Mechanical Transport Fitter Chargehand

Job summary

The MT Fitter Chargehand (Vehicle Maintenance Bay Civilian Fitter Supervisor) is responsible for the supervision, tasking and technical oversight of personnel
undertaking maintenance and rectification activities on RAF Waddington's Green and Yellow Fleet vehicles. The post holder ensures maintenance activities are conducted safely, efficiently and in accordance with regulatory requirements, whilst maintaining engineering standards, tool control, workshop housekeeping and compliance arrangements. The role acts as a key liaison between engineering staff, contractors, delivery teams and station stakeholders to ensure vehicle availability supports operational requirements.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Due to the nature of the role, part time and job share arrangements may be considered, subject to the requirement that full-time hours are fully covered (or business needs are met).

Job description

Reporting to
Officer Commanding Ground Engineering Flight (functional responsibility).
Directly managed by the Mechanical Trade Manager (MTM).
Reporting Officer: Officer Commanding Engineering Support Squadron.

Purpose of the Role
To supervise and coordinate maintenance, inspection and repair activities within the Vehicle Maintenance Bay (VMB), ensuring the safe, compliant and efficient delivery of vehicle engineering support for RAF Waddington operational activities.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Supervision
Supervise and task civilian and military vehicle fitters.
Allocate maintenance and rectification activities to maximise productivity and vehicle availability.
Monitor standards of workmanship and compliance across the Vehicle Maintenance Bay.
Provide day-to-day technical guidance and support to engineering personnel.

Vehicle Maintenance Management
Oversee scheduled maintenance and rectification of Green and Yellow Fleet vehicles.
Undertake maintenance activities in accordance with Defence and manufacturer maintenance standards.
Ensure all maintenance documentation is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
Monitor vehicle serviceability and prioritise repairs to support operational outputs.

Engineering Governance and Assurance
Ensure compliance with engineering procedures, AESOs and local orders.
Enforce tool control procedures and engineering best practice.
Monitor quality standards within the maintenance environment.
Support continuous improvement and engineering assurance activities.

Stakeholder Management
Liaise with contractors, Integrated Project Teams (IPTs), Role Office, ASE Controller and other support organisations.
Coordinate maintenance activity with internal and external stakeholders.
Support management reporting and vehicle availability planning.

Workshop Management
Ensure high standards of housekeeping and workshop husbandry.
Maintain safe working environments and ensure correct use of PPE.
Act as Deputy FLAP Custodian and ensure compliant storage, handling and accountability of fuels, lubricants and associated products.
Support SHEF, QA, Continuous Improvement, C-Stores and associated engineering governance activities.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

Experience

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Significant experience in vehicle maintenance, mechanical engineering or fleet engineering activities.
• Experience supervising technical staff within a workshop, engineering or maintenance environment.
• Experience planning, allocating and overseeing maintenance work programmes.
• Experience operating within a regulated engineering or safety-critical environment.
• Experience maintaining engineering records and technical documentation.
• Experience working with contractors and external stakeholders.

Technical / Professional Skills
Applicants must demonstrate:

• Knowledge of vehicle maintenance and fault rectification principles.
• Knowledge of engineering compliance, quality assurance and maintenance governance.
• Understanding of workshop safety management and risk assessment processes.
• Understanding of FLAP management, COSHH and environmental requirements.
• Ability to interpret technical publications, maintenance instructions and engineering policy.

Qualifications

Desirable

• Level 3 qualification (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Vehicle Maintenance or Light/Heavy Vehicle Technology.
• Recognised apprenticeship or equivalent professional experience.
• IRTEC or equivalent vehicle engineering accreditation.
• IOSH Managing Safely.
• Supervisory or team leadership qualification.
• Experience within MOD, military or defence engineering environments.

Success Profile Behaviours

Leadership
Effective indicators:

• Provides clear direction and supervision to technical teams.
• Creates a positive and inclusive working environment.
• Supports development and performance of engineering personnel.
• Maintains high standards of professionalism and accountability.

Managing a Quality Service

Effective indicators:

• Ensures maintenance outputs meet required standards.
• Focuses on customer and operational requirements.
• Identifies opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Maintains compliance with engineering governance requirements.

Delivering at Pace
Effective indicators:

• Prioritises work effectively to meet operational deadlines.
• Maintains quality and safety under pressure.
• Balances competing maintenance demands.
• Monitors progress and addresses delays promptly.

Making Effective Decisions
Effective indicators:

• Uses engineering evidence to make sound decisions.
• Assesses risks and determines appropriate actions.
• Escalates issues where necessary.
• Considers operational impact when prioritising maintenance activity.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
Leadership
Making Effective Decisions

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,572 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%

Please note:

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.

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.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths 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 (750 words).

At sift, candidates will be assessed against their CV and Statement of suitability.

At interview, candidates will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical Assessment:

You will complete a practical or scenario-based assessment designed to evaluate:

• Vehicle maintenance knowledge.
• Workshop supervision capability.
• Safety and engineering compliance awareness.
• Prioritisation of maintenance activities.
• Technical decision-making and fault diagnosis.

Further information:

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

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.

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.

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 : Flt Lt Noah Turner
• Email : Noah.Turner135@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)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB)Defence Internal Brief Notice Opens in new window (docx, 39kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)