Permit Controller in Devon

Location: Devonport, Plymouth, GB, PL1 4SG

Compensation: £39,607 (Rising to £41,702 upon completion of competency training) + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

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 Permit Controller at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.

The role:

• As a Permit Controller, you’ll take on a highly visible and trusted role within Devonport Royal Dockyard, controlling and authorising high‑risk activities across vessels and facilities.
• You’ll ensure work is properly planned, deconflicted and carried out safely, often in challenging environments such as confined spaces onboard Royal Navy warships.
• Day‑to‑day, you’ll complete structured training and, once signed off through Babcock’s competency framework, be appointed as an Authorised Person for confined space work.
• Your judgement, attention to detail and ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders will directly support safe operations in one of the UK’s most critical defence environments, while building valuable skills for long‑term career development.

Key responsibilities:

• Authorising and deconflicting high‑risk activities, ensuring permits and controls are applied correctly
• Reviewing risk documentation, including RAMS, COSHH assessments and safe systems of work
• Issuing, installing and monitoring atmospheric monitoring equipment
• Auditing authorised tasks and activities to confirm compliance with procedures
• Engaging with stakeholders across operations, maintenance and delivery teams

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

Essential experience:

• Experience or understanding of confined space operations and associated hazards
• Ability to meet the physical demands of working onboard vessels and in confined spaces
• Confidence reviewing safety documentation and following structured procedures
• Competence using Microsoft Office and basic digital systems
• Clear verbal and written communication skills

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:

• 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’re Babcock — a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 26,000 people working together to make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts — not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work‑life balance. We call that lifetime engineering. Join us and see how far we can go, together.

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.