DE&S Defence Courier - #1687238

British Forces Post Office, RAF Northolt, Ruislip, London HA4 6DQ

Job Summary

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

Nationality, visas, and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country.

We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 10 years and obtain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance . Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining DV security clearance can be a lengthy process. If clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months, we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made.

Job Description

Are you seeking a challenging and rewarding opportunity? The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) has exciting positions for Defence Couriers (DCs) to join our highly motivated team of DCs and Courier Escort Drivers, based at the Head Quarters in Northolt.

For centuries, our Armed Forces have managed an in-house postal service, delivering mail throughout our military history, including both World Wars. The BFPO provides postal and courier services to the UK Armed Forces and is a renowned brand across Defence. Our dedicated civilian and military staff work collaboratively to deliver both personal and official mail to over 650 locations worldwide, keeping our Armed Forces connected through letter and parcel services that are vital to sustaining morale.

We are looking for dynamic, self-motivated, hard-working, and organised individuals for this varied role. The position requires considerable UK and overseas travel, escorting Protectively Marked Material (PMM). On a practical day-to-day basis, a DC may travel within the UK or overseas, daily, or weekly, to escort or carry PMM items to recipients in various locations.

You will be an excellent communicator with strong leadership skills. As you perform your duties, you will have opportunities to identify and secure improvements to BFPO operations, contributing to a cost-effective and value-for-money service that supports the broader UK Defence establishment. A proactive, solution-oriented approach and a robust, conscientious attitude towards completing tasks will be key to your success.

You will routinely drive a large van as part of a two-person team, supporting another Courier, spending approximately 50% of your time in the driving role. You will be required to drive more frequently during the initial months of training and the six-month probation period.

In addition to the salary, this position offers a London Allowance of £3,300 and the appointment also currently attracts a 12.5% Regular Shift Allowance.

Due to security requirements, these posts are reserved for UK Nationals only and will require in-depth security checks (Developed Vetting).

You will be required to pass a bespoke but basic Defence Courier medical before starting the appointment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Ensuring the secure escort of PMM in the UK and worldwide, and all items in your care are moved as required under the correct diplomatic process which is covered by the Vienna Convention
• Ensuring the PMM carried is not tampered with or scanned at customs and is received safely, securely and without interception at its destination
• Operating and maintaining technical ability to operate secure and specialist equipment essential to the smooth and efficient delivery of Material and completion of your duties
• Maintaining a good knowledge of relevant MoD policies and customs and laws of countries visiting, ensuring compliance with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office policy to ensure there are no barriers to the delivery of Material
• Completing the advanced safety and security awareness training (including one-day pre-deployment training package to be completed within the 6-month probation period) to comply with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office standards and policies
  
  

Are you seeking a challenging and rewarding opportunity? The British Forces Post Office (BFPO) has exciting positions for Defence Couriers (DCs) to join our highly motivated team of DCs and Courier Escort Drivers, based at the Head Quarters in Northolt.

For centuries, our Armed Forces have managed an in-house postal service, delivering mail throughout our military history, including both World Wars. The BFPO provides postal and courier services to the UK Armed Forces and is a renowned brand across Defence. Our dedicated civilian and military staff work collaboratively to deliver both personal and official mail to over 650 locations worldwide, keeping our Armed Forces connected through letter and parcel services that are vital to sustaining morale.

We are looking for dynamic, self-motivated, hard-working, and organised individuals for this varied role. The position requires considerable UK and overseas travel, escorting Protectively Marked Material (PMM). On a practical day-to-day basis, a DC may travel within the UK or overseas, daily, or weekly, to escort or carry PMM items to recipients in various locations.

You will be an excellent communicator with strong leadership skills. As you perform your duties, you will have opportunities to identify and secure improvements to BFPO operations, contributing to a cost-effective and value-for-money service that supports the broader UK Defence establishment. A proactive, solution-oriented approach and a robust, conscientious attitude towards completing tasks will be key to your success.

You will routinely drive a large van as part of a two-person team, supporting another Courier, spending approximately 50% of your time in the driving role. You will be required to drive more frequently during the initial months of training and the six-month probation period.

In addition to the salary, this position offers a London Allowance of £3,300 and the appointment also currently attracts a 12.5% Regular Shift Allowance.

Due to security requirements, these posts are reserved for UK Nationals only and will require in-depth security checks (Developed Vetting).

You will be required to pass a bespoke but basic Defence Courier medical before starting the appointment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Ensuring the secure escort of PMM in the UK and worldwide, and all items in your care are moved as required under the correct diplomatic process which is covered by the Vienna Convention
• Ensuring the PMM carried is not tampered with or scanned at customs and is received safely, securely and without interception at its destination
• Operating and maintaining technical ability to operate secure and specialist equipment essential to the smooth and efficient delivery of Material and completion of your duties
• Maintaining a good knowledge of relevant MoD policies and customs and laws of countries visiting, ensuring compliance with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office policy to ensure there are no barriers to the delivery of Material
• Completing the advanced safety and security awareness training (including one-day pre-deployment training package to be completed within the 6-month probation period) to comply with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office standards and policies
  
  

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to demonstrate on your CV that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Holder of a full UK manual driving licence with cat C1, and a maximum of 6 penalty points
• Effective communication skills with the ability to engage with stakeholders, internal and external, at all levels
• A basic knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite
• Confirmation that you are capable of extensive travel at short notice, often independently, both within the UK and internationally, to various routine and ad-hoc locations
  
  

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Customer Service - Supervised Practitioner level
• Managing support, supplier, and customer networks - Supervised Practitioner level
• Making effective decisions – CSBC3
• Communicating and Influencing - CSBC3
  
  

Alongside your salary of £29,900, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,662 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes
  
  

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So, whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences, and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions
  
  

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

• Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
• Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
• Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.
  
  

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: [email protected]

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission

Reserve Lists

Where a competition identifies more appointable candidates than there are available vacancies, a Reserve List may be created for other similar roles in the Civil Service. This may be used for up to 12 months to fill the same role or other similar roles with closely matching essential criteria without further testing of merit.

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : Mike Ponsford - DE&S Talent Acquisition Specialist
• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]