HEO OC Shorncliffe SP Unit - Shorncliffe

Job summary

Do you want to play a key role in supporting Defence operations and delivering essential services across a busy military estate?

We are looking for a proactive and adaptable individual to lead the Shorncliffe Support Unit at Sir John Moore Barracks, Folkestone. This is a varied and rewarding role at the heart of station delivery, providing leadership across people, infrastructure, security, compliance, logistics and business support functions.

You will work with a wide range of military and civilian stakeholders to ensure the effective running of the station and support the operational readiness of units based across the Firm Base. Leading a diverse team, you will coordinate competing priorities, provide advice to senior leaders and help ensure the delivery of safe, compliant and effective support services.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your leadership and operational delivery experience while making a direct contribution to Defence outputs in the South East.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As Officer Commanding Shorncliffe Support Unit, you will play a central role in ensuring the effective delivery of support services across Sir John Moore Barracks and the wider Defence community. You will lead the coordination of people, infrastructure, security, logistics and business support activities, helping to create a safe, compliant and operationally effective environment.

Working closely with military and civilian colleagues, you will act as a key advisor to senior leaders, providing direction, oversight and assurance across a broad range of station functions. You will build strong relationships with stakeholders, contractors and partner organisations to ensure services are delivered effectively and priorities are aligned.

This is a varied leadership role requiring sound judgement, resilience and the ability to balance competing demands in a fast-paced environment. You will lead and develop a diverse team, drive continuous improvement and ensure that governance, compliance and risk management requirements are met.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leading the delivery of personnel, administrative and business support functions across the station.
• Providing oversight of security, information management, data protection and compliance arrangements.
• Coordinating support services and infrastructure activity to ensure the effective operation of the military estate.
• Managing stakeholder relationships across Defence, industry partners and local support organisations.
• Leading assurance activity and preparing the organisation for inspections, audits and regulatory assessments.
• Maintaining governance arrangements, managing risk and ensuring compliance with relevant policies and processes.
• Overseeing the management and accountability of equipment, stores and other assigned resources.
• Line managing and developing a mixed military and civilian workforce, fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Providing clear advice and recommendations to senior leaders to support informed decision-making and operational effectiveness

Person specification

We are looking for a confident and adaptable leader who can build strong working relationships, influence stakeholders and deliver high-quality outcomes in a complex operational environment. The successful candidate will be comfortable working with a high degree of autonomy, balancing competing priorities and responding effectively to changing demands.

You will be able to analyse information, exercise sound judgement and provide clear, evidence-based advice to support decision-making. Strong organisational skills and attention to detail are essential, as is the ability to maintain oversight of a broad and varied portfolio of responsibilities.

The role requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish credibility and work effectively across military, civilian and external stakeholder groups. You will be collaborative in your approach, committed to delivering excellent customer service and focused on achieving positive outcomes.

As a leader, you will foster an inclusive and supportive working environment, developing individuals and encouraging continuous improvement. You will demonstrate integrity, accountability and professionalism, ensuring that governance, compliance and risk considerations are embedded in decision-making and delivery.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and people management capability, with experience of motivating and developing teams.
• The ability to build effective relationships and work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
• Sound judgement and the confidence to make decisions within delegated authority.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and deliver results under pressure.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A proactive approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.
• A commitment to inclusion, collaboration and professional standards.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

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

• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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 working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements 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