Administrator - Manchester & Salford University Air Squadron

Job summary

6 Flying Training School (FTS) is responsible for the command and management of the University Air Squadrons(UAS) and their associated Air Experience Flights(AEF) located across the UK. The 6FTS Mission is to attract talent to regular and reserve RAF Service and educate selected undergraduates on the role of Air Power, in delivering the nations defence. 6FTS is located RAFC Cranwell, Lincolnshire.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This admin position is located at Manchester and Salford University Air Squadron (MASUAS) whose Headquarters is at Royal Air Force Woodvale, Formby Bypass, Liverpool L37 7AD. MASUAS is a small but dynamic team that provides support to student members and local staff. MASUAS Admin is a demanding job with the requirement to be able to think on your feet and act accordingly without supervision. The successful candidate must be a self-starter, able to perform under pressure and provide solutions using own initiative. Attention to detail and forward thinking are very important. We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

Person specification

Responsibilities

• Producing documents within agreed deadlines,

• Keeping and maintaining an accurate record of papers and electronic correspondence on behalf of the Adjutant

• Arranging occupational medicals for students

• Update and maintenance of personnel files, electronic and paper

• Update attendance registers, providing accurate and detailed account of authorised pay

• Input data into human resource shared service, personal information, pay, travel and subsistence

• Arrange Adjutant's diary for recruitment interviews, online and physical appointments

• Resolution of day-to-day service delivery issues with users and contractors

• Assist/advise students with form filling and signposting

• Administer regular and ad hoc team meetings

• Administer travel bookings

• Monitor multiuser email account and respond or redirect.

• Dealing with telephone and written enquiries in a positive manner considering the data protection legislation, delegated authority and the statutory guidance and directions

Experience of the RAF would be an advantage but not essential as mentorship will be provided.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,866, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,072 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).

Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Flexible working opportunities

• Training and personal development

• 25 days paid annual leave rising to 30 days on completion of 5 years’ service, plus leave for HM The King’s birthday

• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities

• Highly competitive civil service pension scheme

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave

• Subsidised membership to a fitness suite and lunchtime/evening Military led fitness classes

MOD offers support and development in your career, including apprenticeships, that you may be able to undertake as part of this role. An apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training allowing you to gain professional knowledge, practical experience and wider skills required for this job and your future career. Successful candidates can discuss their learning and development options withtheir manager when in post.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Applications will be sifted on CV and personal statement.

At application you will be assessed against the following:

CV including Job History with responsibilities, key achievements and tailored experience to the essential criteria.

Personal Statement detailing in no more than 500 words with ‘what & how’ demonstration to the essential criteria. Provide actual lived examples to demonstrate capability.

At interview you will be assessed against the above along with the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership

• Changing and Improving

• Develop Self and Others

• Working together

Application sifting will take place W/C 12/10/2026 with interviews planned W/C 19/10/2026

Interviews may be conducted face 2 face or via Microsoft Teams

We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business need.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

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

Apply and further information

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 : Jon Riddell
• Email : jon.riddell104@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

20201013-Air Command Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 316kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)