At a Glance
- Tasks: Protect Defence sites by ensuring safety and security through vigilance and teamwork.
- Company: Join the Ministry of Defence Guard Service, a trusted provider of security for over 30 years.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and access to professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference while working in a supportive, customer-focused environment.
- Qualifications: Strong work ethic, teamwork, and communication skills are essential; experience in security is a plus.
- Other info: Flexible shift patterns with opportunities for career progression and funded training.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 42000 £ per year.
Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Join the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) to protect Defence from threats such as crime, terrorism, espionage, and sabotage by providing the highest quality of security services through professionalism, excellence, and trust.
We are looking for a Security Officer to join our Gold Standard security service and provide a crucial role to the business requiring resilience, vigilance, and alertness. Due to the high profile and strategic locations of the sites we guard, it is essential our Security Officers have a strong work ethic, great teamwork, customer service and communication skills and must be willing to go above and beyond to support security operations across the Defence estate. If you can demonstrate this from past or current experiences, we want to hear from you and see this detailed in your CV.
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 4 x 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.
The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) provides high quality security services at over 170 MOD sites across the United Kingdom. The MGS has guarded the Defence Estate for over 30 years including high profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London, Whitehall and His Majesty's Naval Bases at Portsmouth, Devonport, and the Clyde. We provide access control, military working dogs, control room operations and other security services. We play a vital role supporting the Defence Mission and work to protect the Defence estate and personnel from crime, terrorism, espionage, and sabotage threats.
The MGS has over 2,700 employees. MGS Security Officers are often the first point of contact for employees, visitors and contractors on sites and we pride ourselves on our professional, customer-focused culture. Behind our operational workforce is a range of head office roles which support our security professionals to develop and execute the organisations strategy, managing its budget and resources, leading, and developing our staff, maintaining relationships with stakeholders, monitoring and evaluating our performance and identifying new opportunities.
All are working towards our vision to be recognised as an outstanding provider of security services and our five values underpinning this vision include:
- Integrity – Always do the right thing. Respect yourself and others. Treat people fairly.
- Vigilance and Preparedness – Keep careful watch for risks and incidents. Be ready to act.
- Professionalism – Know the job thoroughly. Seek continuous improvement. Maintain high standards.
- Helpfulness - Always be ready to assist people. Leave a lasting positive impression.
- Teamwork – Working with colleagues who are collaborative, respectful, open and trustworthy, who are passionate about excellence and protecting Defence.
There are plenty of opportunities for development, access to funded professional qualifications and specialist training. We are a growing organisation with opportunities to progress your security careers and if you align with our Values, we’d love to hear from you!
Our Security Officer's main responsibility is to ensure the safety and protection of Defence employees, visitors, and property. The key duties are as follows and can vary from site to site:
- Assume overall responsibility for the safety and security of designated areas.
- Patrol on foot and in vehicles, designated areas in accordance with outlined security procedures.
- Identify potential security risks and respond accordingly.
- Control vehicular and pedestrian access to site ensuring all have the correct credentials, issuing passes and escorting visitors where appropriate.
- Searching of vehicles, baggage, personnel, buildings, and open areas.
- Traffic management.
- Complete incident reports on breaches of security or defects and maintaining daily logs.
- Respond to emergencies and incidents within designated areas promptly and according to policy.
- Assist employees and visitors with any concerns they may have.
- Escalate emergency situations to law enforcement as required.
- Operating and monitoring security systems; CCTV and alarms.
- Operating and communicating effectively over the telephone and/or radio.
All new starters will participate in a mandatory two-week residential Foundation Course, followed by on-the-job training. Additionally, we offer an annual programme of mandatory online training, along with a dedicated Workforce Development Team to support you with your training needs.
MGS applicants are required to attend an MGS Security Officer Medical Check.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.
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).
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.
MGS - Ministry of Defence Guard Service - Security Officer - Shift Worker - Norcross employer: UK Ministry of Defence
Contact Detail:
UK Ministry of Defence Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land MGS - Ministry of Defence Guard Service - Security Officer - Shift Worker - Norcross
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the core values of the Ministry of Defence Guard Service, such as integrity and professionalism. During your interactions, whether in networking or interviews, demonstrate how your personal values align with theirs.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any previous experience in security or customer service roles when you network or speak to current employees. This will help you establish credibility and show that you understand the demands of the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for potential interview questions by thinking of specific examples from your past experiences that showcase your teamwork, communication skills, and ability to manage quality service. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with the MGS community on social media platforms or forums. This can provide insights into the company culture and current events, which you can reference during your application process to show your genuine interest.
We think you need these skills to ace MGS - Ministry of Defence Guard Service - Security Officer - Shift Worker - Norcross
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in security and customer service. Use specific examples that demonstrate your teamwork, vigilance, and professionalism, as these are key qualities the Ministry of Defence Guard Service is looking for.
Showcase Relevant Skills: In your application, emphasise skills such as communication, problem-solving, and the ability to work under pressure. Mention any previous roles where you had to manage security risks or respond to emergencies.
Align with Their Values: Familiarise yourself with the MGS values: Integrity, Vigilance, Professionalism, Helpfulness, and Teamwork. Reflect these values in your application by providing examples from your past experiences that align with each value.
Prepare for Behavioural Questions: Since the selection process will assess your behaviours, prepare real-life scenarios that demonstrate your ability to work together, manage quality service, and communicate effectively. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
How to prepare for a job interview at UK Ministry of Defence
✨Demonstrate Your Vigilance
During the interview, be prepared to discuss specific instances where you showcased vigilance and alertness in previous roles. Highlight any experiences where you identified potential risks or threats and how you responded effectively.
✨Showcase Teamwork Skills
Since teamwork is crucial for this role, come ready with examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in high-pressure situations. Emphasise your ability to work respectfully and openly with colleagues to achieve common goals.
✨Emphasise Customer Service Experience
As a Security Officer, you'll often be the first point of contact for visitors. Share your customer service experiences, focusing on how you handled inquiries or concerns while maintaining professionalism and a positive impression.
✨Prepare for Shift Work Discussion
Understand the shift patterns and be ready to discuss your flexibility regarding working nights, weekends, and holidays. Show that you're adaptable and willing to meet the demands of the role, as this is essential for the position.