Health and Safety Assurance Manager in Bristol

Are you an experienced Health, Safety, and Environmental Assurance professional with expertise in high-risk operational environments? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join the Defence Munitions (DM) Safety Assurance team at DE&S, where you’ll play a key role in delivering assurance activities across multiple sites throughout the UK.

As a key member of the central DM Safety Assurance team, you will take the lead in ensuring that safety and environmental arrangements across multiple sites operate effectively to protect both people and the environment. Through robust audit and assurance activities, you will ensure compliance with all legislative and departmental requirements. In addition, you will drive the continuous development and improvement of our Safety and Environmental Management Systems, while leading and inspiring a dedicated team committed to these objectives. You will provide timely, professional, and effective safety advice and assurance on all pan-DM activities, including explosives storage, processing, and movements.

We actively support flexible working arrangements. While on-site presence (approximately 50%–60%) is essential to maximise the benefits of face‑to‑face collaboration, we also offer flexible working hours to promote a healthy work‑life balance. Please note: This role requires travel to multiple Defence Munitions sites across the UK.

• Defence Munitions Beith, Beith, Ayrshire KA15 1JT
• Defence Munitions Gosport, Gosport, Hampshire PO13 0AH
• Defence Munitions Kineton, Kineton, Warwickshire CV47 2UD
• Defence Munitions Longtown, Carlisle, Cumbria CA6 5LX
• Defence Munitions Glen Douglas, Arrochar, Argyll & Bute, Scotland, G83 7AZ
• Defence Munitions Crombie, Ordnance Road, Crombie, Dunfermline, KY12 8LA
• Defence Munitions Plymouth, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth PL5 2TQ

Transportation will be provided as needed. Initially, you may be required to attend more frequently to familiarise yourself with the sites, the team, and your responsibilities.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the Occupational Health Safety and Environment (OSHE) assurance team, fostering a strong safety culture and continuous improvement ethos.
• Provide safety assurance and advice to senior management.
• Conduct audits and assurance activities across multiple DM sites, identifying key learning points and communicating outcomes.
• Lead accident prevention, reporting, trend analysis, implementing lessons learned and best practices across multiple DM sites.
• Collaborate and engage with multiple stakeholders both within DM and wider DE&S.
• Manage corporate communications on key H&S messages, ensuring effective delivery.

Person specification:

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Relevant work experience across a similar role in a high hazard industry which includes being able to demonstrate experience of leading assurance activities.
• Evidence of strong leadership and communication skills as well as managing a team across multiple locations.
• NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent Level 5 / 6 qualification.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Communicating and Influencing – CSBC3
• Core Behaviour 2: Leadership– CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: Incident Reporting and Investigation – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: Audit and Assurance (OHSEP) – Practitioner

Benefits:

Alongside your salary of £44,100, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,775 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market‑leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance‑based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So, whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family‑friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information:

Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles – Civil Service Commission

Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack

Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions

Civil Service Code: The Code – Civil Service Commission

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Disability Confident:

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Conflicts of Interest:

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.

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2
• 3rd: Technical Competencies
• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criterion, and/or an additional assessment.

Things you need to know:

Selection process details:

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

• Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
• Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
• Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints – Civil Service Commission.

Ready to join us as a Health and Safety Assurance Manager? Apply now!