Range Controller

Job summary

The Range at Porton Down comprises approximately 7,000 acres of land and infrastructure supporting a diverse range of Defence Test and Evaluation activities. The Range Control function acts as the central coordination hub for range operations, managing access, movements and communications to ensure activities are conducted safely, efficiently and in accordance with authorised procedures.

As a Range Controller, you will operate from the Range Control facility, providing real-time coordination and communication support to a wide range of military, scientific, technical and contractor personnel using the Range. Working in a busy and dynamic operational environment, you will be responsible for monitoring range activities, controlling access, maintaining situational awareness and ensuring effective communication between range users and operational teams.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

You will play a key role in supporting the safe and effective operation of the Porton Down ranges, controlling access to range trial areas and ensuring all activities are conducted in accordance with approved procedures and safety requirements. Working within a busy Range Control environment, you will maintain awareness of ongoing range activities, supporting the coordination of personnel, vehicles and operations to enable the safe delivery of trials and testing.

You will operate and monitor radio communication systems, maintaining effective communication with range users and colleagues to support day-to-day range operations. In addition, you will provide safety briefings to range users, ensuring they understand relevant regulations, hazards and local rules before entering the range. Through a proactive approach to safety, communication and teamwork, you will help maintain a safe and controlled environment for all range activities.

For more information on the job responsibilities, please see the job profile attached below

Person specification

You will be able to demonstrate effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey information clearly and accurately to a wide range of customers, colleagues and stakeholders. You will hold a full UK Category B driving licence and have good attention to detail, enabling you to maintain accurate records and documentation. You will be confident using basic IT systems, including Microsoft Office applications, and able to follow established procedures, instructions and safe systems of work to support operational activities.

You will be able to demonstrate experience gained within a customer-facing, administrative, operational support or team-based environment, where accuracy, reliability and professionalism are essential. You will have experience maintaining records, following established processes and working collaboratively as part of a team to achieve shared objectives. In addition, you will be able to manage your own workload, prioritise routine tasks effectively and communicate confidently with colleagues, customers and stakeholders through a variety of channels, including telephone, radio and face-to-face interactions. You will also be able to remain calm and professional when working under pressure, adapting to changing priorities while maintaining a high standard of service and support.

For more information on the job profile, see the job profile attached below

Important Information:

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Licences

Full UK driving licence

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,039, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £8,122 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).

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours (e.g. working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

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.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

At the application stage, we will assess your submitted application against the essential criteria set out in the job profile.

Sifting will take place week commencing 14th December with interviews to held face to face at Dstl Porton Down from the 4th January.

Your interview will consist of behavioural and technical competency-based questions.

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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 : Dstl Recruitment team
• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.

Attachments

20260609_Range Controller lvl 3_FINAL-KP_O_V3 Opens in new window (pdf, 195kB)Dstl Candidate Pack - Enabling Opens in new window (pdf, 3101kB)