Directorate of Defence Safety Functional Deputy Head

UK Ministry of Defence; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the UK Ministry of Defence as the Deputy Head Function in Defence Safety. This role is pivotal in shaping safety management, leading a team to enhance safety across Defence. Engage with experts, support strategic initiatives, and ensure compliance with safety policies. Ideal for a high-performing individual ready for significant challenges.

Benefits

Civil Service pension with employer contribution of 28.97%

Flexible working options

Learning and development tailored to your role

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a senior Safety Leader.
• Experience delivering safety management systems in large organisations.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to improve safety management across Defence.
• Support the design of the Defence risk reporting framework.
• Provide assurance of the Defence Safety Management System.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder Management

Strategic Thought Leadership

Education

Level 6 Health & Safety qualification

Job description

MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London

Job Summary

Do you want to help shape Defence's approach to ensure we protect our people?

Our people are our greatest asset and, as such, we have a responsibility to keep them safe by adopting a highly engaged safety culture in order to prevent avoidable accidents, to save life and limb and preserve our fighting power. To do this, we need people with ideas, and skills to engage colleagues across the UK and a passion for supporting and empowering individuals.

We believe people’s unique experiences, view and understanding of the world provide a vital perspective to our work. We recognise that great minds do not think alike.

Our Safety vision sits at the core of everything we do. We aim to

• Eliminate fatalities whilst enhancing capability
• Minimise injury through learning
  
  

The Defence Safety Function is fundamental in supporting the department achieve its vision. We are responsible for setting the safety policy, strategy and governance framework for Defence and own the Defence Safety Management System (Defence SMS) and the underpinning safety policy. We are at the heart of safety management in Defence and provide the functional and professional lead for safety across Defence, ensuring that policy and processes remain legally compliant and centred around keeping our people, places, equipment and systems safe.

This is an exciting time to join the team and provides a real opportunity to shape the future of Safety in Defence and be ready to respond to the Strategic Defence Review.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

The Deputy Head Function role reports to the Director of Defence Safety (Dir DS) and leads a small team comprising of a wide range of roles. The team engage with a wide range of subject matter experts across the entirety of the Defence Enterprise to continually understand and improve Functional Delivery and corporate reporting across Defence.

As a member of the Directorate of Defence Safety (DDS) Senior Leadership Team, you will be required to:

• Support the design and operation of the Defence Principal risk reporting framework; engaging with the Defence organisations to review corporate safety reporting and escalation in consultation with Defence Risk and Assurance and identify opportunities for continual improvement.
• Provide 2LoD assurance of the Defence Safety Management System and produce the Safety Functional Annual Assurance Report
• Create a constant and evolving safety narrative using data and insights to ensure Senior Safety Boards have the required information to make informed decisions and understand our safety performance and risk profile.
• Support Dir DS as Head of Profession, including development of a Strategic Workforce Plan, associated Skills Framework and Cross Government Engagement.
• Work with the Defence Digital Function to continue the development of MySafety, the unified Defence wide reporting system; and improve MOD-wide Safety Management Information.
• Develop the key safety roles, responsibilities and authorities across Defence improving safety capability.
• Understand the complex policy, legislative and regulatory landscape, and provide high quality advice to senior officials on pan-defence safety issues.
• Lead and manage the Functional Delivery Team.
  
  

This is an exciting role which supports an area of strategic importance to the Department and will offer the successful candidate the opportunity to engage across the breadth of defence. You will join DDS at a time the function is making real impact on risk, digital enablers and be responsible for a growing Defence specific profession. The post would suit a very high performing individual looking for significant challenge.

The Deputy Head Function role reports to the Director of Defence Safety (Dir DS) and leads a small team comprising of a wide range of roles. The team engage with a wide range of subject matter experts across the entirety of the Defence Enterprise to continually understand and improve Functional Delivery and corporate reporting across Defence.

As a member of the Directorate of Defence Safety (DDS) Senior Leadership Team, you will be required to:

• Support the design and operation of the Defence Principal risk reporting framework; engaging with the Defence organisations to review corporate safety reporting and escalation in consultation with Defence Risk and Assurance and identify opportunities for continual improvement.
• Provide 2LoD assurance of the Defence Safety Management System and produce the Safety Functional Annual Assurance Report
• Create a constant and evolving safety narrative using data and insights to ensure Senior Safety Boards have the required information to make informed decisions and understand our safety performance and risk profile.
• Support Dir DS as Head of Profession, including development of a Strategic Workforce Plan, associated Skills Framework and Cross Government Engagement.
• Work with the Defence Digital Function to continue the development of MySafety, the unified Defence wide reporting system; and improve MOD-wide Safety Management Information.
• Develop the key safety roles, responsibilities and authorities across Defence improving safety capability.
• Understand the complex policy, legislative and regulatory landscape, and provide high quality advice to senior officials on pan-defence safety issues.
• Lead and manage the Functional Delivery Team.
  
  

This is an exciting role which supports an area of strategic importance to the Department and will offer the successful candidate the opportunity to engage across the breadth of defence. You will join DDS at a time the function is making real impact on risk, digital enablers and be responsible for a growing Defence specific profession. The post would suit a very high performing individual looking for significant challenge.

Person specification

Essential

This role is pivotal to the delivery of the Directors functional responsibility; it is important that you provide detailed evidence and examples of proven experience to bring credibility to the role. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate achievement against the following key criteria:

• Relevant professional Level 6 Health & Safety qualification and experience as a senior Safety Leader.
• Experience of delivering safety management systems and continuous improvements in large-scale and complex organisations.
• Experience of managing integrated safety risk and assurance
• Strategic thought leadership skills with the ability to handle complexity, stand firm when required, influence and inspire colleagues, and support staff through periods of uncertainty with honesty and empathy.
• Experience of delivering digital safety platforms and ability to interpret safety data to craft safety insights and create a narrative.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to build trusted, collaborative, build impartial relationships with senior leaders.
• A track record in leading diverse teams in a high tempo environment and able to demonstrate credibility in a range of technical domains.
• Excellent communication skills with strong personal impact and ability to produce high quality written material.
• SC Clearance is required, with a willingness to undergo DV.
  
  

Desirable

• An understanding of Defence, its structure, corporate governance, risk and delivery
• Strong policy and strategy skills and experience from engagement across organisational boundaries, and complex stakeholder environments with significant reputational implications and multiple legislative requirements.
  
  

Qualifications

Relevant professional Level 6 Health & Safety qualification

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
  
  

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

• Leadership
  
  

Alongside your salary of £70,540, Ministry of Defence contributes £20,435 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
  
  

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 (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

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.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

At application stage, you will be assessed against the following:

• CV
• Personal Statement - In no more than 750 words, please provide information of how you meet the criteria set out in the job description. You may wish to further include examples of how you have tackled similar tasks or demonstrated the skills outlined in the job advert.
• Leadership behaviour
  
  

When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.

At Interview, You Will Be Assessed Against The Following

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
  
  

A short presentation will also be required at interview, details of topic and length will be provided if you are invited to interview.

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: [e-mail] .

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : DDS Chief of Staff Team
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: [e-mail].