Merville Barracks, Circular road south, Colchester, Essex, C02 7UT Job Summary Join the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) Be part of the front-line protecting the UK’s most critical Defence sites. Play a vital role in national security. At the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS), we safeguard the UK’s Defence estate, protecting personnel, assets, and critical locations from crime, terrorism, espionage, and sabotage. Our Gold Standard Security Service is built on professionalism, trust, and excellence— and we’re looking for dedicated Security Officers to join us. Who We Are The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS ) provides high-quality security services at over 170 MOD sites across the UK, including high-profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London, Whitehall, and His Majesty’s Naval Bases in Portsmouth, Devonport, and the Clyde. Why Join Us? A meaningful career – Play a crucial role in national security and defence. Career development – Access specialist training, funded qualifications, and internal progression opportunities. Job security – Be part of a well-established organisation with over 30 years of service. A strong team culture – Work alongside professionals who value integrity, vigilance, professionalism, helpfulness, and teamwork. Our Vision & Values Our goal is to be recognised as an outstanding provider of security services, guided by our core values: Integrity – Always do the right thing, treat others fairly. Vigilance & Preparedness – Stay alert, ready to respond. Professionalism – Maintain high standards, continuously improve. Helpfulness – Provide excellent service, leave a positive impression. Teamwork – Work collaboratively, support colleagues, and protect Defence. Job Description Key Responsibilities As a Security Officer, You Will: Ensure site safety and security – Protect Defence personnel, visitors, and property. Conduct patrols – Monitor designated areas on foot or by vehicle, ensuring compliance with security protocols. Control access – Check credentials, issue passes, and escort visitors as required. Perform searches – Conduct thorough security checks on vehicles, baggage, and personnel. Respond to incidents – Identify risks, manage security breaches, and escalate as needed. Assist employees and visitors – Provide professional and courteous support on-site. Monitor security systems – Operate CCTV, alarms, and communication devices. Manage traffic and parking – Control vehicle movement and ensure safe site access. Report and document – Maintain security logs and complete detailed incident reports. This role requires excellent communication and organisational skills, as well as the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Shift Pattern & Flexibility This is a shift working position at 48 hours per week including breaks. The successful candidate will be expected to work nights, weekends, bank holidays etc as stipulated by the shift pattern agreed at the Unit depending on site requirements. This will be an average of 48 hours in a calendar week, this will be 12 hour shifts each week rostered between Sun – Sat. This will include being rostered in a flexible manner (termed a flexible week) within the shift roster. During the flexible week, the working days and shifts will routinely be stipulated in advance but may be changed at short notice, (this should be no less than 48 hours). The exact shift pattern will be explained in full during the interview. Training & Development We are committed to ensuring you have the skills and confidence to succeed in your role. New starters will complete a mandatory two-week residential Foundation Course, followed by structured on-the-job training. You will have access to ongoing professional development, including an annual programme of online learning. Our dedicated Workforce Development Team will support your training needs, ensuring you continue to build expertise throughout your career. For more information about MGS, please take a look at Defence Infrastructure Organisations YouTube Page using the links below: How the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Supports Defence - https://youtu.be/pqbLRsS9SeM Being a dog handler in the Ministry of Defence Guard Service - https://youtu.be/Xs8lxbhlRiU Working for the Ministry of Defence Guard Service - https://youtu.be/UrLfy2MZXpg If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com As a Security Officer, You Will: Ensure site safety and security – Protect Defence personnel, visitors, and property. Conduct patrols – Monitor designated areas on foot or by vehicle, ensuring compliance with security protocols. Control access – Check credentials, issue passes, and escort visitors as required. Perform searches – Conduct thorough security checks on vehicles, baggage, and personnel. Respond to incidents – Identify risks, manage security breaches, and escalate as needed. Assist employees and visitors – Provide professional and courteous support on-site. Monitor security systems – Operate CCTV, alarms, and communication devices. Manage traffic and parking – Control vehicle movement and ensure safe site access. Report and document – Maintain security logs and complete detailed incident reports. This role requires excellent communication and organisational skills, as well as the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Shift Pattern & Flexibility This is a shift working position at 48 hours per week including breaks. The successful candidate will be expected to work nights, weekends, bank holidays etc as stipulated by the shift pattern agreed at the Unit depending on site requirements. This will be an average of 48 hours in a calendar week, this will be 12 hour shifts each week rostered between Sun – Sat. This will include being rostered in a flexible manner (termed a flexible week) within the shift roster. During the flexible week, the working days and shifts will routinely be stipulated in advance but may be changed at short notice, (this should be no less than 48 hours). The exact shift pattern will be explained in full during the interview. Training & Development We are committed to ensuring you have the skills and confidence to succeed in your role. New starters will complete a mandatory two-week residential Foundation Course, followed by structured on-the-job training. You will have access to ongoing professional development, including an annual programme of online learning. Our dedicated Workforce Development Team will support your training needs, ensuring you continue to build expertise throughout your career. For more information about MGS, please take a look at Defence Infrastructure Organisations YouTube Page using the links below: How the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Supports Defence - https://youtu.be/pqbLRsS9SeM Being a dog handler in the Ministry of Defence Guard Service - https://youtu.be/Xs8lxbhlRiU Working for the Ministry of Defence Guard Service - https://youtu.be/UrLfy2MZXpg If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com Person specification What We’re Looking For Are you resilient, alert, and highly organised ? Do you thrive in a team-based, high responsibility environment? We need individuals who can stay vigilant, act decisively, and provide outstanding customer service in security-sensitive locations. If you have previous experience in security or customer service, we want to hear from you! You must also maintain a good level of physical fitness, as the role involves prolonged periods of standing, patrolling large areas, and responding quickly to incidents. A background in administration and strong IT skills (including Microsoft Office and electronic booking-in systems) will also be beneficial, as you will work closely with office-based personnel. Licences Full UK Driving Licence Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Working Together Managing a Quality Service Communicating and Influencing Alongside your salary of £31,500, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,125 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 our customers. The MOD Discover My Benefits Page Lists The Full Set Of Benefits. Some Of The Many Benefits You Will Receive Include: A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97% A generous annual leave allowance. 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 maternity, paternity, and adoption 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 Cafeterias and Shops. Entitlement to apply for Blue Light and Defence Discount Cards. One of the elements of the Foundation Course is Emergency First Aid at Work, where you will learn key life skills in emergency first aid This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances. 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. Free MGS Security Uniform as part of your induction, you will attend a two-week residential Foundation Security Course to support in achieving your objectives to a high standard. Discover My Benefits: Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/ Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. If you align with our values and have experience in security or customer service we would love to hear from you. At application stage you will be assessed against the following: Experience: CV including Job History and Previous Skills. Behaviours: At interview you will be assessed against the following: Working Together Managing a Quality Service Communicating and Influencing Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Application sifting is scheduled to take place on week commencing 01/09/25 Interviews are due to take place Face to Face at Colchester and will be conducted week commencing 15/09/25. We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn’t always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months. It is also possible that we may offer similar lower graded role/s to reserve candidates or, if no reserves are appointed, candidates that meet the lower grade criteria in merit order. The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out. The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigation's can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment. 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. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. 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. 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. 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). 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 : MGS Recruitment Hub Email : MGS-RH@mod.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : dbscivpers-resourcingteam1@mod.gov.uk Further information See attached Further information document