Army - Case Officer

Bulford, SP4 9NA

Job Summary

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs over 12,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army.

The Military Court Service (MCS) is an independent tri-Service organisation established under the Armed Forces Act 2006 to provide a unified criminal court system for the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, and civilians subject to Service discipline

The MCS operates from two permanent Military Court Centres located in Bulford (Wiltshire) and Catterick (North Yorkshire), both equipped with modern digital audio recording and evidential presentation systems. These centres are open to the public and mirror the transparency of civilian courts. In addition to its fixed locations, the MCS maintains the capability to deploy court services globally, enabling proceedings to be held wherever UK Armed Forces are stationed.

The organisation works closely with, but remains independent of, the Office of the Judge Advocate General, the Service Prosecuting Authority, and the Service chains of command. It is staffed by civil servants within the Ministry of Defence and led by a Director appointed by the Defence Council to ensure impartiality.

The role includes participation in an out-of-hours on-call rota to support custody and warrant application processes, with duties carried out remotely where necessary. Flexibility is essential, as the post-holder may be required to undertake additional responsibilities to support the core business of the Military Court Service.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

The post-holder will play a critical role in the end-to-end management of Service Court cases, ensuring efficient case creation and listings, in close liaison with Court Officers and stakeholders.

This includes coordinating hearings, managing witness notifications, and ensuring accurate archiving of both paper and digital case files. The role supports the Head of Court Administration Manager in upholding data protection compliance across the organisation promoting data governance, maintaining statutory records, and serving as an Information Asset Owner.

You will also be responsible for personnel administration tasks such as the creation and upkeep of Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) accounts for the MCS. Additionally, you will contribute to the timely handling of Freedom of Information and Subject Access Requests, Parliamentary Questions, and ad hoc information submissions.

Key Responsibilities:

To meet expected deadlines for the following;

• Case Management: Case creation, manage and oversee each case directed by the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) via the accredited IT platform from initial allocation through to the conclusion of court proceedings. This includes scheduling the initial court hearing and subsequent hearings for Courts Martial, Summary Appeal Courts and Service Civilian Courts. Li-aise with court staff, chain of command, SPA, Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), and Unit/Station Discipline personnel at the appropriate level and notification of all witnesses as required by the Defence for the attendance at Service Courts proceedings. Re-sponsible for archiving of paper and digital case files.
• Data Protection Compliance: Support the Head of Court Administration Manager in ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act. Responsibilities will include the promotion of Data Protection policy, identification and recording of Information Assets within the Information As-set Register, upkeep of Article 30 register, assisting in the completion of the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and undertake the role of Information Asset Owner.
• Personnel Administration: Manage the creation and maintenance of Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) accounts for the MCS establishment.
• Requests for Information: To provide direct assistance to the Head of Court Administration Manager for submissions of Requests for Information, Freedom of Information requests, Subject Access Requests and Parliamentary Questions.
• Respond to all reasonable management requests to perform a role in support of MCS core business, that is within the capability of the post holder, as and when required to do so.
• Provide out-of-hours coverage on a rotational basis for any custody and warrant applications over weekends, Bank Holidays and Privilege Days – duties can be undertaken from home and a on-call allowance (and overtime where applicable) are payable. Weekend duties are approximately every 6-8 weeks and full training will be provided.
  
  

Please note: You must uphold the highest standards of confidentiality. All materials managed are sensitive and must not be shared, duplicated, or discussed without appropriate authorisation.

The post-holder will play a critical role in the end-to-end management of Service Court cases, ensuring efficient case creation and listings, in close liaison with Court Officers and stakeholders.

This includes coordinating hearings, managing witness notifications, and ensuring accurate archiving of both paper and digital case files. The role supports the Head of Court Administration Manager in upholding data protection compliance across the organisation promoting data governance, maintaining statutory records, and serving as an Information Asset Owner.

You will also be responsible for personnel administration tasks such as the creation and upkeep of Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) accounts for the MCS. Additionally, you will contribute to the timely handling of Freedom of Information and Subject Access Requests, Parliamentary Questions, and ad hoc information submissions.

Key Responsibilities:

To meet expected deadlines for the following;

• Case Management: Case creation, manage and oversee each case directed by the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) via the accredited IT platform from initial allocation through to the conclusion of court proceedings. This includes scheduling the initial court hearing and subsequent hearings for Courts Martial, Summary Appeal Courts and Service Civilian Courts. Li-aise with court staff, chain of command, SPA, Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), and Unit/Station Discipline personnel at the appropriate level and notification of all witnesses as required by the Defence for the attendance at Service Courts proceedings. Re-sponsible for archiving of paper and digital case files.
• Data Protection Compliance: Support the Head of Court Administration Manager in ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act. Responsibilities will include the promotion of Data Protection policy, identification and recording of Information Assets within the Information As-set Register, upkeep of Article 30 register, assisting in the completion of the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) and undertake the role of Information Asset Owner.
• Personnel Administration: Manage the creation and maintenance of Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) accounts for the MCS establishment.
• Requests for Information: To provide direct assistance to the Head of Court Administration Manager for submissions of Requests for Information, Freedom of Information requests, Subject Access Requests and Parliamentary Questions.
• Respond to all reasonable management requests to perform a role in support of MCS core business, that is within the capability of the post holder, as and when required to do so.
• Provide out-of-hours coverage on a rotational basis for any custody and warrant applications over weekends, Bank Holidays and Privilege Days – duties can be undertaken from home and a on-call allowance (and overtime where applicable) are payable. Weekend duties are approximately every 6-8 weeks and full training will be provided.
  
  

Please note: You must uphold the highest standards of confidentiality. All materials managed are sensitive and must not be shared, duplicated, or discussed without appropriate authorisation.

Person specification

Essential Skills Required:

• Confident, self-motivated, and a great teammate, that takes pride in their work and able to manage a varied workload.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to support strategic and operational outputs. This role demands precision, collaboration, and discretion as you will be working with legal, military, and civilian stakeholders.
• High attention to detail and accuracy as you will be handling legal casework and sensitive documentation.
• Ability to demonstrate impartiality, discretion, and professionalism when working with confidential information.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure and adapt to changing workloads.
• Effective interpersonal skills with the presence and confidence to liaise authoritatively.
• Sound computer literacy, including readiness to undertake routine clerical and administrative duties.
• Willingness to provide cover and support across the wider MCS team when required.
  
  

Desirable Skills:

• Previous experience working within or alongside the Service Justice System or similar legal/military environments.
• Familiarity with case management systems and secure handling of sub-judice or sensitive material.
• Experience communicating with external agencies and high-ranking officials in a professional capacity.
  
  

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
  
  

Alongside your salary of £29,580, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,569 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other Benefits For Army Civil Servants Include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme with a 28.97% contribution
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development
  
  

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

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.

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.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Personal Statement - Personal statement of 500 words which should include a little bit of information about you, why you are interested in the position and the skill set or experience you can bring that are relevant to this position.
• CV
  
  

Applications will be sifted using the CV and Personal Statement that have been chosen for this campaign.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
  
  

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

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.

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: [email protected] .

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.

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 mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

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.

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.

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 : Denise Love
• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. 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, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. 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: [email protected].