recruiting line manager before submitting an application. Person specification Desirable Skills: The ability to process large volumes of complex, and often sensitive, information across a variety of subject matters and keep on top of the detail within a wide portfolio of work. A self-starter who can show initiative, prioritise, and work independently. Strong judgement and discretion particularly in relation to communication and relationship building. The successful candidate will need to be able to communicate confidently and sensitively on behalf of the Directors, in person and in writing. Visible leadership and management; to set standards, build capability and resilience within the team, as well as developing a culture to ensure that this is a great place to work. Excellent stakeholder and relationship management skills, including the ability to quickly build strong relationships and influence colleagues of varying levels of seniority, across the group and the wider department. Organisational skills and personal resilience, including the ability to work at pace on a range of competing priorities, remaining calm under pressure, and knowing when to escalate upwards. Experience of providing a professional and comprehensive private office service to senior officials and/or ministers, including managing others in a private office team. Experience working in a defence, nuclear, and/or national security environment, have an understanding of UK policy in these areas. Experience of line management, including goal setting, performance management and developing others. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Leadership Managing a Quality Service Delivering at Pace Benefits Alongside your salary of 44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes 12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. We truly believe that the MOD is a great place to work, and we offer a unique employee experience. We want to ensure that every single employee feels appreciated & fairly rewarded and offer the following additional benefits: Learning and development tailored to your role and broader skill development, enabling you to build a long-term career in your chosen area. Where appropriate there will be offers of training under our apprenticeship schemes. An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97% 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service On-site Gym depending on site Cycle Loan (Advance on Salary) Thank You Scheme Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA) Defence Discount Service On-site Nursery depending on site 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. London locations may attract locational allowances. The Inner London Weighting RRA Allowance is 3,250 per annum and the Outer London Weighting RRA Allowance is 1,750 per annum. 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 know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. At sift, you will be assessed against the following: Experience: A CV; details to include Job History, Qualifications and Past Skills and Experience. A 500 word Statement of Suitability, where you have the opportunity to show how you meet the requirements of the role. We will assess you against the following behaviours at sift and interview: Seeing the Big Picture (Lead Behaviour) Leadership Managing a Quality Service Delivering at Pace Candidates can apply online via the Civil Service Jobs website by completing the application form before the deadline shown. Apply using the Civil Service Jobs apply button, filling in all required details in all sections. Using the Success Profiles link for information on format and style, ensure you provide evidence for all Behaviours and Experience sections requested in the appropriate competency style. Please note that not following the appropriate format will mean that you may be unable to reach the required grades for sift or interview If a large number of applications are received then the initial sift will be based on Seeing the Bigger Picture only. However, evidence should be provided against all behaviours requested. Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit. The requirements for the role have been benchmarked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview. You have 250 words to answer each Behaviour (competency style). 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. You will also be expected to achieve Developed Vetting clearance, above the normal clearance level expected for the MOD. No application can be accepted after the closing date. Interviews will be conducted over Microsoft Teams. Nationality Requirements - Further Information for Candidates This post is classed as Reserved as per Civil Service Nationality Rules Section 3. In accordance with these rules, only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service [1] (Paragraph. 3.1). UK National Definition 2. The definition of a UK National can be found at Paragraphs. 1.4-1.8 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Dual Nationals 3. As per Paragraph. 1.43 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules : a) Candidates with dual nationality are in principle eligible for employment in the Civil Service provided that they meet the requirements in relation to one oftheir nationalities [i.e. UK National]. They may not be eligible, however, for employment in certain reserved posts where additional nationality requirements are imposed. Additional Restrictions for Reserved Posts 4. As per Paragraphs. 3.10-3.11 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules : a) Departments and agencies are entitled to impose additional requirements in reserved posts if this is considered necessary. This could include, for example, requirements as to the residency of the applicant or the nationality of one or both parents of the applicant. 5,As the post holder will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process. Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process or, in some cases, result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage. [1] Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before, or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996. (Paragraph. 3.1) 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: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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. 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 developed vetting (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 Open to UK nationals only. 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) .