MODSAP SHEMS Advisor

Job summary

The MOD Saudi Armed Forces Projects (MODSAP) is a unique and exciting place to work. It forms a crucial part of the longstanding strategic defence relationship between the UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Our defence, security and prosperity interests in KSA remain substantial. MODSAP delivers a large, exciting and complex programme of work, through a team spread across the UK and multiple locations in Saudi Arabia.

The UK has a longstanding bilateral relationship with KSA which accounts for over a third of all defence exports from the UK; MODSAP play a key role overseeing delivery of services worth significant income to the UK economy.

The SHEMS Advisor will be joining MODSAP at a critical point within the UK-Saudi relationship; the Saudi authorities are undertaking an unprecedented programme of societal reforms, while facing continuing challenges to regional and national security.

Consequently, the country faces strategic challenges as it seeks to develop its industrial and defence capabilities against a backdrop of an unstable region and increasing external scrutiny of its decisions and behaviours.

MODSAP is looking for a pro-active team member with a passionate interest in Health and Safety who will be responsible for supporting development and embedding a robust culture of safety, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance across multiple busy and complex establishments. You will work closely with military personnel, civilian staff, contractors and external agencies to ensure that safety and environmental excellence remains at the heart of everything we do.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Please note that this is a London-based position that requires a minimum of 60% attendance in office.

Job description

This position sits at the heart of the Policy and Strategy team within the Ministry of Defence Saudi Arabia Project (MODSAP). As MODSAP’s Health and Safety lead, you will be responsible for maintaining and continuously improving our Health and Safety Management System across all areas of the organisation—both in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

Acting as the MODSAP organisational lead for Safety, Health and Environmental Management (SHEM), the post holder will provide strategic coordination, professional oversight and subject matter expertise across all MODSAP locations. The post holder is responsible for ensuring that a robust, proportionate and effective SHEMS framework is implemented and maintained through a network of SHEMS Area Representatives, embedding a strong safety-first culture across all staff, contractors and stakeholders operating on MODSAP sites in the UK and KSA.

The role will require regular travel to MODSAP outstations across Saudi Arabia.

The post holder operates at organisational level, providing coordination and assurance rather than just routine local delivery, which is undertaken by designated SHEMS Area Representatives.

Responsibilities include:

Health and Safety Governance and Assurance

• Provide organisational assurance to the Head of Policy and Strategy that MODSAP’s statutory and delegated Health and Safety duties of care are being effectively discharged, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
• Establish, maintain and oversee SHEMS policies, processes and governance arrangements, ensuring consistent application across all MODSAP locations through SHEMS Area Representatives.
• Manage non-conformance identified during Health and Safety Audits and Inspections within MODSAP. Working closely with DD Pillar Heads and Senior Team Representatives to develop and agree suitable mitigation activity. Provide progress reports on a regular basis, recording issues/risks and escalation through the Senior Leadership Team when required.

Leadership and Coordination of SHEMS Area Representatives

• Lead, coordinate and support a network of SHEMS Area Representatives, providing professional direction, guidance and oversight to ensure local SHEMS activities align with organisational policy and statutory requirements.
• Act as the primary escalation point for SHEMS issues arising from Area Representatives, ensuring risks, non-compliance and emerging issues are appropriately managed and reported.

Engagement with HS&EP and External Assurance Functions

• Work collaboratively with the National Armaments Directorate Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HS&EP) function to plan, coordinate and support audits, inspections and assurance activities.
• Ensure findings, non-conformance and recommendations are tracked, addressed and escalated as required through SHEMS trackers, MODSAP Command Board Risk Reviews and MODSAP Management Board meetings.

SHEMS Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Maintain accurate, timely and reliable SHEMS performance data on the SHEMS dashboard, ensuring contributions from Area Representatives are quality assured.
• Chair and coordinate monthly MODSAP SHEMS meetings with Senior Team Representatives, driving continuous improvement and organisational learning.

Risk Management

• Oversee the development, coordination and maintenance of SHEM risk assessments and the SHEM risk register, ensuring clear ownership by risk owners and effective mitigation planning.
• Provide professional advice and challenge to managers and Area Representatives on risk control measures and residual risk acceptance.

Environmental and Fire Safety Management

• Ensure organisational compliance with statutory environmental requirements and MOD environmental policy, coordinating reporting and issue management through the MODSAP SHEMS Portal.
• Maintain organisational oversight of fire safety arrangements, including the Fire Safety Diary, and coordinate fire and bomb evacuation drills in conjunction with Area Representatives and Facilities Management.

Incident Management and Investigation

• Coordinate the investigation and reporting of SHEMS incidents, accidents, near misses and safety breaches, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and timely implementation of corrective actions.
• Identify trends and systemic issues and provide evidence-based recommendations to senior management.

Advice, Support and Representation

• Provide professional SHEMS advice and support to the SEO Business Requirements and Head of Establishment, contributing to decision-making and risk-based prioritisation.
• Represent MODSAP at relevant internal and external SHEMS forums, meetings and working groups as required.

Line Management

• Line management of two EO Facilities Managers. One based in the UK and one in Saudi Arabia

Person specification

Applicants are required to have or be prepared to work towards a minimum of a NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety and demonstrate an interest and relevant experience in Health and Safety management or a closely related discipline.

The successful applicant will ideally have an understanding of the Health and Safety aspects of building management and should be proficient in using Microsoft Office applications.

• Demonstrable experience of coordinating and overseeing Safety, Health and Environmental Management (SHEM) activity within a complex organisation, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Experience of providing professional advice, assurance and challenge to senior stakeholders on SHEM risks, controls and performance.
• Proven experience of working through networks or nominated representatives (e.g. local SHEMS/SHEF representatives), providing direction, oversight and quality assurance rather than direct local delivery.
• Experience of preparing, maintaining and reporting SHEMS performance data, risk registers, and assurance documentation for senior governance forums.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

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

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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, Strengths and Experience.

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 also be required to provide a Personal Statement of 500 words. The personal statement should provide evidence of how you have met the behaviours and technical competences listed.

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

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

In the event of a high volume of applications we will sift applicants against the CV and the Personal Statement.

At Interview: you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

You will also be asked two skilled based questions (strength based) at interview. These will be taken from the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.

If selected for interview these will be held online.

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

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 : David Rees
• Email : David.Rees128@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

Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)