Army - Force Protection Health & Safety Advisor

Job summary

The Land Warfare Centre (LWC) delivers the Deployable Force training and education, driving agile adaptation of the Army, to enable success on current and future operations. Fundamental to this is protecting the Army's Licence to Operate and its ability to deliver challenging and appropriate training, education and experimentation while keeping the risk to force and reputation As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) and tolerable.

This Force Protection (FP) role, based in Warminster is a senior Health and Safety position that provides specialist, Safety Health Environment & Fire (SHEF) advice across LWC’s global Area of Responsibility. This post provides authoritative and technical guidance to Director Land Warfare and supports 36 units worldwide, to compliance with UK legislation, MOD policy and safe delivery of land training. The role requires visits to LWC Operating Groups, including overseas locations, to assure, help resolve safety issues and strengthen organisational safety culture.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

We are looking for a Health and Safety practitioner with experience of operating at management board / formation level. The role is, based in Warminster but will entail visiting units across the UK and overseas. This position is responsible for providing safety advice, guidance and direction relating to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, supporting Regulations and MOD SHEF Policies. It is also responsible for ensuring all safety risks are managed correctly, that service personal on land training exercises and courses are protected ant that MOD and Army Policies are met across the LWC’s Area of Responsibility.

The Force Protection Health & Safety Advisor role provides an exciting opportunity to deliver Health and Safety advice, advice, guidance, direction and support at a senior level, to protect the Army’s licence to operate.

The position requires high standards of professional integrity, resilience, determination and confidence. You will be an inclusive visible leader, approachable and accessible. You will be experienced in operating at a senior level with the written and oral communication skills to engage across the rank structure. You will be comfortable managing both demanding routine and short notice high impact work.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Provide specialist Force Protection and SHEF advice to DLW and HQ LWC, ensuring compliance with UK legislation, MOD policy and mandatory Defence requirements.
• Lead and coordinate Health, Safety, Environmental Protection, Training Safety and wider Force Protection activity across LWC.
• Maintain and continuously improve Health and Safety and Force Protection governance, processes and organisational arrangements.
• Drive and promote a positive Health and Safety culture into the Land Training Systems (LTS) and support senior leaders in driving continuous improvement across LWC.
• Identify Health and Safety and Force Protection training needs and ensure delivery of Safety Risk Manager, Duty Holding, Risk to Life and other mandatory training.
• Capture and share best practice to support learning, assurance and consistent standards across LWC.
• Build effective relationships with Defence partners, senior commands and other stakeholders to enable coordinated Health and Safety and FP activity.
• Develop, maintain and assure compliance with all LWC Health and Safety and Force Protection policies, processes and directives.

Person specification

Essential Skills & Qualifications required:

• Strategic leadership and influence in promoting and embedding a strong FP and SHEF culture across a complex organisation.
• Ability to provide authoritative safety and FP advice, assessing risk and identifying proportionate mitigation measures.
• Strong communication skills, with confidence briefing and advising senior leaders and diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to analyse safety data, identify trends and support informed decision-making.
• Effective problem solving skills, able to deliver timely, pragmatic and compliant solutions.
• Adaptable and resilient, able to operate within changing regulatory, operational and organisational contexts.
• Level 3 certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.
• Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or be working towards or willing to undertake this.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience translating higher formation SHEF/FP policy into clear, practical guidance for varied audiences.
• Evidence of implementing and improving SHEF or FP systems within a large or dispersed organisation.
• Experience supporting organisational safety culture development.
• Awareness of international or Host Nation SHE frameworks.
• Skilled in managing competing priorities and stakeholder expectations at senior levels.
• Strong leadership experience with ability to drive accountability and improvement
• Certificate in Environmental Management.
• Recognised Industry safety training courses such as DSEAR, Fire safety manager
• Member of a professional safety body such as IOSH.
• Audit qualification such as ISO4501 lead auditor.

Evidence of qualification will be required at interview

All qualifications/licences declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalent Qualifications will not be accepted.

Qualifications

Level 3 certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.
Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or be working towards or willing to undertake this.
Evidence of qualification will be required at interview

All qualifications/licences declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalent Qualifications will not be accepted.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

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

• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Technical - Navigate S&E Functional Competencies, Inspection, Audit & Assurance, Intermediate level – see attached PDF page 40 for full details.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 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
• Pension contribution: 28.97%

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.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Your CV
• Personal Statement - of no more than 750 words detailing how you meet the essential skills criteria
• Behaviour - Leadership
• Technical - Navigate S&E Functional Competencies, Inspection, Audit & Assurance, Intermediate level – see attached PDF page 40 for full details.

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

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

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Behaviour - Communicating & Influencing
• Behaviour - Delivering at Pace
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Technical - Navigate S&E Functional Competencies, Inspection, Audit & Assurance, Intermediate level – see attached PDF page 40 for full details.

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 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.

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 : William Robinson
• Email : William.Robinson416@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

20240216---S-E-Functional-Competency-Framework-V2--1- Opens in new window (pdf, 6650kB)20240307-ArmyTLBEVP Opens in new window (pdf, 3932kB)Candidate Information updated_ Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)