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- Tasks: Lead the civil administration of Sovereign Base Areas and oversee military base operations.
- Company: Join the UK Ministry of Defence, a key player in national security.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, a generous pension scheme, and tailored learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on governance and community relations while working in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive stakeholder management experience and strong leadership skills are essential.
- Other info: Apply by 29 June 2025 with a CV and personal statement.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
Chief Officer Sovereign Base Areas & Command Secretary British Forces Cyprus
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Chief Officer Sovereign Base Areas & Command Secretary British Forces Cyprus
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Join to apply for the Chief Officer Sovereign Base Areas & Command Secretary British Forces Cyprus role at UK Ministry of Defence
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Job Summary
The Chief Officer plays a
Cyprus
Job Summary
The Chief Officer plays a crucial role in overseeing the civil administration of the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) and is responsible to the Administrator for the delivery of high-quality civil administration of the SBAs. The SBAs are the only overseas territory administered and funded by the MOD. The Chief Officer is responsible for ensuring their good governance and for the continued effective use of the military bases located there; for the development and maintenance of on-island relationships, including with the Republic of Cyprus, local communities, and with the British High Commission in Nicosia; for protecting the interests of those resident or working in the SBAs through the provision of sound administrative, legislative and policing and other frameworks; and for the administration of the SBA Courts (including support to a Resident Judge seconded from the UK). The Chief Officer leads a team of 16 UK Based Civilians (UKBCs) and some 360 locally engaged civilians (LECs) including police, customs & immigration and a wide range of other specialist areas. The Chief Officer is ‘double hatted’ as the Command Secretary British Forces Cyprus (BFC) responsible to the Commander British Forces (who is also the Administrator). As Command Secretary, the post-holder provides strategic direction and leadership to a team of 13 UKBCs and some 30 LECs and is responsible for: providing policy and secretariat advice to the Commander British Forces Cyprus; for business support and budget management of a BFC/SBAA annual budget of some £210M; the delivery of local civilian HR (strategic, policy, processes, transactional, and industrial relations) for some 1400 LEC workforce; and internal and external communications. Job Description
Responsibilities
The Current Responsibilities Of The Role Include:
- Leading the SBAA Administration to deliver the full range of statutory and other civil functions that underpin the sovereignty of the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) as a British Overseas Territory, including prioritising and commissioning legislation, policing and security, customs and immigration, management and function of the courts, the prison, fiscal processes, environmental protection, regulatory responsibilities, civil resilience and local administration including close oversight of the new ‘local plan’ and business licencing.
- As the Command Secretary British Forces Cyprus (BFC) lead the team and ensure the provision of policy and secretariat advice to the Commander British Forces Cyprus; for business support and budget management of a BFC/SBAA annual budget of some £210M; the delivery of local civilian HR processes.
- Building on an existing programme of modernisation across the breadth of the SBAA including infrastructure, digital, processes and skills, maintaining and building on support from relevant agencies in the UK. This includes prison reform, a new police IT system, the introduction of probation and modernised ‘place-making’ services.
- Ensuring the SBAs offer UK Defence maximum freedom of manoeuvre now and in the future, partnering with the British High Commission and liaising with the UK MOD to ensure military operations comply with SBAA requirements and SBAA equities are protected in bilateral and international fora.
- Establishing and maintaining strong and effective working relationships with the RoC government, Cypriot community leaders and other key senior stakeholders on island. Deliver positive outcomes for the communities and promote a positive reputation for the SBAA/BFC and the MOD to enable the effective and uninterrupted operation of the UK’s military bases and strategic assets.
- Lead a comprehensive risk management process to identify, mitigate and monitor the risk inherent in the complex relationships across BFC/SBAA, as well as wider continuous improvement of BFC/SBAA processes in line with best practise.
The Current Responsibilities Of The Role Include:
- Leading the SBAA Administration to deliver the full range of statutory and other civil functions that underpin the sovereignty of the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) as a British Overseas Territory, including prioritising and commissioning legislation, policing and security, customs and immigration, management and function of the courts, the prison, fiscal processes, environmental protection, regulatory responsibilities, civil resilience and local administration including close oversight of the new ‘local plan’ and business licencing.
- As the Command Secretary British Forces Cyprus (BFC) lead the team and ensure the provision of policy and secretariat advice to the Commander British Forces Cyprus; for business support and budget management of a BFC/SBAA annual budget of some £210M; the delivery of local civilian HR processes.
