Defence Accident Investigation Branch - Maritime Engineer

Job summary

The Defence Accident Investigation Branch (DAIB) sits within the Defence Safety Authority (DSA) and conducts independent, impartial and expert no-blame safety investigations across Defence. DAIB’s reports are produced for the DSA and provide evidence-based safety learning to support the prevention of future accidents. The Maritime Engineering Investigator provides specialist marine engineering expertise to support DAIB’s maritime accident investigation capability, particularly where engineering failure, system performance, maintenance, design, operation or technical assurance may be relevant to the occurrence.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. This role includes participation in the DAIB on call duty rota, for which an additional allowance is payable.

Job description

The postholder will be part of DAIB’s maritime investigation function and will contribute to triage deployments, Service Inquiries, Non-Statutory Inquiries, technical reports, safety recommendations and wider organisational learning. They will help ensure that maritime investigations are credible, technically informed, independent and able to identify evidence-based safety learning for the DSA and wider Defence.

The role is operationally important because DAIB maintains a 24/7 accident notification and response capability and must be able to deploy suitably qualified and experienced investigators at short notice. The successful candidate will therefore be expected to participate in DAIB duty arrangements, maintain deployment readiness and operate in challenging and sensitive environments, including accident sites and inquiry settings. As part of these responsibilities, there may be a requirement to work outside normal office hours, including weekends and public holidays, to support operational activity.

Key Responsibilities

• Deploy as a DAIB maritime engineering investigator in response to Defence accidents, serious incidents and near misses, including activity in the UK and overseas.
• Provide specialist marine engineering advice to DAIB triage teams, investigation leads, Service Inquiry panels and senior DAIB leadership.
• Contribute to evidence collection, preservation, analysis and interpretation, ensuring that engineering evidence is handled appropriately and used to support robust findings.
• Assess engineering systems, maintenance records, technical documentation, operating context, equipment condition and relevant organisational factors to identify possible causal or contributory issues.
• Produce clear, evidence-based engineering input for triage reports, technical reports, Service Inquiry reports, Non-Statutory Inquiry reports, safety investigation bulletins and other investigation products as required.
• Support the development of safety recommendations, ensuring that engineering-related findings are traceable, proportionate, technically sound and capable of supporting effective safety action.
• Engage with Defence maritime stakeholders, Front-Line Commands, technical authorities, project teams, regulators, original equipment manufacturers and other subject matter experts while maintaining DAIB’s independence and impartiality.
• Provide advice, mentoring and support to Service Inquiry panels and DAIB investigators on maritime engineering matters.
• Keep abreast of relevant maritime engineering developments, accident investigation practice, safety technology and investigative techniques.
• Support DAIB training, exercises, visits, presentations and continuous improvement activity as directed by SO1 Maritime or Head DAIB.
• Maintain personal readiness, professional competence and currency for DAIB deployment, including completion of mandatory training and participation in the duty roster.
• Act as a DAIB reviewer for safety recommendations from Statutory Inquiries and Non- Statutory Inquiries.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Professional experience in marine engineering, maritime engineering systems or engineering management on large seagoing vessels or equivalent complex maritime platforms.
• Ability to analyse complex technical information, identify relevant evidence, test assumptions and draw clear, evidence-based conclusions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and credibly in writing and verbally, including explaining technical matters to non-specialist audiences.
• Sound judgement, including the ability to assess uncertainty, risk and proportionality in a safety investigation environment.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate records and deliver work to time in an operationally busy environment.
• Confidence engaging with military and civilian stakeholders across Defence and with external organisations, while maintaining appropriate independence and professional boundaries.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary investigation team, including under time pressure, during deployments or in sensitive circumstances.
• Ability to handle sensitive, distressing and protected information professionally and appropriately.
• Willingness and ability to deploy worldwide at short notice and to participate in DAIB duty arrangements.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of applying marine engineering expertise within a Defence, naval or regulated maritime safety environment.
• Experience of accident investigation, safety investigation, Service Inquiries, Non-Statutory Inquiries, engineering failure investigation or technical reporting.
• Knowledge of Defence safety, maritime safety, regulatory or assurance arrangements.
• Completion of, or willingness to complete, recognised accident investigation training, including maritime accident investigation training where required.
• Experience of producing formal technical reports, investigation products or decision briefings in a safety, engineering or regulatory context.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of DAIB operations, the successful candidate will be exposed to information and material, including video and photographic imagery, that could be distressing. It is essential that candidates take these requirements into consideration before applying for the post.

Personnel joining the Branch may be required to complete a baseline psychological review on appointment, with optional annual follow-up thereafter.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

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 (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a Statement of Suitability of up to 750 words explaining why they are suitable for the role. The statement should provide evidence against the essential criteria and should specifically address:

• their marine engineering experience and how it is relevant to this role;
• how they have analysed complex technical information, identified relevant evidence, tested assumptions and reached clear evidence-based conclusions;
• how they have communicated technical matters clearly and credibly to senior or non-specialist audiences;
• how they have worked effectively with others in a multidisciplinary, operational or safety-related environment;
• how they would maintain professional judgement, independence and impartiality when supporting a Defence safety investigation; and
• their willingness and ability to deploy worldwide at short notice and participate in DAIB duty arrangements.

At sift, candidates will be assessed against their CV, Statement of Suitability and the following Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

If a high volume of applications is received, an initial sift will be based on the Statement of Suitability. Candidates who meet or exceed the agreed benchmark will then be sifted against the remaining CV and Behaviours, otherwise your application will be rejected.

Interviews will be conducted w/c 16 Nov at Boscombe Down. This date is subject to change.

At interview, candidates will be assessed against their Experience.

Further information:

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.

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. 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 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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : Paddy McWilliams
• Email : Paddy.McWilliams780@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

Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB)Terms and Conditions of Service 1 Opens in new window (docx, 24kB)Candidate Information updated_ Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)