Senior Permit Controller

Senior Permit Controller

Full-Time 45692 - 45692 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Babcock International

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead safe operations and manage a team of Permit Controllers at Devonport Royal Dockyard.
  • Company: Join Babcock, a leader in creating a safe and secure world.
  • Benefits: Generous holiday allowance, matched pension scheme, and access to health services.
  • Other info: Inclusive culture with flexible working options and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on safety standards for the UK's naval capability.
  • Qualifications: Experience in high-risk activities and strong leadership skills required.

The predicted salary is between 45692 - 45692 £ per year.

Location: Plymouth, Devon

Compensation: £45,692 + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Lead safe operations at the heart of the UK's naval capability. At Babcock we're working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Senior Permit Controller at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.

The role:

  • As a Senior Permit Controller, you'll take a leadership role within the Permit to Work function, managing a team of Permit Controllers and acting as the focal point for confined space activities across the dockyard.
  • You'll ensure that high risk work is properly planned, authorised and monitored, enabling safe delivery of operations onboard Royal Navy warships and across site infrastructure.
  • Day-to-day, you'll balance operational demands with robust safety governance, manage Authorised Person (Confined Space) competence and influence stakeholders across multiple disciplines.
  • Alongside day to day leadership, you'll continue to operate as an Appointed Person for confined space work, keeping your technical credibility strong while shaping safety standards across the site.

Key responsibilities:

  • Leading and managing a team of Permit Controllers, ensuring consistent application of permit processes.
  • Acting as the focal point for confined space activities, maintaining compliance with policies and procedures.
  • Authorising and deconflicting high risk work, ensuring safe systems of work are in place.
  • Managing Authorised Person training and competency records, including confined space appointments.
  • Engaging with stakeholders, providing advice, assurance and operational updates.

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and is based on site at Devonport Royal Dockyard.

Essential experience:

  • Proven experience controlling or authorising high risk activities in a safety critical environment.
  • Strong understanding of confined space operations and associated hazards.
  • Experience managing or supervising teams in an operational setting.
  • Experience reviewing RAMS, COSHH assessments and safe systems of work.
  • Confident communicator, able to influence stakeholders at all levels.

Qualifications:

  • GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent) in Maths and English.
  • Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) security clearance for this role.

What we offer:

  • Generous holiday allowance.
  • Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance.
  • Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+.
  • Employee shopping savings portal.
  • Payment of Professional Fees.
  • Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave.
  • Holiday Trading allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement.
  • 'Be Kind Day' enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email with the subject header 'Reasonable adjustments requirement'. We're committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone's free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working - please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date: 15/05/2026

Senior Permit Controller employer: Babcock International

At Babcock, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises safety and employee well-being. As a Senior Permit Controller at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site, you will benefit from generous holiday allowances, a matched contribution pension scheme, and opportunities for professional development, all while contributing to the vital operations of the UK's naval capability. Our commitment to inclusivity and flexible working arrangements ensures that every team member can thrive in their role.
Babcock International

Contact Detail:

Babcock International Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Permit Controller

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those who work at Babcock or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your knowledge of confined space operations and safety protocols. We want you to show off your expertise and confidence when discussing high-risk activities!

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your communication skills! As a Senior Permit Controller, you'll need to influence stakeholders at all levels. Role-play with a friend or use online resources to refine your pitch.

✨Tip Number 4

Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Permit Controller

Leadership Skills
Permit to Work Management
Confined Space Operations
Safety Governance
High Risk Activity Authorisation
Team Management
Stakeholder Engagement
Communication Skills
Risk Assessment Review
COSHH Assessments
Operational Planning
Technical Credibility
Influencing Skills
Safety Standards Development

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Permit Controller role. Highlight your experience with high-risk activities and confined space operations, as these are key to the job. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the role and how your leadership experience can benefit our team. Keep it engaging and relevant to the job description.

Showcase Your Communication Skills: As a Senior Permit Controller, you'll need to influence stakeholders at all levels. Make sure your application reflects your strong communication skills. We love seeing examples of how you've effectively engaged with others in past roles.

Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Babcock. We can't wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Babcock International

✨Know Your Safety Standards

Make sure you brush up on the safety standards and procedures relevant to confined space operations. Being able to discuss specific regulations and how they apply to high-risk activities will show that you're not just familiar with the role, but that you take safety seriously.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Think about times when you had to influence stakeholders or resolve conflicts. This will demonstrate your ability to lead a team of Permit Controllers effectively.

✨Understand the Role's Technical Aspects

Familiarise yourself with the technical aspects of the Senior Permit Controller position. Be ready to discuss your experience with reviewing RAMS and COSHH assessments, as well as your approach to ensuring compliance with safety policies.

✨Engage with Real Scenarios

Be prepared to discuss real-life scenarios where you had to authorise high-risk work or manage confined space activities. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, showcasing your problem-solving skills and decision-making process.

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