Army - Health & Safety Advisor

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs over 12,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff.

Joint Aviation Command (JAC) sits within Army Top Level Budget (TLB) but is a Tri-Service organisation which operates worldwide and has multiple rotary wing aircraft and Uncrewed Aerial Systems. This is a diverse environment that may allow the successful incumbent to visit JAC units around the UK and overseas. The Safety and Assurance team comprises a mix of Regular service, full-time and part-time Reserve service military personnel from the Royal Navy, RAF and Army and civil servants covering a number of specialisms. You will be working alongside the Air Safety team and will receive some Air Safety training.

Ground Safety is the JAC HQ point of contact for all H&S and Environmental Protection (EP) for Joint Aviation Command units. The post requires the Health & Safety Advisor to assimilate higher-level H&S and EP information and issue associated direction and guidance to JAC units. The post holder will also field H&S and EP inquiries from JAC units when they require assistance - these can be wide-ranging and mean the role is diverse and interesting.

The Health & Safety Advisor role combines working from home opportunities with periodic time spent at Army HQ Andover and visits to Joint Aviation Command (JAC) units in the south of the country. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

The Health & Safety Advisor role is suited to an experienced Health and Safety manager. The position is relatively autonomous but is well supported by both the military line manager and the Army Safety Group in Army HQ.

• To provide the staff lead for policy, direction and implementation of Joint Aviation Command H&S and Environmental Safety activity.
• Provide the staff lead for JAC compliance with H&S law and the letter and spirit of the duties set out in ACSO 1200 (The Army's Safety and Environmental Management System) and other services equivalent documents.
• Remain current with developments to H&S legislation, policies and issues.
• Provide proactive advice, guidance and support to JAC units on exercise, operations and national taskings.
• Update and maintain the JAC Ground Safety Management Plan (SHEF) and SHEF Command Instructions.
• Maintain the JAC Ground Safety Risk Register and regularly review risks and opportunities for further mitigation.
• Work with other departments within JAC to deliver safety improvements to ground support, infrastructure, processes and equipment.
• Monitor and track significant Risk to Life (RtL) and Significant Known Activity Risks (SKAR) using accident, incident and near miss data to confirm and assure that mitigations are effective, and the risk remains ALARP and Tolerable.
• Ensure timely and appropriate investigation and staffing of significant JAC Ground Health, Safety, Environmental and Fire, incident, accident and near miss events. Promulgate recommendations from Organisational Learning reports.
• Proactively report, track, promulgate and act upon recommendations and lessons learned from reports and returns.
• To undertake periodic assurance activity of JAC units to ensure they are complying with legislation and orders.
• Twice a year you will be required to arrange a H&S and EP forum with the JAC units to share information and best practice.
• You will have a military Warrant Officer responsible for Fire Safety working for you, but this will not require Appraisal reporting responsibilities.

This role may undertake a work routine balanced between working from home and some time spent in the JAC HQ at Andover. The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

• 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.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder.

The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

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 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.

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 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 us.

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.

• NEBOSH Level 3 General or equivalent - must at least have the certificate & work towards the Diploma.
• Evidence of leadership and communication skills.
• Able to clearly demonstrate experience in changing and improving processes.
• Evidence of effective decision making.
• Evidence of undertaking H&S Assurance.

• Experience of working within Aviation is desirable.
• Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.
• ISO 45001 or equivalent.
• NEBOSH Environmental or equivalent.
• Membership of relevant professional body (IOSH/IEMA).

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Personal statement - Please use up to 750 words demonstrating suitability and your relevant skills in line with the essential skills listed on this advert.
• CV

Behaviours:

• Changing & Improving
• Communicating & Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Applications will be sifted using the Behaviours, CV, Technical Test, and Personal Statement that have been chosen for this campaign, but in the event of there being a high number of applications, a sift will be conducted on the lead behaviour 'Communicating & Influencing' only.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Technical Test - You will be assessed against x2 technical skills at interview.
• The ability to identify hazards, undertake risk assessments and prioritise the need for action.
• Incidents, Reporting and Investigations.

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.