Safety, Health, Environment, and Fire Team Leader (SHEF) - Army

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence, Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from cyber and digital transformation, police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, psychologists, storekeepers, and policy secretariat staff to support the British Army.

Headquarters Regional Command provides support to the Army in the United Kingdom and overseas in Germany, Brunei and Nepal enabling it to function. There are a wide range of functions and professions supporting the Army and the Army Cadet Force (ACF). One such function is ensuring our workforce operates safely.

The post leads the Safety, Health, Environment and Fire (SHEF) Team, within The Support Branch of Headquarters Regional Command. As the Team Leader, you will gain and contribute valuable experience in a mixed Military and Civilian environment. The post will oversee SHEF Assurance, Risk Management and Training, not only in its delivery, but in gathering data and undertaking trend analysis. This, combined with the opportunity to lead and mentor SHEF Teams across the UK and overseas, will support the Army’s outputs and enhance its ability to operate safely.

It is an exciting time to join the world of SHEF and even more of an exciting role to be a part of as the Army enhances its Institutional Foundation. This post affords the unique opportunity to impact change to Army SHEF practice and culture through the analysis of trends and weakness, as well as the exploitation of opportunities. The SHEF team are currently embracing the movement towards digital ways of working, for which this post is well positioned to influence.

The team is dedicated to ensuring that policy owners, decision makers, and those to whom we deliver SHEF support, have the best available resources with which to operate. This is delivered through the development of self-service dashboards. The team is passionate about leading in reducing burden and promoting positive and proactive SHEF culture across the Army, making the Army safer for all.

Headquarters Regional Command supports and encourages professional development and continued access to learning and development for professionals, and to which the post holder will be supported in accessing.

Please note: There is a requirement for Overseas travel to conduct assurance activities. Successful candidates will need to be able to travel as required.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This is an outstanding and exciting multi-disciplinary role with influence right across the Army. No two days are the same and the continual evolution of SHEF policy and delivery ensures that the post will never be mundane. The reactive nature of SHEF means that situations can arise at any time during the day requiring you to have a steady mind to advise on the solution needed.

SHEF Headquarters Regional Command (HQ RC) is the subject matter authority in SHEF Assurance, Risk Management and Training. HQ RC is the delegated authority from Standing Joint Command (SJC) in the coordination and delivery of the Army’s Safety and Environmental Management System Audit (ASEMSA) regime across the Regular, Reserve, and ACF this extends across the UK and overseas. We support and advise our Units and the ACF in Risk Management and Training ensuring they are prepared to deliver their planned activities.

We collaborate with other stakeholders across Defence and the Army to integrate data from across SHEF including Utilities Management and Accident Statistics. As a key player in supporting this collaborative work, this will ensure solutions are fit for purpose to support our Units and the ACF.

The HQ RC SHEF Team and SHEF Teams across the UK and Overseas will ensure you are ably supported in delivering your outputs. An opportunity for travel overseas exists to assist units under HQ RC control, supported by subject matter authorities in Host Nation (HN) legislation.

The role will have the outstanding challenge to identify strengths, weakness, and opportunities for SHEF in the overlap of HN Legislation with MOD and Army policies as well as those affecting the ACF, which is a Youth Organisation sponsored by the Army.
You would be required to facilitate and act as Secretary for the biannual RC SHEF Meetings chaired by the Chief of Staff RC. You will also support SHEF SJC and be in attendance at the SJC SHEF Meetings.

Key responsibilities:

• You will oversee the management of SHEF risks across RC, co-ordinated through the SHEF Teams across the UK and overseas.
• Direct Line Management responsibility for 2 Higher Executive Officers and functional responsibility for the 8 UK and 3 Overseas SHEF Teams.
• Develop MOD and Army SHEF policy. Provide and communicate informed and timely advice, guidance, and direction through the chain of command on SHEF matters. This includes directing SHEF Teams across the UK and overseas on SHEF Assurance, Risk Management and Training.
• Produce and review the General Officer Commanding RC SHEF Statement of Intent, Organisation and Arrangements and SHEF Delivery Plan.
• Plan and deliver the biannual RC SHEF Meetings chaired by Assistant Chief of Staff Support RC.
• Provide advice and guidance on Risk Management to Senior Staff in HQ RC and Regional Commanders across the UK and overseas.
• Attend/ visit UK Regional and Overseas SHEF Meetings as required.
• Oversee trend analysis on Audit Results, Accident Statistics and Training Delivery, advising Senior Managers in HQ RC of any emerging issues. Assurance of JMC locations in the UK and Abroad when required.

Person specification

Essential skills required:

• Full UK Driving Licence - you will be required to travel independently and not all locations are served with public transport links.
• Must hold NEBOSH Level 3 Certificate General in Occupational Health and Safety Management
• If not already held, you must be willing to obtain the following within 6 months of appointment
  • Level 6 NEBOSH Diploma Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management
  • Relevant Lead Auditor Qualification
• Highly organised and possess strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to quickly establish effective working relationships with both internal and external partners.
• Experience supporting a diverse range of individuals and able to demonstrate strong management abilities, to effectively oversee both personnel and external departments.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365.
• Excellent time management skills, with a proactive approach and the ability to prioritise tasks independently while maintaining strong attention to detail.

Desirable skills:

• Experience or familiarity with Power BI or other Power Applications.
• Interest in pursuing further professional development.

Other:

• HQ Regional Command offers reimbursement for approved professional membership fees.

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence required to travel independently - not all locations are served with public transport links.

Qualifications

NEBOSH Level 3 Certificate General in Occupational Health and Safety Management

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

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.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

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 and Experience.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Behaviours
  • Changing & Improving
  • Communicating & Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Seeing the Big Picture

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Communicating & Influencing. The remaining evidence provided at application stage will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Behaviours
  • Changing & Improving
  • Communicating & Influencing
  • Leadership
  • Seeing the Big Picture

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

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 : Paul Armstrong
• Email : Paul.Armstrong107@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

MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)