Navy Command – 1710 Naval Air Squadron Quality Assurance Manager

Job summary

Leading the Quality Assurance team at 1710 Naval Air Squadron is a post with meaningful responsibility. You will help assure innovative aircraft repairs and modifications, while supporting scientific and engineering advice that directly contributes to the safety, readiness and effectiveness of UK military aviation. Working alongside experienced military, engineering and scientific specialists, you will build valuable leadership, quality management and professional skills in a unique Defence environment.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Do you have a background in quality assurance and a passion for continuous improvement? Could you bring your quality assurance expertise to our diverse team to support the UK Armed Forces? If so, 1710 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) wants to hear from you!

With a heritage dating back to the 1930’s and based in Portsmouth Dockyard, 1710 NAS is a mixed Civil Service and Military team of technical specialists from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, that uses scientific and engineering reasoning to overcome UK MOD aircraft operational issues to recover, sustain and enhance aviation and general military capability.

We are looking for an individual with a sound understanding of the principles of quality assurance and continuous improvement This is an excellent opportunity to develop your leadership and quality management career in a distinctive Defence environment. You will lead a small, supportive team of military and Civil Service colleagues and take ownership of a Quality Management System covering activities ranging from engineering standards and innovative aircraft repairs to specialist materials testing.

You will have genuine influence, providing trusted quality advice to the 1710 NAS Management Board and helping ensure that our work consistently meets the high standards required across UK Defence. This will include planning the annual audit schedule, writing and reviewing audits, and engaging with the relevant external authorities necessary to maintain 1710 NAS’ Military Aviation Authority (MAA) Design Approved Organisation Scheme (DAOS) accreditation.

The role also offers variety beyond the office, with occasional travel to UK locations and opportunities to attend conferences and visit external partners. These experiences can support your continuing professional development, broaden your professional network and help you build valuable leadership, auditing and stakeholder-management skills.

Travel to satellite locations within the UK are occasionally necessary. Attendance at conferences and on visits to external partners could also be a part of your role if desired for your continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

As the Quality Assurance Manager within our team, you will be responsible for:

• Managing a small team (2 Civil Servants and one Royal Navy), to ensure that the 1710 NAS QMS meets the requirements of the ISO 9001, ISO 17025 (test laboratories), MAA DAOS and BRd 763 (Naval Aviation Quality Manual) quality standards.
• Act as a Lead Auditor, managing the internal audit programme, carrying out internal audits (as required – the Squadron has a number of trained auditors) and coordinating improvement activities.
• Analysing and presenting quality management data.
• Advise the Management Board on matters affecting quality.

You'll report directly to the Quality System Owner who will support and guide you in your training and professional development within the team.

Person specification

Person specification

Your skills will be invaluable and will include:

• Sound knowledge of the principles of quality management
• Ideally, previous experience of quality assurance and auditing Strong IT skills
• Knowledge of ISO 9001:2015, the Defence Air Environment (DAE) and its regulatory framework would be beneficial, as is knowledge of the ISO 17025:2017 standard.

Qualifications

With strong English and Maths skills we're seeking applicants with relevant quality management knowledge and ideally, those who hold an ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor qualification.

You should also have a flexible, adaptable and inquisitive approach to work

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• From MOD Managing Quality Framework)MQ 2.2 - Quality Thinking.
• MQ 5.2 - Evaluation of Measures and Results.

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 (opens in a new window).

We'll provide a great range of benefits including:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Personal & professional development including working towards Chartership and accreditation support.
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to a confidential, professional support service
• Discount schemes
• Bicycle / season-ticket loans
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)"Excellent learning and development
• Onsite gym
• Flexible working
• Onsite parking

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.

You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact.

As part of Defence Reform, Navy Command continues to review and evolve its Target Operating Model to support more agile ways of working. In this context, the role and responsibilities of this role may develop over time to reflect changing business priorities and opportunities.

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.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Applications will be assessed following the closing date and if successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to interview.

At Sift, you will be assessed against the following;

• Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history, qualification details and previous skills and experience.
• Candidates will be asked to provide a personal statement (750 words) that sets out how you would apply your skills and experience to meet the essential requirements for the role."

Interviews will be a blend of Behaviour, Technical Skills and Experience type questions. Interviews will take place at 1710 Naval Air Squadron, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth. Candidates will be assessed against the following behaviours and technical skills.

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Technical Skills (From MOD Managing Quality Framework)

• MQ 2.2 - Quality Thinking. Looks across business functions and hierarchies to promote a holistic view of the organisation and its Quality requirements. Promotes a culture of decision-making based on factual evidence and the measurement of performance.
• MQ 5.2 - Evaluation of Measures and Results. Facilitates the development and use of appropriate measures of operational performance and product/service quality across the organisation to ensure fact-based decision making. Helps establish priorities for change.

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 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 : Dr Matt Mishon
• Email : matt.mishon145@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

20260413 - Navy Command Candidate Application Guide-O Opens in new window (pdf, 1595kB)Navy Candidate Attraction Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 7954kB)Managing_Quality Functional Competences Opens in new window (pdf, 294kB)Document in 26-06 Defence Internal Brief notice for inclusion of all adverts and issued alongside Posting Notices_O Opens in new window (docx, 25kB)