Army - Basic Skills Development Manager

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence, Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff to support the British Army.

Located within The Army Training Centre Pirbright (ATC (P)) this is a role that offers challenges and high engagement with all staff across the establishment. ATC (P) is a fast paced environment to work in that has exciting opportunities available and provides pivotal support to all members of personnel.

This post is based at ATC Pirbright, however until September 26, the role will also be required to carry out activities at ATR Winchester, on a temporary detached duty basis, in support of critical training outputs and Winchester drawdown activity. Attendance at Winchester will be determined by business need and will be confirmed by Line Management on an as-needed basis. Once the Winchester drawdown is complete, the role will revert to Pirbright on a permanent basis.
Individuals will be entitled to claim travel expenses for journeys to and from Winchester, less the distance from home to their permanent duty station, in accordance with the Travel & Subsistence Policy. Use of pool cars will also be available.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

ATC(P) is a dynamic and fast-paced military training environment. Under the direction of the Commanding Officer (CO) ATC(P), the Basic Skills Development Manager is responsible for the provision of English and Maths skills and Adult Learning Needs (ALN) support to Basic Training trainees within the unit.

Main Role Responsibilities:

• Assessing and diagnosing the English and Maths needs of individual trainees.
• Delivering English and Maths programmes to meet national accreditation standards, individual needs and Army requirements, including the production of Individual Learning Plans.
• Organising, managing, and evaluating English and Maths provision and support in ATC, including establishing and maintaining English and Maths teaching resources.
• Liaising with appropriate external authorities and with technical Functional Skills specialists to establish and maintain a coherent network of provision and keep up to date with developments in adult learning related to English and Maths.
• Ensuring appropriate awareness briefs/events are delivered within ATC, as directed.
• Coordination, management and Quality Assurance of internal and external English and Maths providers and agencies.
• Providing appropriate Specific Learning Differences advice, in line with policy to all Army personnel in the area of responsibility.
• Assessing the dyslexia needs of individuals and providing support, when practicable.
• Providing Basic Skills Information, Advice and Guidance to the chain of command and individuals undergoing training.
• Provide appropriate assessment support for English for Speakers of Other Languages.
• Carry out duties commensurate with the appointment and Ministry of Defence Civil Service grade required by Line Manager or Chain of Command.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

Essential Skills Required:

• IT literate and be comfortable using the Microsoft Office 365 packages
• Able to work in a team and also under your own initiative.
• Ability to explain English, Maths, and learning support concepts clearly to trainees with varied abilities
• Confidence delivering briefs, awareness sessions, and training to mixed audiences (trainees, instructors, command staff).
• Adapting teaching content to varied learning styles, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Ensuring accuracy in assessments, learning plans and records
• Applying standards consistently to meet national accreditation requirements.

Desirable:

• Proven record of managing and delivering Functional Skill programme across an organisation
• Appraisal Writing
• Managing for Performance
• A specialist qualification in supporting individuals with dyslexia, or a willingness to undergo training in this.
• Evidence of experience of delivering English and /or Maths in an adult context’.

Qualifications

Teaching Qualification at L4 or above
Evidence will be required at interview. All qualifications, licences or memberships declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalents will not be accepted.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• A 5-10 min presentation/lesson to the selection panel, on a Maths or English related subject, demonstrating your teaching ability and delivery methods.

Benefits

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Discover My Benefits:

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Member of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development
• Free on-site car park
• On-site coffee shop and cafe
• Free use of the gym facilities including a swimming pool

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

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.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Your CV
• Behaviour - Changing & Improving

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Changing & Improving.

Your CV will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Experience
• Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service
• Behaviour - Delivering at Pace
• Technical - You will be required to deliver a 5-10 min presentation/lesson to the selection panel, on a Maths or English related subject, demonstrating your teaching ability and delivery methods. We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
  • Demonstrates professional teaching knowledge and understanding
  • Uses appropriate teaching and assessment strategies
  • Promotes good learning progress and outcomes
  • Demonstrates and maintains professional standards
  • Communicates effectively with learners and colleagues

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

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.

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.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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 mitigation's can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

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 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 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

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 : Major Cecil Robertson
• Email : Cecily.Robertson416@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please see Further Information document attached.

Attachments

Army_Basic_Skills_Development_Managers_Functional_Competence_Framework (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 42kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Ministry of Defence – Revised Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS) (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 298kB)