MGS - Ministry of Defence Guard Service - Security Supervisor - Shift Worker - DM Longtown

Job summary

Join the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS)

Be part of the front line protecting the UK’s most critical Defence sites. Play a vital role in national security.

At the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS), we safeguard the UK’s Defence estate, protecting personnel, assets, and critical locations from crime, terrorism, espionage, and sabotage.

Our Gold Standard Security Service is built on professionalism, trust, and excellence— and we’re looking for dedicated Security Officers to join us.

Who We Are

The Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS ) provides high-quality security services at over 170 MOD sites across the UK, including high-profile locations such as MOD Main Building in London, Whitehall, and His Majesty’s Naval Bases in Portsmouth, Devonport, and the Clyde.

Why Join Us?

A meaningful career – Play a crucial role in national security and defence.

Career development – Access specialist training, funded qualifications, and internal progression opportunities.

Job security – Be part of a well-established organisation with over 30 years of service.

A strong team culture – Work alongside professionals who value integrity, vigilance, professionalism, helpfulness, and teamwork.

Our Vision & Values

Our goal is to be recognised as an outstanding provider of security services, guided by our core values:

Integrity – Always do the right thing, treat others fairly.

Vigilance & Preparedness – Stay alert, ready to respond.

Professionalism – Maintain high standards, continuously improve.

Helpfulness – Provide excellent service, leave a positive impression.

Teamwork – Work collaboratively, support colleagues, and protect Defence.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Our Security Supervisor’s main responsibility is to supervise all MGS Security Officers at the unit ensuring the overall protection of people, property, information and assets from damage, destruction, or unauthorised removal.

The key duties are as follows:

• Oversee Security Officers with daily supervision of the working patterns/roster as delegated by the Operational Manager, deploying them to cover tasks as laid out in assignment instructions and in accordance with the Joint Business Agreement/ General Statement of Security Requirements (GSSORs).
• Build and maintain positive working relationships by liaising with Unit Head of Establishment’s (HOEs), customer representatives and other security providers to ensure a high-quality security service is provided.
• Assist the Operational Manager in ensuring the unit is compliant with NSI and all relevant documents and procedures are kept up to date.
• Task security officers and be responsible for maintaining integrity of performance through effective management, encouraging a positive and inclusive working environment, and addressing concerns in a timely and sensitive manner.
• Respond to security concerns raised and work with first responder to manage incidents effectively and following procedure.
• Visit other MGS units located within a reasonable distance to provide supervisory support and collaborate with employees and customers as agreed with the Operations Manager.
• Write reports on breaches of security, defects and maintain daily logs.
• Effectively communicate with customers and refer any complaints to the chain of command.
• In line with standard operating procedures, operate, monitor, and supervise security systems such as CCTV, alarms telephone and radio.
• When required, take on the taskings of a Security Officer.

Excellent communication and organisational skills are required, as well as the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

This role involves patrolling large areas, standing for periods, staying alert and responding quickly when needed, so a good level of physical fitness is essential.

Shift Pattern & Flexibility

This is a shift working position at 37.6 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 37.6 hours in a calendar week; this will be 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.

Training & Development

We are committed to ensuring you have the skills and confidence to succeed in your role.

New starters will complete a mandatory two-week residential Foundation Course, followed by structured on-the-job training. One of the elements of the Foundation Course is Emergency First Aid at Work, where you will learn key life skills in emergency first aid.

You will have access to ongoing professional development, including an annual programme of online learning. Our dedicated Workforce Development Team will support your training needs, ensuring you continue to build expertise throughout your career.

If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team via the Help link.

Person specification

What We’re Looking For

There’s no single background that makes someone right for the Ministry of Defence Guard Service. Our officers come from a variety of careers including security, military, retail, hospitality, care, logistics, teaching, customer service, or after a career break.

What matters is how you work, not where you’ve worked .

We’re looking for people who can:

• Remain calm, polite and respectful in busy situations
• Pay attention to detail and report anything unusual
• Follow procedures consistently
• Learn quickly and adapt to changing circumstances
• Communicate clearly with people from all backgrounds
• Be reliable, punctual and professional
• Support colleagues and work well as part of a team

You don’t need previous security experience; however Supervisory Experience would be desirable— full training and uniform are provided .

How to Apply

Your CV should clearly demonstrate:

• Previous roles and key responsibilities
• Skills relevant to this role outlining any supervisory experience
• Examples of reliability, communication, teamwork and following procedures
• Any relevant training, qualifications or transferable experience

Your CV will be used to assess your suitability, so make sure it is clear, accurate and up to date.

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence

Evidence of qualification/Licence/Membership will be required at interview.

All licences declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date.

Behaviours

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

• 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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,910, Ministry of Defence contributes

£10,113 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).

We enable our people to work at the right place, with the right people, at the right time. We believe that if we look after our people, they will be passionate about delivering great things for our customers.

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

The MOD Discover My Benefits page lists the full set of benefits. Some of the many benefits you will receive include:

• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A generous annual leave allowance.
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year.
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments.
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing.
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club, Gym and Cafeterias and Shops.
• Entitlement to apply for Blue Light and Defence Discount Cards.

This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

MoD Guard Services is currently undertaking a review of grade structures, pay and conditions, aimed at improving employee experience, wellbeing, and career progression. This review may result in future changes to terms and conditions; however, the requirement for this role remains unchanged.

Discover My Benefits:

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD:

• https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/
• Things you need to know
• Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

If you align with our values, we would like to hear from you.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviour: Leadership , Managing a Quality Service

Experience: CV including Job History and Previous Skills.

At interview you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours: Leadership, Managing a Quality Service and Communicating and Influencing.

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.

Application sifting is scheduled to take place on week commencing 21st September 2026.

Interviews are due to take place via Microsoft Teams and will be conducted week commencing 5th October 2026.

Please note the above dates are subject to change.

We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn’t always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months. Candidates who do not meet the required standard for the AO role may be considered for an AA role. Additionally, where AO vacancies are unavailable, an AA role may be offered, in merit order.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into 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. The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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 require