Deputy Station Environmental Protection Officer

Job summary

RAF Brize Norton is looking to recruit a driven, capable, flexible and innovative candidate into the role of Deputy Station Environmental Protection Officer (Dep-SEPO). RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire is the largest RAF Station with approximately 5,800 Service Personnel, 1,200 contractors and 300 civilian staff. The Station is home to the RAF's Strategic and Tactical Air Transport (AT) and Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) forces, as well as host to many lodger and reserve units. The Dep-SEPO works alongside the Station Environmental Protection Officer (SEPO) to ensure environmental compliance on station, encourage environmentally friendly behaviour through various campaigns and provide assurance to the Head of Establishment (HoE).

The Deputy SEPO works alongside the SEPO to provide specialist technical and administrative advice to the Head of Establishment, their senior executive team and MOD staff working at RAF Brize Norton on all aspects of environmental protection, sustainable development and conservation. The post supports the site’s operational activities and outputs through regular monitoring and inspection of site whilst proactively improving relationships with relevant stakeholders. The Dep- SEPO is responsible for maintaining their knowledge with changing legislation, MOD policies and environmental/sustainability targets. In their role, the Dep-SEPO is responsible for managing and supporting the Station Environmental Protection Representatives (EP Reps) by disseminating training information, managing competency requirements as well as informing and encouraging participation in sustainable projects and campaigns.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The successful candidate will be expected to undertake the following duties in this role:

• To update and manage the Station Environmental Aspect Assessments (EEA), supporting the Environmental Protection representatives (EP Reps) to complete EAAs for all ‘low risk’ areas on Station.
• Work alongside the EP Reps to assist with Environmental Protection (EP) audits of workplaces on site. Where requested complete an appropriate audit form to support the final document sent to SHEF Managers by the Safety, Health and Environment Advisers (SHEA). Follow up on actions where necessary.
• Manage unit to ensure that all buildings, facilities and processes are represented on the EMS system. Provide direction and guidance to EP Reps on training, Terms of Reference and requirements of the role as well as distribute information on sustainability campaigns and projects.
• Assist with and maintain an environmental protection training record of all personnel, under RAF Brize Norton’s responsibility, on behalf of the SEPO. Disseminating availability of EP training modules.
• Monitor and carry out weekly physical environmental site inspections, including outfalls and inlets, OWIs and ditches ensuring tasks raised if required. This will sometimes require accessing areas outside of the perimeter fence but still within the MOD’s area of responsibility.
• Monitor Station water assets to ensure the free passage of water through the site, raise calls to the Aquatrine contractor in the event of any issues.
• Attend (during working hours) any significant pollution incident and provide specialist advice on containment, reporting requirements. Also, assist the SEPO on any resulting incident investigation process.
• To act as energy focal point for Station when working with the DIO Area Utilities Manager.
• Where appropriate carry out tasks to prevent environmental issues impacting on neighbouring landowners and help to ensure regulatory compliance, including work within water assets and conservation areas.
• Attend Station Barrack Block and Commanding Officer inspections to gain assurance of appropriate environmental practice and advise building custodians as necessary.
• Support SEPO in environmental campaigns and sustainability projects through business cases, monthly submissions to the Station Newspaper, informing EP reps and other parties.
• The Deputy SEPO is responsible for maintaining their knowledge with changing legislation and MOD policies.
• To deputise for the SEPO in all other matters in their absence.

Person specification

This is a challenging role and the successful candidate will require:

• Qualifications in environmental management or a related discipline, such as NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, ISEP Environmental Management.
• An understanding of environmental legislation and best practice standards
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills alongside strong IT skills and experience of Microsoft 365 applications.
• A problem-solving approach with the confidence and ability to communicate at all levels, including the Station Commander and both internal and external stakeholders.
• An enthusiastic approach and willingness to learn.
• Experience of maintaining Environmental Management Systems, Auditing and Environmental Risk Assessments would be beneficial.
• A full driving license is required in order to facilitate quick and easy access to the full site, including crossing the runway and attending off site meetings.

Licences

A full UK Driving License will be essential in order to undertake this role

Qualifications

Qualifications in environmental management or a related discipline, such as NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, ISEP Environmental Management.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

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 (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%
• 25 Days Annual Leave which increases to 30 days after 5 years
• On-site parking

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; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (1000)

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability and the following:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Following a sift of all submitted applications, successful candidates will be invited to face to face interviews at RAF Brize Norton, date of which is to be determined. Only online applications through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted, submissions via any other format will not be considered and deleted.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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 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 : Lorna Nunn
• Email : Lorna.Nunn103@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 Internal Brief notice (1) Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)20230201 - Air Command's Applicant Guide (1) (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 499kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)