Ministry Of Defence Guard Service – Senior Dog Evaluation Officer

Details

Reference number

322018

Salary

£35,290

+ substantial pension and benefits

A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

MOD – Defence Infrastructure Organisation – Ministry of Defence Guard Service

Type of role

Defence Operations
Security

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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

Location

MoD Donnington, Telford, Shropshire, TF2 8JT, MoD Lyneham, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 4PZ , MoD Colchester, Essex CO2 7NZ

About the job

Job summary

Join the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and have a future that matters: Be proud; Be challenged; Be unique.
DIO is passionate about ensuring that we are a top performing organisation and a great place to work. We host a diverse range of talent where everyone feels valued and supported enabling our people to thrive, bring greater creativity and innovation to achieve higher organisational performance. We are committed to be an equal opportunities employer and creating a culture where everyone can bring their whole self to work and individuality is truly appreciated.
About DIO:
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is the estate expert for Defence, supporting the armed forces to enable military capability by planning, building, maintaining, and servicing infrastructure.

Job description

The Challenge Are you ready for an exciting and fulfilling career working with our Military Working Dogs (MWD) in a unique and challenging environment? We have an incredible opportunity for a highly motivated individual to join our team as the Senior Dog Evaluation Officer. In this nationwide role, you will be at the forefront of leading our MWD units and their MGS handlers. As the Senior Dog Evaluation Officer, you will play a crucial role in upholding the highest standards of canine care together with ensuring the operational availability, management and deployment supports high profile, 24/7 deterrent security duties. This is a busy role requiring frequent travel to our nationwide 11 MWD units. But that’s not all. As the Senior Dog Evaluation Officer, you’ll have the chance to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders such as the MDP, DATR, and VSTAT. Your ability to collaborate and communicate effectively will be integral to the success of our operations. We’re looking for an exceptional individual with experience of Working Dogs; you could have gained this experience with the Police, Army, RAF or Border Force. The candidate must have strong governance skills You will be responsible for the strategic management of the MGS MWD division including the development of a MWD asset management and infrastructure plan. Your ability to inspire and motivate both internal and external stakeholders will be key.
This is not just a job—it’s a rewarding and challenging security role working at the heart of Defence. If you have a deep passion for animal welfare, a strong sense of responsibility, and the ability to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders, we want to hear from you! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. Join our team as a Senior Dog Evaluation Officer and make a positive impact on the lives of our amazing Military Working Dogs and their handlers. The MGS employs over 2,700 staff. MGS Officers are often the first point of contact with the MOD for employees, visitors and contractors and we pride ourselves on our professional, customer-focused culture. We provide our staff with a market leading salary, excellent sickness benefits, together with a defined benefit civil service pension. Free full uniform will be provided. We are a growing organisation with opportunities for good quality staff to progress their security careers. The MGS holds the Committed to Equality Gold Standard and we positively encourage applications from all under-represented communities and from all types of working backgrounds. See more information about the MGS, please read the candidate pack and watch our Security Officer YouTube video https://youtu.be/nzSK9OPOoDI
About MGS:
The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) is a professionally qualified body of Civil Servants who provide a range of security services at over 160 MOD sites across Great Britain. The MGS has guarded the Defence Estate for over 25 years including high profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London and His Majesty’s Naval Bases at Portsmouth, Devonport and the Clyde. The mission of the MGS is to protect Defence from threats including crime, terrorism, espionage and sabotage. The MGS employs over 2,700 security officers and support staff. Our security services include a large Military Working Dog (MWD) division with 11 units across the country, Control Room Operations, Static and Mobile security duties including access control, visitor access, traffic management, and foot patrols. We are passionate about the services we deliver and work hard to keep pace with developments in the security industry. The MGS holds the Committed to Equality Gold Standard and we positively encourage applications from all under-represented communities.

