Health and Safety Advisor

On behalf of the MOD, we are looking for a Health and Safety Advisor (Inside IR35) for a 6 month contract based in Barrow-in-Furness (3 days per week onsite).

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is a central government department with a mission to protect our country and provide the ultimate guarantee of its security and independence, as well as helping to protect its values and interests abroad. The MOD is one of the biggest public procurement organisations in Europe and the single largest customer for UK industry. It currently manages approximately £20 billion of spend on capital investments in equipment and infrastructure every year. Over the next decade, the MOD is committed to spending over £190 billion on equipment and support.

The MOD’s customers include both the armed forces and national security agencies, and it has a diverse range of requirements, including military fighting vehicles, education services, nuclear submarines, and facilities management. The MOD’s aim is to provide its armed forces with the best capabilities to enable them to protect the UK’s security and advance national interests, both now and in the long term. To do this, the MOD has an annual budget of almost £53 billion and a workforce comprising 197,000 people, of which 54,000 are civilians working for the UK MOD.

SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this role; as a minimum, you must be willing and eligible to undergo checks. Please note, due to the exceptional requirements of this position (short-term nature of this role and speed at which we require a postholder in situ), preference may be given to candidates who meet all of the essential criteria and hold active security clearance.

• Leading investigations, audits, and assurance reviews, and identifying key learning points to drive continuous improvement.
• Acting as an escalation point for H&S advice and guidance across the business.
• Managing elements of embedding OHS legislation and regulations across the SDA.
• Supporting the development and maintenance of policy and Safety and Environmental Management Systems, while leading on specific aspects of policy management and maintenance.
• Overseeing the maintenance and development of appropriate KPIs and BPIs, dashboard reporting, and risk registers.
• Managing corporate communications on key H&S messages to ensure effective delivery.
• Providing insightful advice on the performance review of the site’s Memorandum of Understanding and delivering metrics for the site’s Safety, Health, and Environmental Committee.

The Health & Safety (H&S) Adviser supports the OHSE specialism by leading H&S investigations, conducting reviews, and reporting. The H&S Adviser is responsible for embedding H&S legislation, regulations, and key H&S communications across the business. The ideal candidate will have on-site H&S experience in a highly regulated environment, be comfortable liaising with on-site industry partners, and ensure that H&S obligations are met. Further responsibilities within the role include liaising with business stakeholders to develop H&S systems and procedures, communicating with all MoD departments across the shipyard, and guiding teams on H&S matters. The role also involves ensuring that workplace risks are controlled and that the organisation successfully meets safety standards. Additional duties include monitoring, recording, and reporting against key performance indicators (KPIs) for internal hazard safety through various key stakeholder groups, as well as acting as a subject matter expert for internal hazard safety at design review meetings.

• NEBOSH Certificate

Disability Confident: As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, the MOD guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply.

Armed Forces Covenant: The MOD guarantees to interview veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses or partners, who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.