- Building on an existing programme of modernisation across the breadth of the SBAA including infrastructure, digital, processes and skills, maintaining and building on support from relevant agencies in the UK. This includes prison reform, a new police IT system, the introduction of probation and modernised ‘place-making’ services.
- Ensuring the SBAs offer UK Defence maximum freedom of manoeuvre now and in the future, partnering with the British High Commission and liaising with the UK MOD to ensure military operations comply with SBAA requirements and SBAA equities are protected in bilateral and international fora.
- Establishing and maintaining strong and effective working relationships with the RoC government, Cypriot community leaders and other key senior stakeholders on island. Deliver positive outcomes for the communities and promote a positive reputation for the SBAA/BFC and the MOD to enable the effective and uninterrupted operation of the UK’s military bases and strategic assets.
- Lead a comprehensive risk management process to identify, mitigate and monitor the risk inherent in the complex relationships across BFC/SBAA, as well as wider continuous improvement of BFC/SBAA processes in line with best practise.
Person specification The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria:
- Extensive stakeholder management experience with the ability to engage with a diverse set of stakeholders to reach consensus.
- Strong and inspiring leadership skill with experience managing large geographically dispersed teams.
- Confident communicating and influencing at a strategic political and international level.
- Experience of implementing policies and strategies, using an evidence-based approach to evaluate a full range of options comprehending their impacts and delivering the right solution.
- Experienced at working in ambiguity with the ability to make effective decisions under pressure.
- Ability to lead a dynamic reform agenda in line with strategic direction from government.
- Candidates will require a full driving licence.
Desirable Criteria May Be Used In The Event Of a Strong Field Of Candidates When There Is a Need To Distinguish Between Candidates. This Will Be As a Second Sift, After The Essential Criteria Has Been Considered:
- An understanding of military relationships, or a prior working relationship with the military.
- An understanding of MOD-FCDO relationships, or a prior working relationship with the FCDO.
- Programme management experience or understanding of HR processes would be of benefit.
- An understanding/prior experience of Home Office policy and the UK criminal justice system.
- Good financial management of sizeable budgets and financial programming; provision of sound financial advice and assurance to senior leaders.
Alongside your salary of £81,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 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%
Selection process details To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this role. This should be completed no later than 23:55 Sunday 29 June 2025 and will involve providing the two documents outlined below via the Civil Service Jobs portal:
- A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
Both
Chief Officer Sovereign Base Areas & Command Secretary British Forces Cyprus (London) employer: UK Ministry of Defence
Contact Detail:
UK Ministry of Defence Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Officer Sovereign Base Areas & Command Secretary British Forces Cyprus (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Sovereign Base Areas and their governance structure. Understanding the unique political and administrative context will help you engage effectively with stakeholders and demonstrate your commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals who have experience in military or governmental roles, especially those familiar with the MOD or FCDO. Building these connections can provide valuable insights and potentially lead to recommendations.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and experiences managing diverse teams. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully led teams through complex challenges, as this is crucial for the Chief Officer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on current affairs related to Cyprus and UK military operations. Being knowledgeable about recent developments will allow you to speak confidently about how they impact the role and the SBAs.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Officer Sovereign Base Areas & Command Secretary British Forces Cyprus (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Chief Officer role. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the specific duties mentioned in the job description.
Craft a Compelling CV: Your CV should be concise and focused on relevant experience. Highlight your leadership skills, stakeholder management experience, and any previous roles that demonstrate your ability to manage large teams and complex relationships.
Write a Strong Personal Statement: In your personal statement, clearly articulate how your skills and experiences meet the essential criteria outlined in the job description. Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to lead, communicate effectively, and implement policies.
Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, take the time to proofread both your CV and personal statement. Check for spelling and grammatical errors, and ensure that your documents are well-structured and easy to read.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Ministry of Defence
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before the interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of the Chief Officer role and its responsibilities. Familiarise yourself with the Sovereign Base Areas and the specific challenges they face. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with the job requirements.
✨Showcase Stakeholder Management Skills
Given the extensive stakeholder management required for this position, prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully engaged diverse stakeholders. Highlight your ability to reach consensus and build strong relationships, especially in complex environments.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
Be ready to discuss your leadership style and provide concrete examples of how you've managed large, geographically dispersed teams. Emphasise your inspiring leadership skills and how you've motivated teams to achieve strategic goals.
✨Prepare for Strategic Communication Scenarios
As the role involves communicating at a strategic political and international level, think of scenarios where you've had to influence decision-making. Prepare to discuss how you effectively communicated complex ideas and navigated political landscapes.
