Navy - Head of Acoustics and Vibration

Job summary

If you would like to work within a small, multi-disciplinary team, conducting varied and valued acoustics and vibration work, then this post could be for you. The vacancy is within the Environmental Medicine and Science Division, a team of scientists, engineers and medical professionals providing the Royal Navy (RN) and wider Ministry of Defence (MOD) with occupational health, safety and environmental medicine advice.

A large part of the work involves workplace surveys to assess exposure to noise and vibration. Recent examples include noise from weapons or engines onboard RN ships or from aircraft and vibration from RN helicopters or small boats. These surveys provide assurance and advice to those duty holders responsible for monitoring safe working practices and legal compliance and hence the role is critical to the safe operations of the RN.

Together with a small team of three, you will be responsible for surveys, training in noise monitoring, providing expert advice and working with others to monitor and improve safety policy and procedures. The job requires you to be physically fit as the surveys will require embarkation onboard ships, small boats and aircraft, and frequent travel in the UK and occasionally abroad. The post would suit someone seeking to apply their knowledge of acoustics and vibration in a challenging but exciting work environment.

The Institute of Naval Medicine (INM) is the Royal Navy's Centre of Excellence, bringing together scientists and medical professionals to improve the health of the UK Armed Forces. The unique opportunities offered within are varied, challenging and exciting and support Navy Command's role to generate and operate forces for today and to ensure we are ready for tomorrow by developing and delivering the Navy of the future.

In Navy Command, our civil servants work alongside their military colleagues in jobs that matter; jobs which often have a direct impact on the quality of the operational capabilities we deliver. Roles can offer great job satisfaction and there are many opportunities to develop and progress both within the Department and across the wider Civil Service. Navy Command provides an open, flexible, and inclusive work environment where civil servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and challenging jobs in areas ranging from: finance; legal services; personnel and HR; project planning and managing contracts, to media and communications.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The main tasks include:

1. Providing a specialist advisory service to MOD on the effects of noise and vibration on humans and assisting in the formulation of MOD policy on matters related to them.
2. Co-ordinating and implementing training courses for competent persons responsible for carrying out basic noise surveys in accordance with current MOD policy.
3. Investigating and assessing noise and/or vibration exposures in cases where the assessment requires expertise or resources beyond those available to local occupational health or other staff in establishments.
4. Advising on the quality assurance of noise and vibration measurements made for MOD which assess human exposure.
5. Formulating and performing in-house and extra-mural research where appropriate, including the development of measurement and assessment procedures.
6. Ensuring that all work of the acoustics and vibration section is carried out in accordance with the appropriate health and safety legislation.

Responsibilities

1. To manage the Noise Assessors’ Training Course.
2. To carry out specialist noise and vibration surveys providing robust evidence-based advice.
3. To carry out scientific research as required to further understanding on noise and/or vibration issues.
4. To represent INM at the Defence Hearing and Vibration Working Group and other committees or working groups are requested.
5. To provide line management for three staff including mentoring, responsibility for resources and expenditure and communication to the Group from the Chain of Command / Line Management as specified.

Person specification

We are seeking a full member of the Institute of Acoustics with a relevant degree and good working knowledge of the human responses to noise and vibration exposure. You will be well-versed in the principles of noise and vibration measurements and exposure controls.

Licences

This role requires frequent travel to other sites, often out of working hours and at weekends. It is essential that the incumbent can drive and has a UK driving licence.

Qualifications

It is essential that you have a relevant degree in science or engineering. A PhD or Masters qualification in noise or vibration is desirable and working towards this status will be supported.

Experience

Five years of relevant professional experience following graduation is essential.

Memberships

Membership of the Institute of Acoustics is essential.

Licences

UK Driving licence.

Qualifications

A relevant degree in science or engineering.

Memberships

Institute of Acoustics - Full member.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Building and Applying Knowledge
• Complying with Requirements and Standards
• Quality Assurance

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 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%

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV - to assess your experience - and the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills:

• Building and Applying Knowledge
• Complying with Requirements and Standards
• Quality Assurance

Applicants will be assessed according to the GSE Technical Skills at the Experienced level.

In the event of a high volume of applicants, the sift will be based on the three Technical Skills listed above and the CV only.

At Interview, you will be assessed the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills:

• Building and Applying Knowledge
• Complying with Requirements and Standards
• Quality Assurance

Interviews:

The interview will take place at the Institute of Naval Medicine, Crescent Road, Gosport, PO12 2DL from 5 May 2026.

Application forms will be sifted within one week of the vacancy closing date, with interviews to follow. Please check your Civil Service Jobs account to see if you have been invited to interview in case you are not automatically notified by email. Expenses incurred for travel to interview cannot be reimbursed.

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

Open to UK nationals only.

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 Adrian Allsopp
• Email : adrian.allsopp741@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : +44(0)303 371 7404

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 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)Navy candidate information pack Opens in new window (pdf, 2922kB)Defence Civil Servant Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Terms and Conditions of Service Opens in new window (docx, 24kB)