Health, Safety & Environment Adviser – South West Region RAF Air Cadets

Job summary

Have you ever considered working in an innovative, inclusive, military-orientated youth organisation? Do you have the skills and experience to support a large volunteer workforce in maintaining the highest standards of health, safety and environmental management? If so, an exciting opportunity exists to join the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) as the Health, Safety & Environment Adviser for South West Region.

RAFAC is the volunteer-military youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force, comprising the Air Training Corps and RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force. Through a combination of military personnel, civil servants and volunteers, RAFAC delivers challenging, exciting and rewarding opportunities to thousands of young people across the UK.

The Health, Safety & Environment Adviser plays a critical role in supporting the safe delivery of all RAFAC activities by providing professional advice, assurance, auditing and training across South West Region.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

South West Region RAF Air Cadets is seeking a motivated and professional individual to provide specialist Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HS&EP) advice and assurance across the Region.

The successful candidate will support Regional Headquarters, Wings and Squadrons in implementing RAFAC and MOD safety policy, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and contributing to the continuous improvement of the Region's safety culture.

The role covers all RAF Air Cadet units within South West Region, including: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Channel Islands.

Responsibilities

Reporting to both the Regional Commandant and Regional Chief of Staff, the successful candidate will:

• Provide professional Health, Safety and Environmental Protection advice to Regional Headquarters, Wings and Squadrons across South West Region.
• Support the RC and RCOS with implementation, oversight and analysis of Regional level 3 risks on PARMIS and assisting with the maintenance and management of the Regional Risk Register.
• Act as the principal adviser on Health, Safety, Fire and Environmental matters within the Region, supporting compliance with RAFAC, RAF and MOD policy.
• Develop, coordinate and deliver the Region's assurance programme, including inspections, audits and compliance reviews.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of the RAFAC Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS).
• Ensure accidents and incidents are appropriately investigated, reported and monitored, including RIDDOR-reportable occurrences.
• Analyse assurance findings and incident data, identifying trends and recommending improvements to safety performance.
• Provide health and safety advice, assurance and support to all permanent staff and CFAV’s within South West Region.
• Act as the lead adviser for workplace and office health and safety matters across the Region.
• Oversee building-related health and safety compliance, including fire safety, risk assessments, workplace inspections, and statutory assurance requirements.
• Work with RFCA, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), station authorities, landlords and other stakeholders to ensure safe place under the safe systems of training.
• Support Wings with the recruitment, development and mentoring of volunteer Health & Safety Officers.
• Act as the Regional focal point for Fire Safety and Radiation Safety matters.
• Deliver Health, Safety and Environmental Protection training and awareness programmes for volunteers and permanent staff.
• Support the planning and assurance of major regional activities, events and camps.
• Chair or support Regional safety committees and working groups, producing reports and recommendations for senior leaders.
• Represent South West Region at RAFAC and MOD meetings, workshops and assurance events.
• Maintain awareness of changes to legislation, policy and best practice, ensuring timely dissemination of advice throughout the Region.

This reporting line also reflects the South West Region headquarters structure and emphasises that the postholder supports both strategic regional leadership and day-to-day regional governance.

Working Arrangements

Although the location shows MOD Boscombe Down and whilst flexible working opportunities may be available, the successful candidate must be able to travel regularly throughout South West Region and attend Regional Headquarters at Le Marchant Barracks, Devizes, Wiltshire as required.

Person specification

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Essential

• NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and planning abilities.
• Experience of health and safety management, assurance, compliance or auditing.
• Ability to interpret legislation, policy and guidance and provide practical advice.
• Experience of producing reports and presenting findings to senior stakeholders.
• Strong Microsoft Office and IT skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage a varied workload.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across South West Region.

Desirable

• Experience within the MOD, Armed Forces, Cadet Forces or public sector.
• Environmental management experience.
• Training delivery experience.
• Knowledge of safety management systems and assurance frameworks.

Licences

Full UK Drivers Licence- Required to work from different locations and will have to travel to the different sites for assurance, inspections & meetings.

Qualifications

NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• 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 (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%
• Free on-site car parking.
• A variety of reward and recognition schemes.
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service.
• 9 days public and privilege holiday per annum.
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period for Reserve service commitments.
• Special Paid Leave for other volunteer duties.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
• Advance of pay to purchase travel season tickets or ‘cycle to work’ scheme (upon completion of 6 months service).

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 also be required to provide a Persona Statement (500 words max)

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Personal Statement and the following Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

In the event of a high number of applicants, the sift will be based on the CV and Personal Statement only.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

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 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 : Lawrence Turburville
• Email : lawrence.turburville101@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

Air Command's Applicant Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 499kB)EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Terms and Conditions of Service 1 Opens in new window (docx, 24kB)Candidate Information updated_ Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)