Role overview
This position is based at Army HQ, Marlborough Lines, Monxton Road, Monxton, Andover, SP11 8HT. It sits within Army Legal Services and supports the officer responsible for recruiting and training. The post helps potential candidates through the joining process and also coordinates training arrangements for legal officers.
The wider Ministry of Defence civil service brings together a broad mix of roles and professions. Within Army Legal Services, civilian and military colleagues work side by side: military staff are solicitors or barristers, while civilian staff provide the business and administrative support that keeps priorities moving. The team values flexible working and aims to help people balance effective delivery with life outside work.
The role is advertised for 37 hours per week. The working model is based on smarter working, combining flexibility, digital tools, and modern workspaces. At the same time, there is an expectation to be in the office at least 60% of the time, which is three days per week.
What you will do
You will support recruiting activity for Army Legal Services and help organise legal training activity. The work includes handling information, tracking progress through the recruitment journey, arranging courses, keeping records accurate, and supporting related administration across the team.
- Review attraction, interview, and Army Officer Selection Board information to identify suitable solicitors and barristers for commission into Army Legal Services.
- Work to established processes so the team meets its intake targets for Army Legal Services.
- Support the team in delivering responsibilities and meeting shared goals.
- Arrange and administer training for new ALS officers, career legal courses, and continuous professional development.
- Make sure the right officers are identified for the right training and that bookings are completed correctly.
- Handle administration for ALS recruiting activity and insight visits.
- Handle administration for military law training.
- Keep individual training records for ALS officers accurate and current.
- Help coordinate all parts of Phase 1A, 1C, and 2A Initial Officers Course activity.
- Maintain a tracker for ALS officer security clearances and flag when renewals are due.
Skills and experience needed
The ideal candidate will be highly organised, comfortable with Microsoft Office 365, and able to balance multiple priorities. You should communicate clearly, build effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, and remain calm and efficient when demands compete for attention.
- Strong planning and organisational ability.
- Confident use of Microsoft Office 365.
- Ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Good judgement when managing overlapping priorities.
- Clear and confident communication.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well at all levels.
- Professional, efficient, and well-structured working style.
Selection approach
The vacancy uses Success Profiles and assesses behaviours as well as experience. At application stage, you will need to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test. If you pass that stage, you will be asked to submit a 250-word personal statement showing how you meet the essential criteria. Interviews will be conducted in person.
The behaviours assessed include Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing, and Working Together.
Application sifting is expected to take place within 7 days of the closing date, though timings may change depending on business needs. Interview dates are still to be confirmed.
Pay and benefits
The salary for this post is £27,866 per year. In addition, the Ministry of Defence contributes £8,072 toward membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. The employer also states a 28.97% pension contribution.
- 25 days of annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year up to 30 days after 5 years of service.
- Competitive pension provision.
- Support for personal and professional development.
- Alternative working patterns for many roles.
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing support.
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave.
- 6 days of special leave each year for volunteering.
- Learning and development opportunities, including support toward professional membership and/or a modern apprenticeship.
A modern apprenticeship combines work and training, leading to a qualification, practical experience, and broader skills to grow in the current role and future career.
Important notes
This role does not include relocation expenses. Travel costs for interviews will not be reimbursed.
New external recruits joining the MOD from outside the Civil Service will normally be subject to a six-month probation period.
The department is reviewing pay-related allowances, so any allowances linked to this post may change.
If you move to the MOD from another employer, you will not be able to access childcare vouchers. This also applies to moves between government departments. You may still qualify for other schemes such as Tax-Free Childcare.
The Ministry of Defence operates a smoke-free working environment policy across the Defence workplace, with limited exemptions subject to local guidance.
The MOD may contact applicants for a voluntary and anonymous recruitment satisfaction survey. Any additional feedback may involve the use of personal data in line with the MOD Privacy Policy Notice.
Artificial intelligence may be used to support an application, but all examples and statements must be truthful, accurate, and based on the applicant’s own experience. Any plagiarism or misrepresentation may lead to withdrawal of the application and possible disciplinary action for internal candidates.
Eligibility and conditions
This role is not open to applicants who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. The MOD will only sponsor where a role has been deemed business critical, and this vacancy does not meet that threshold.
Successful candidates must declare any outside interests, which will be reviewed before a formal offer is made to identify any conflict of interest and determine whether mitigation is needed.
The MOD applies a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. Applicants who were dismissed for unacceptable behaviour within the last five years will not be considered. This also applies where someone resigned or otherwise left a role and would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had they remained.
Pre-employment checks will be completed. Candidates must also complete the full application process by 23:55 on the closing date if invited forward after the online test stage.
Candidates who meet the minimum pass mark on the test stage will have results banked for the New Civil Service Verbal Test and New Civil Service Numerical Test.
Applicants should allow enough time to complete the online tests and the full application form, as the tests must be finished before the second part of the application can be submitted. The tests are untimed but can take up to an hour each and require internet access.
The Civil Service also operates the Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Interview availability, application processes, and other recruitment timelines may change depending on business needs.
We have retained all stated terms, checks, and application conditions so candidates can review the full requirements before applying.
Responsibilities
- Assess recruitment information from attraction activity, interviews, and Army Officer Selection Board outcomes to identify suitable solicitors and barristers for Army Legal Services.
- Work to established recruitment processes and help deliver the required intake numbers.
- Support the team in meeting day-to-day duties and shared objectives.
- Organise and administer training activity, including induction legal training, career development courses, and continuous professional development.
- Ensure the appropriate officers are matched to the correct training and that bookings are completed accurately.
- Coordinate ALS recruiting activity and insight visits.
- Administer military law training arrangements.
- Keep ALS officer training records accurate and up to date.
- Support coordination of Phase 1A, 1C, and 2A Initial Officers Course elements.
- Track ALS officer security clearances and notify relevant officers when renewals are due.
Requirements
- Excellent organisational ability.
- Comfortable using Microsoft Office 365.
- Ability to develop effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong capability to manage multiple competing demands.
- Clear, confident communication style.
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport at all levels.
- Efficient, structured, and reliable way of working.
- Willingness to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test and submit a 250-word personal statement if shortlisted.
- Ability to attend an in-person interview if invited.
- Eligibility to work without requiring Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this role.
Perks & benefits
- Annual leave starting at 25 days and rising to 30 days after 5 years of service.
- Employer pension support and a competitive Civil Service pension scheme.
- Flexible and alternative working patterns where possible.
- Access to a free Employee Assistance Programme.
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave.
- 6 paid days of special leave for volunteering each year.
- Learning, development, apprenticeship, and professional membership support.
- Smarter working approach with flexibility and modern working practices.
