Security Services Group (SSG) - Operational Delivery Team Leader

Security Services Group (SSG) is the MOD’s Technical Authority for electronic and physical security providing in-house expert advice, design, installation and maintenance of electronic and physical security systems across Government, prioritised towards Secret and Above Secret, and items Attractive to Criminal and Terrorist Organisations (ACTO). SSG is part of GUARDIAN and is positioned within Standing Joint Command to support UK homeland security and resilience.

With an FTE of 325, SSG provides technical specialist ‘consultancy’ advice to projects to support the creation of design specifications through to commissioning; project management and delivery with through life maintenance; strategic and tactical compliance assurance reviews and audits across the business; an assured government use only Intruder Detection System built in-house; and security furniture services. Head of SSG is also the MOD’s Head of Specialism for Physical Security across the MOD (part of the Government Security Profession).

SSG’s Operational Delivery teams are the MOD’s specialist in-house security providers, delivering project management, design, installation and 24/7, 365 days a year maintenance of all aspects of electronic and physical security, with a global reach. SSG’s work is independently audited to ensure, ISO 9001:2015 and NSI compliance and accreditation as well as MOD’s own internal compliance regime. To learn more about SSG, visit Security Services Group - GOV.UK

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

The Operational Delivery Team Leader within Security Services Group (SSG) provides central leadership, governance, and assurance across SSG’s Operational Delivery function.

The post holder leads a team of Operational Delivery Managers (ODMs) who support the delivery of SSG’s electronic and physical security projects and maintenance activity across the UK and overseas estate. Operating from head office, the role ensures that delivery activity across all regions is undertaken in a consistent, compliant, and auditable manner, aligned to SSG’s role as MOD’s Technical Authority for security.

A core focus of the role is driving standardisation of processes, controls, and data, ensuring that high‑quality, reliable management information is produced to support operational decision‑making, financial management, and internal and external assurance, including ISO and NSI regimes.

Leadership of the Operational Delivery Function

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of Operational Delivery Managers, providing clear direction, priorities, and support.
• Set clear expectations for delivery standards, governance compliance, and data quality across all Operational Delivery activity.
• Promote a professional, collaborative culture aligned to SSG values and GUARDIAN objectives.

Governance, Assurance and Standardisation

• Act as the focal point for operational delivery governance within SSG, ensuring common processes and controls are embedded and consistently applied.
• Own and maintain standard operating procedures, templates, and guidance covering project delivery, financial management, procurement, and close‑out.
• Ensure compliance with SSG, MOD and wider government assurance requirements, including audit readiness and evidence management.

Data Quality and Management Information

• Ensure Operational Delivery Managers maintain accurate, complete, and timely records within agreed systems, including CASH, SharePoint and associated MI tools.
• Drive a strong culture of data integrity, ensuring delivery and financial information supports effective reporting and scrutiny.
• Provide assurance on consolidated management information submitted to senior leadership to enable informed operational, financial and strategic decision‑making.

Operational Oversight and Continuous Improvement

• Provide head‑office oversight of SSG Operational Delivery activity, monitoring performance, risks and emerging issues across regions.
• Lead or commission first‑line assurance activity, process reviews and Learning from Experience activity.
• Ensure lessons identified from audits, reviews and delivery challenges are translated into sustainable improvements.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with Operational Managers, SME Project Managers, Finance, Commercial and senior stakeholders to support effective delivery.
• Provide constructive challenge where delivery activity does not meet required governance or data standards.
• Represent the Operational Delivery function within SSG boards, assurance forums and stakeholder meetings.

Decision Making

• Make operational decisions on prioritisation, governance actions and assurance interventions within delegated authority.
• Exercise judgement to balance delivery pressures with the need for consistency, control and auditability.
• Escalate significant or systemic risks to the Operations Manager or Head of Function with clear analysis and recommendations.

Please note, due to the level of security applications are only accepted from sole UK nationals only.

, and assurance across SSG’s Operational

Open to UK nationals only.

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

We use the Civil Service Success Profiles framework to ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment of candidates. Your suitability for the role will be evaluated based on your experience, skills and demonstration of core behaviours throughout the process.

At application you will be assessed against the following:

Experience:

• CV: including, job history full qualification details and previous skills and experience.
• Personal Statement - 500 words.

Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving.

At interview you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace.
• Making Effective Decisions.
• Communicating and Influencing.

What to Expect

The interview will explore both your professional experience and how your behaviours align with the role's requirements, we recommend using the STAR format when answering behaviour questions. Interviews are planned to take place at The Defence Academy, Shrivenham.

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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. 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.

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 Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.