Person specification

Main Responsibilities:

Act as the subject matter expert (SME) for all MGS MWD issues and policy
Develop a comprehensive MWD asset management plan to ensure MWD numbers are maintained at agreed levels for the long term
Develop an infrastructure plan to maintain operational effectiveness of MWD units
Provide MGS Operational Managers with advice on all matters related to MWD and handlers.
Ensure that animal welfare is in accordance with Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 2006 and MOD Policy.
Conduct End of Service Acceptance Checks (ESAC) and behavioral assessments for MWDs reaching the end of their service prior to re-homing or retirement.
Develop a 2-year program for all future Statement Of Training Requirements (SOTR).
Serve as MOD Licensing Officers to ensure that MWD teams are compliant
Regularly travel, including overnight stays, as required for job responsibilities.
Participate in the DEO on-call roster on a rotational basis.
Ensure excellent governance practices are followed within the MGS.
Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders such as MDP (Ministry of Defence Police), DATR (Defence Animal Training Regiment), and VSTAT (Veterinary Service Training and Advisory Team).
Undergo formal training, which may involve residential components, as deemed essential. Support and pursue additional qualifications with the assistance of DATR and VSTAT.
Take the lead in chairing local forums, share best practice and become a MWD advocate across the Defence community
Assume line manager responsibility for two staff members.
Provide weekly briefings to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT)

Travel Requirements:
Alongside your normal duties that will encompass this role, there be extensive travel to other sites to meet the needs of the Business, however, any taskings of this kind would be carried out in a MOD Vehicle.
Desirable Experience & Skills:

Previous experience of managing a team.
Working knowledge of JSP 960 Managing internal and external stakeholders.
Experience of working with policy & procedures and assisting others to understanding them.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Licences

A full UK Driving licence is essential for this role as you will be required to make site visits to all sites with a dog unit and attendance at meetings.

Behaviours

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

Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,528 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 ourcustomers.
We understand the importance of life outside of work and our industry leading flexible working practices, digital
technology and modern work-spaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance.
The MOD Discover My Benefits page lists the full set of benefits. Some of the many benefits you will receive include:

A Civil Service defined benefit pension scheme
Free Uniform
25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave 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 parental 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 / or site shops

Learning & Development:

Professional and Personal Development of skills
Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by DIO
Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by DIO

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.

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 lead behaviour; Managing a Quality Service and personal statement / job history In this instance the remaining elements will be tested at interview.
At application you will be assessed against the following:
Behaviours:

Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together

Experience:

Previous Skills

At interview you will be assessed against the above along with the following:
Behaviours:

Communicating and Influencing

Application sifting is scheduled to take place on week commencing 13/11/2023.
Interviews are currently taking place remotely and will be conducted week commencing 20/11/2023. A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews.
To assist with your application please find attached below:

MGS Brochure
How to write a CV

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.

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) (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.

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 :

Mark Wakeford

Email :

Mark.Wakeford102@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :

DBSCivPers-DIOResourcing@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. The document attached to this advertisement provides more information.
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.
Any move to Ministry of Defence 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 www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please contact the DIO Enhanced Recruitment Team on DBSCivPers-DIOResourcing@mod.gov.uk

Complaints
Please be aware that the selection and interviewing of applicants is the responsibility of the Recruiting Line Manager (RLM) and not the Defence Business Services (DBS) Resourcing team. DBS do not play any part in the selection and interview process.
Therefore, if you wish to discuss your feedback, or you are dissatisfied with your markings, you should in the first instance raise this with the Recruiting Line Manager of the vacancy.
If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address:
Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, PO Box 38, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 7NU
If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address:
Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ
Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk

Cabinet Office Fraud Checks
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 whose details are found to be held on the IFD will be refused employment

Civil Service Recruitment Principles
Please see the link below for the civil service recruitment principles.

Recruitment Principles

To find out a bit more about what it’s like working for MOD, visit the Civil Service Careers Website

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/departments/working-for-the-ministry-of-defence/
Please see the MOD Privacy Notice link below which describes how we will use your personal data, explains your rights and gives you information you are entitled to under Data Protection legislation.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-privacy-notice/mod-privacy-notice

Travel Costs
There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses for the interview.

Nationality Statement
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.
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.

Smoke-Free Working Environment Policy
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 by 31st December 2022. 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.