Army - Chief of Staff

Ministry of Defence; England; On-site; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental organization in the UK is seeking a Chief of Staff to lead the Army Adventurous Training Group. The role involves managing strategic operations, ensuring high-quality support, and providing leadership to the staff team. Candidates should have extensive line management experience and the ability to run multifunctional organizations efficiently. This position offers a salary of £44,590 and includes various benefits such as a competitive pension scheme and flexible working options.

Benefits

25 days paid annual leave

Highly competitive pension scheme

Access to gym and sports facilities

Personal and professional development

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in leadership and management.
• Ability to handle diverse expedition planning and training.
• Knowledge of safety and assurance governance principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead the HQ Staff team to deliver the Commanders intent.
• Deputise for Commander AATG.
• Provide rapid analysis and briefings to the Commander.
• Ensure clarity on expectations for staff and training Centres.

Skills

Extensive Line Management

Running multi-faceted organizations

Education

Formal Leadership and Management qualifications

Job description

We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuring you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face to face working, especially for new joiners, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week) and on specific occasions more than this.

About the job

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. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army.

We, at the Army Adventurous Training Group Headquarters (HQ AATG), are recruiting a Chief of Staff in a busy and exciting organisation. The Army Adventurous Training Group delivers 12,500 course places annually and assures over 900 Army expeditions every year.

HQ AATG is based in Upavon, Wiltshire and is responsible for delivering leadership and resilience training and assurance to the Armed Forces through the Joint Service Adventurous Training scheme. This is enabled through the following 10 activities: Sub Aqua Diving, Offshore Sailing, Parachuting, Paragliding, Gliding, Mountaineering, Caving, Kayaking, Canoeing, and Skiing.

The post’s focus is ensuring that HQ AATG proves high quality, efficient and effective direct support to the Commander and AATG delivery Centres to deliver the Commanders intent. The post will provide strong leadership, guidance and support to the HQ Staff and develop and maintain strong and effective relationships with a wide range of organisations and Headquarters in the Army and the other two Services.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Chief of Staff is the principal staff officer in HQ AATG. This job is pivotal to all lines of business across AATG and the Commander must be able to rely upon the jobholder to run the Group in his absence.

You will be required to develop detailed knowledge of the Joint Service Adventurous Training scheme and the application of policies that govern training delivery, risk assessment and assurance and in particular lead the second line of assurance of the Army’s Adventurous Training expedition programme.

Key responsibilities:

Leading the HQ Staff team to deliver the Commanders intent as developed through the AATG Annual Command Plan.

Deputise for Commander AATG and cover for the Deputy Chief of Staff in their absence.

Responsible for providing rapid analysis, briefings and expert advice to the Commander and the superior HQs. To achieve this you will be supported by staff teams who are focused on specific parts of the business.

Engage across all business lines of development, directing and supporting work strands to ensure that the Commander is provided with a clear and accurate picture against which to make business decisions and an effective operation.

Ensure that staff and training delivery Centres are always clear on what is expected of them and by when.

Develop and maintain a close working relationship with Centre Commanding Officers and all Defence Adventurous Training (AT) stakeholders including policy, safety, governance and assurance staff.

In depth knowledge of the application of all AT and relevant policies ensuring that AATG operates to the Safe System of Work.

Provide advice to all Army expeditions at the outset of planning and resourcing.

Driving forward continuous improvement and propose AT policy improvements.

Chair High Risk and Remote Expedition Assurance Panels.

Leading Second Line of Defence Assurance of all Army AT Expeditions.

Chair/Member of the Joint Service Adventurous Training Working Group.

Staff and Team development and line management responsibilities.

Visit training delivery locations.

Person specification

Essential skills required:

Extensive Line Management / Leadership Experience.

Ability to run a multi-faceted organisation at pace.

Desirable skills:

Experience in planning and leading expeditions and participating extensively in Adventurous Training.

A comprehensive understanding of safety and assurance governance principles.

Formal Leadership and Management qualifications would be advantageous.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Changing and Improving

Delivering at Pace

Managing a Quality Service

Seeing the Big Picture

Communicating and Influencing

Developing Self and Others

Leadership

Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Changing and Improving

Delivering at Pace

Managing a Quality Service

Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

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

Access to gym and sports facilities by joining the Civil Service Sports Club.

We truly believe in investing in our staff and we will ensure employees have the right training and coaching to enable you to deliver in a thriving environment.

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 https://www.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.

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