Head of Establishment

Defence Equipment & Support; Arrochar; On-site; GBP 62,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental defence organisation in Arrochar is seeking a Head of Establishment to lead a high-performing team. This role involves overseeing operational excellence and ensuring compliance in a regulated environment. Candidates must possess senior management experience and knowledge of risk management. The position includes generous benefits, such as a substantial pension contribution and hybrid working options, making it an attractive opportunity for strategic leaders in the Defence sector.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

28.97% employer pension contribution

Annual performance-based bonus

Access to training and funded qualifications

Flexible and hybrid working options

Qualifications

• Experience of operating at a senior management level in a complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge of the operational management environment.
• Experience in leadership and developing staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop site personnel effectively.
• Manage activities ensuring safe, secure use of resources.
• Control site activities ensuring health, safety, and welfare.

Skills

Operational management

Leadership and staff development

Risk management

Occupational Safety Health and Environment

Education

Valid Full UK Driving Licence

Job description

Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support

Salary: £61,100 per annum (plus generous benefits)

Grade: Professional I

Working Pattern: Full time

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Defence Munitions Glen Douglas, Arrochar, Argyll & Bute, Scotland, G83 7AZ

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Job description

Are you ready to lead a dynamic, high-performing team within Defence? Join us at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) in this challenging and rewarding opportunity to make a significant impact on our mission to protect and defend our Armed Forces. This is one of two Head of Establishment roles we are currently recruiting for, one based in DM Beith and one based in DM Glen Douglas.

The Head of Establishment role is a key strategic and operational role in which you will hold primary responsibility and accountability for the safe running of the establishment, operating in a highly regulated and potentially high risk environment.

You will play a vital role in leading and overseeing strategic plans, ensuring safety processes, and providing operational support vital to Defence outputs. Defence Munitions is at the forefront of safeguarding the supply, storage, maintenance, and disposal of munitions. You’ll drive operational excellence in fast-paced environments, foster continuous improvement, and deliver positive results. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders across the Military, Defence Regulation, and wider teams within DE&S to ensure compliance and the successful delivery of strategic plans.

Please note that travel to other Defence Munitions and MoD sites across the UK will be expected dependent on organisational requirements. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 100% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face‑to‑face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work‑life balance and business need.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead and develop site personnel and utilise resources effectively to deliver operational outputs and requirements in a timely manner.
• Lead, direct, manage and control all activities carried out within specified areas of control in a manner that ensures the safe, secure, efficient, effective, and economical use of all resources.
• Manage, Receive, Store, Maintain and Issue the range of General Munitions, General Commodities, Equipment and Complex Weapons.
• Manage a full spectrum of stakeholders within the organisation, authorised customers, wider DE&S, and the Delivery Team community.
• Responsibility for controlling the site activities to ensure the health, safety, security and welfare of employees and any stakeholders involved.
• Serve as Delivery Duty Holder with responsibility for the safe operation of the site, systems and facilities, including authorising Safe Systems of Work, managing and providing input to Safety Assurance.
• Responsible for all senior stakeholder engagement with customers, suppliers, including DE&S, wider MoD, and Other Government Departments, to deliver operational outputs and requirements.
• Ensure safety assurance and site compliance with all relevant legislative and internal/external regulatory requirements.

Person specification

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

• Experience of operating at a senior management level in a large, highly complex organisation.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of operational management environment.
• Strong experience of leadership and staff development.
• Strong knowledge and experience of risk management application.
• Knowledge and understanding of Occupational Safety Health and Environment (OSHE) in a hazardous environments.
• Must hold a valid Full UK Driving Licence.

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

• Core Behaviour 1: Leadership
• Core Behaviour 2: Changing and Improving
• Technical Competence 1: Managing support, supplier, and customer networks – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: Making evidence-based decisions – Practitioner

Offered benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• 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.

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. 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.

Selection Process Details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

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: [e-mail].

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.

Offering at a lower level

If you’re not successful at interview, we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower‑level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.