Location
Elgin Ave., London

Hours
Full Time - 37 hours per week, organised in shifts including weekend working. The shift roster is principally based around a 48-hour shift pattern with an average of 1 in 5 weekends worked. Standby/recall duties apply with a nominal 4 hour public transport travel time for activation.

Salary
£46,040 per annum

About the Role
The Chief of the Defence Staff Duty Officer (CDSDO) team provides a key strategic leadership support function enabling information-based decision making. They maintain persistent global and domestic military and political situational awareness for the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Director of Operations by constant surveillance of world events. Using extensive military operational experience, knowledge of current operational policy, and balanced judgement, the CDSDO alerts the Defence Crisis Management Organisation to significant military and political developments as they occur.

This challenging and rewarding role operates within a unique operational environment, engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders including other government departments such as No 10, the Cabinet Office, the Home Office, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, British and Foreign Embassies, deployed military units, and the general public.

Working a 24-hour on-watch roster based within the Defence Crisis Management Centre, the CDSDOs provide 24/7 military and political situational awareness to the MOD joint higher command. The on-shift CDSDO is functionally accountable directly to the Chief of the Defence Staff and supports the Director of Operations and the Single Service Chiefs.

Principal tasks include:
- Acting as the first point of contact within the MoD Strategic HQ liaising with other MoD HQs and government departments, including No 10, the Cabinet Office, the FCDO Global Response Centre, and British and Foreign Embassies, providing the initial principal military focal point for activation and coordination of military resources in times of emerging crisis.
- Coordinating the immediate Defence response to single Service operations and incidents, including Military Aid to the Civil Authorities and Military Aid to Other Government Departments in accordance with Joint and Single Service doctrine and instructions.
- Maintaining comprehensive knowledge of Joint and Single Service operations.
- Ensuring the Chief of the Naval Staff, Chief of the General Staff, and Chief of the Air Staff are informed of any significant events relating to their services.
- Providing command oversight to ensure the safe, secure, and efficient operation of the Defence Crisis Management Centre outside normal working hours.
- Providing oversight and management of the on-shift Deputy CDSDO.

Note: The working environment is austere and underground with no lift access and no disabled access facilities. In crisis or emerging situations, hours may be long and pressure intense. This is a full-time post with no opportunity for part-time, job share, flexible or remote working arrangements due to the business critical and security sensitive nature of the role.

Experience
- High level of senior military operational experience and knowledge, gained directly or through close work with military colleagues.
- Thorough understanding of the key issues forming the Military Strategy Operations and Commitments team core business.
- Proven ability to work at pace and respond positively to emergent issues.
- Experience managing challenging situations and coping with competing timelines and priorities.
- Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Strategic thinker able to support others to deliver and resolve complex issues.
- Able to communicate clearly and effectively with seniors and colleagues of all ranks.
- Proven track record of developing effective relationships quickly across diverse military and civilian stakeholders.

About you
- Confident communicator with a clear and lucid communication style.
- Self-motivated, resilient, and able to work efficiently and effectively within a very small team in an austere location.
- Integrity and ability to make considered decisions and provide sound advice.
- Comfortable engaging at the highest levels of Defence.
- Able to undertake standby/recall duties and return to the workplace within a nominal 4 hour travel time by public transport.
- Must have no reason to be denied Developed Vetting Security Clearance.

Qualifications
- Must be a UK national.
- Must be able to obtain Developed Vetting security clearance.
- No formal educational qualifications specified, but extensive senior military operational experience is essential.