Senior Technical Advisor
Home Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 6th May 2024
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Salary
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Type of role
Project Delivery
Security
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Contents
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About the job
Job summary
About Homeland Security
The Homeland Security Group (HSG) unites capabilities and expertise to deliver better outcomes from the UK’s response to the most serious domestic threats – Terrorism, Cyber, State Threats and Economic Crime. The group will strengthen coordination and collective focus across a range of growing and overlapping threats, whilst remaining consistent with existing strategies. Working with partners, HSG will foster more transparent and sustainable collaboration between national security, law enforcement and other relevant communities to enhance capabilities and leverage our response to threats.
As part of the Home Office, the role of the Homeland Security Group is to:
• Support the Home Secretary to develop and implement strategies to keep our people and interests safe and secure
• Build HMG capabilities to reduce national security risk
• Reduce volume of, and harm from, economic crime, particularly for the most vulnerable
• Work in partnership with public and private sectors in the UK and overseas to deliver better outcomes
• Ensure legitimate economic growth and prosperity
The Protect, Prepare, CBRNE and Science and Technology (PPCS) directorate is a part of the Homeland Security mission in the Home Office, which is a key part of the national security community. In line with our directorate’s values, we will represent the diversity of modern Britain in thought and outlook, delivering better outcomes in keeping our country safe and our citizens secure. We will embed diversity and inclusion in everything we do and build a positive and safe environment for staff to bring their whole selves to work, to thrive and achieve their full potential.
PPCS has a core set of cultural values that were developed by its staff and are central to its approach to business:
•People: Courage, Inclusion, Compassion, Respect
•Public Service: Resilience, Tenacity, Expertise, Composure
•Collaboration: Integrity, Enthusiasm, Openness, Fairness
•Support: Motivation, Passion, Trust, Honesty
PPCS is proactive in offering suitable workplace adjustments, flexible working arrangements and job shares, to ensure anyone, no matter their personal requirements can join our great team.
Job description
Day to day, you will help to plan and deliver physical and technical security measures at protected sites. This includes producing detailed technical specifications; liaising with contractors; managing stakeholders; responding to faults or incidents; and delivering projects on time, on budget and to agreed specifications.
A technical background in security is essential. You should also be capable of managing a variety of stakeholders and taking a project from concept to launch, thanks to extensive previous project management experience. Strong IT, communication and organisation skills are required too, together with an eye for detail.
Please note that this role involves travel within the UK, often at short notice. The cost associated with any travel will be met by the business area in line with HO policy.
You will also be required to be on call out of hours, including at weekends and public holidays as part of a rota – fully training and a small allowance for being on call is available.
Person specification
• Undertake security surveys at sites throughout the UK mainland, producing clear reports with recommendations commensurate to the threat and risk
• Design physical and technical security solutions for new protected sites
• Identify any new vulnerabilities at existing sites by conducting regular reviews
• Oversee the installation and maintenance of both physical and technical security measures by the section’s contractors
• Make recommendations to the head of the team on prioritisation of projects
• Manage the budget for your projects, producing projects plans and risk logs as appropriate
• Keep up to date with development of new security technologies
Essential Criteria
• A technical background in security is essential.
• Previous project management experience, capable of managing a variety of stakeholders and taking a project from concept to launch.
• Strong IT, communication, and organisation skills.
• Experience overseeing security installations.
Desirable Criteria
A degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Science or a technical subject, or a technical background that includes experience of integrated security systems.
The following technical skills & experience:
• Knowledge of physical and technical security measures e.g.
o CCTV
o PIDS
o HVM
o Access Control
o IDS
o Security lighting
o Security system integration
• Experience in writing and developing Operational Requirements.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process candidates will be required to submit a CV and Statement of Suitability (of no more than 750 words) that is aligned to the Essential Criteria as set out in the job advertisement.
In addition, candidates will be required to provide evidence of the lead behaviour 'Communicating and Influencing.'
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
CVs will not be scored.
The sift will be held on the Statement of suitability and lead behaviour 'Communicating and Influencing.'
Successful candidates shortlisted for interview will be tested on experience and all behaviours outlined in the job advertisement.
Candidates will also be invited to provide a ten minute presentation on a physical and technical security solution. Candidates will be made aware of the presentation requirements ahead of their interview. The presentation will be scored.
The sift will take place week commencing 6th May 2024.
Interviews will take place week commencing 20th May 2024.
Interviews will take place remotely. Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview.
Further Information
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
DV clearance or a willingness to undergo DV clearance is an essential requirement for this role. Successful candidates will be permitted to start with SC whilst they undergo the DV clearance processes.
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying of examples/answers from internet sources. If any is detected the application will be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates. Providing false or misleading would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process.
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 employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office 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
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : HORC Campaign Team (HSG, PSG & MBG)
- Email : HORCCampaignTeamHSGPSGandMBG@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
