Army - Defence Driving Examiner

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, with responsibility for an annual budget of over £10bn, the Army is a major part of the Ministry of Defence and one of its largest operating centres who employ around 12,000 Civil Servants located at over 300 locations supporting the 110K regular and reserve soldiers across the Army. This 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.

We are currently seeking 5 Defence Driving Examiners to join the Defence Driving Examiner team at Colchester Garrison. You will play a key role in conducting driving tests for both vocational and non-vocational licence holders, primarily focusing on military trainees. Working collaboratively within a small, dedicated group based at Merville Barracks, you will operate in a Tri-Service environment, responsible for delivering high-quality testing services to personnel from all three branches of the military, as well as supporting other Government departments (OGD).

These roles will initially come under Regional Command but by April 26 will have been moved under the Land Warfare Centre. The role, location and immediate Line Management will remain the same throughout and into the future structure, but the upper chain of command will change as part of a DeLTA review/re-structure.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As a defence Driving Examiner (DDE) you will be responsible to the Defence Test Centre Supervisor located at Colchester Garrison and be required to conduct driving tests to the standards of the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for both Vocational and Non-Vocational Licenses on behalf of the Defence Licence and Testing Authority (DeLTA).

The following would be expected of the successful candidate when in post:

• You will be required to conduct theory and practical tests in all vehicle categories for which you have been trained and qualified in accordance with the direction, guidelines and legislation. You will be required to maintain familiarity with all vehicles in which driving tests are conducted
• You must check the validity of candidates’ documentation and accurately complete all relevant test documentation
• Maintain security of accountable documents used in connection with all tests until handed into and signed by a member of the administration team
• Complete all mandatory accident reporting forms within the set timeframes if required
• Keep up to date with all new licence and testing legislation by reading all supporting publications and information supplied
• You will be subject to check testing by the manager, Driving Vehicle Standards Agency or trained appointed person at any time, and must attend a Defence Driving Examiner Re-certification course as directed
• You must remain current on Examiner Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and Examiner Driver Development (EDD) in accordance with the relevant policies and legislation
• You should maintain familiarity with all test area/routes and independent drive element in all testing locations within the area of responsibility
• Conduct tests in any area of responsibility when directed by the Manager or deputy
• You must conduct the minimum required tests for a full time Defence Driving Examiner for this qualification to remain active at all times
• Be responsible for the supervision of test candidates in respect of, but not limited to behaviour, dress and general conduct, whilst undergoing all tests and at all times when they are in your charge

Person specification

Essential:

• Must be a minimum of 23 years of age
• Must hold a UK issued photocard driving licence with Full category B entitlement for a minimum of 3 years with:
  
  • No serious endorsements (no more than 3 current penalty points)
  • No serious convictions (drink driving) in the last 4 years (ie 4 years from the last termination point of any ban)
• Must have held a UK issued photocard driving license with Full Category C entitlement for a minimum of 3 years
• Must have held a UK issued photocard driving licence with Full Category C+E entitlement for a minimum of 3 months (with no restrictions ie Code 102)

Desirable:

• Must have held a UK issued photocard driving licence with Full category D (Coach) entitlement for a minimum of 3 months (with no restrictions ie Code 102)

All successful applicants will be expected to attend and pass the Defence Driving Examiner Course (at the Defence School of Transport @ Leconfield HU17 7LX) within 6 months of taking up the position, unless already completed and in date.

All successful applicants will be expected to undertake the Defence Trainer Course within 6 months of taking up the position, unless already completed.

The successful candidate may be required to undergo further training to develop themselves or support the requirements of the business

Licences

Must hold a UK issued photocard driving licence with Full category B entitlement for a minimum of 3 years with:
- No serious endorsements (no more than 3 current penalty points)
- No serious convictions (drink driving) in the last 4 years (ie 4 years from the last termination point of any ban)

Must have held a UK issued photocard driving license with Full Category C entitlement for a minimum of 3 years

Must have held a UK issued photocard driving licence with Full Category C+E entitlement for a minimum of 3 months (with no restrictions ie Code 102).

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

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

• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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

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
• Highly competitive 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

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.

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.

At sift you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement of no more than 500 words providing evidence of your suitability for the role against the person specification and job description.

At sift you will also be assessed against the following behaviours -

• Managing a Quality Service

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of the Managing a Quality Service behaviour.

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

At interview you will be assessed against the following behaviours -

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Bigger Picture

At interview you will also be expected to undergo a driving assessment in a Category C vehicle.

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

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It 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 mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

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.

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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 : Ricky Haynes
• Email : Ricky.Haynes430@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

20240307-ArmyTLBEVP Opens in new window (pdf, 3932kB)Candidate Information updated_ Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)