Establishment Security Officer (ESyO)

RNAS Culdrose, Helston

Job Summary

Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose delivers the UK’s two highest defence priorities: assuring the nuclear deterrent and protection of the nation’s aircraft carriers. An operational Air Station, Culdrose has a workforce of more than 3000 personnel who are all directly or indirectly involved in generating or supporting the naval air crew and their personnel.

The role of Head of Establishment Security is based at RNAS Culdrose, Helston and is an exciting opportunity to join and lead the establishment’s security team, responsible for safeguarding personnel, infrastructure and assets.

Whilst the MOD supports hybrid working, candidates should be aware the requirements and nature of this role are such that the expectation is a minimum 80% of their time per week on site.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

We are seeking a committed and proactive individual to take on the vital position of Establishment Security Officer at RNAS Culdrose. This is a high-profile leadership role at Culdrose, responsible for safeguarding classified information, personnel, infrastructure, and assets across a busy operational site.

Reporting directly to the Executive Officer (with ultimate responsibility to the Commanding Officer) and working alongside military and civilian partners and contractors, you will lead on all aspects of protective security — physical, personnel, and information security. This is a critical role for ensuring Defence outputs are protected from threats, in line with MOD security policy and Joint Service Publications.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the Site Security Officer, maintaining compliance with MOD protective security policy and procedures.
• Conduct regular risk assessments, audits, and security briefings to ensure effective threat mitigation.
• Manage site access control systems, local vetting procedures, pass issuance, and visitor management.
• Act as liaison with Defence Security, Counter Intelligence units, police forces, and other agencies.
• Coordinate security incident response, investigations, and reporting.
• Provide security advice and training to staff and embedded contractors.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Establishment Security Plan.
• Responsible for Project Security Management, working and liaising with contractors on site for all current and future projects.
  
  

(The list above is not exhaustive - please see Terms of Reference for further details).

We are seeking a committed and proactive individual to take on the vital position of Establishment Security Officer at RNAS Culdrose. This is a high-profile leadership role at Culdrose, responsible for safeguarding classified information, personnel, infrastructure, and assets across a busy operational site.

Reporting directly to the Executive Officer (with ultimate responsibility to the Commanding Officer) and working alongside military and civilian partners and contractors, you will lead on all aspects of protective security — physical, personnel, and information security. This is a critical role for ensuring Defence outputs are protected from threats, in line with MOD security policy and Joint Service Publications.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the Site Security Officer, maintaining compliance with MOD protective security policy and procedures.
• Conduct regular risk assessments, audits, and security briefings to ensure effective threat mitigation.
• Manage site access control systems, local vetting procedures, pass issuance, and visitor management.
• Act as liaison with Defence Security, Counter Intelligence units, police forces, and other agencies.
• Coordinate security incident response, investigations, and reporting.
• Provide security advice and training to staff and embedded contractors.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Establishment Security Plan.
• Responsible for Project Security Management, working and liaising with contractors on site for all current and future projects.
  
  

(The list above is not exhaustive - please see Terms of Reference for further details).

Person specification

Essential

• Proven experience in security, risk management, or protective services (MOD or public sector desirable).
• Strong working knowledge of MOD security policies, particularly JSP 440
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with confidence working across civilian and military teams.
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• Competent in using electronic security and information systems.
  
  

Desirable Qualifications And Experience

• MOD Security Officer training or similar accreditation.
• Previous experience in a defence, policing, or national security environment.
• Awareness of Cyber Security and resilience practices.
• Project management experience would be advantageous
  
  

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
  
  

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

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
  
  

Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Other benefits for Navy Command civil servants include:
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• A very competitive pension scheme
• Personal & professional development
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to a confidential, professional support service
• Discount schemes
• Bicycle / season ticket loans
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year
• 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
  
  

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 office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

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.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability (750 words).

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of Suitability and the following Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
  
  

If there are a large number of applications, we will sift only on the lead behaviour ‘Managing a Quality Service’ and the 750 word statement.

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.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making effective decisions
  
  

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 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.

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 : Tyra Fox
• 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].