Weapon Assurance Assistant

MSSC (Marine Society & Sea Cadets); Portsmouth; Hybrid; GBP 13,000 - 14,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading maritime charity in the United Kingdom is seeking three part-time Weapon Assurance Assistants (WAA) to join their Safety Assurance Team. The candidates will be responsible for conducting firearms musters and maintaining records while ensuring all equipment is serviceable. Ideal applicants should have previous firearms security experience and be IT competent. A focus on equity, diversity, and commitment to safeguarding is crucial. This is a hybrid role with flexible working hours and various employee benefits. The closing date for applications is 25 January 2026.

Benefits

25 days annual leave pro rata

Volunteering Leave

Life assurance (4x salary)

Private medical insurance

Generous pension

Cycle to work scheme

Wellbeing portal and EAP with counselling

Employee development opportunities

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain valid Security Clearance.
• Experience of firearms security arrangements.
• Self-motivated and organised.

Responsibilities

• Conduct firearms and ammunition musters.
• Maintain records and reports with keen attention to detail.
• Facilitate issuing and receiving of firearms.

Skills

Firearms security experience

IT competence

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Weapon Assurance Assistant (WAA)

Locations: We are seeking three candidates; one based at each of the following locations:

• HMS Raleigh, Trevol Road, Torpoint, PL11 2PD
• HMS Excellent, Portsmouth, Hants, PO2 8ER
• RAF Cranwell, Cranwell Village, NG34 8HB

Contract: Part Time - 4 hours per week on a fixed day. Option to work additional hours on occasion. Permanent.

Salary: £13.50 per hour (£24,570 per annum full time equivalent)

Closing Date: 25 January 2026

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development. Working with our employees, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a strong vision and five-year Future Ready strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide, both for young people, seafarers and maritime professionals – and the thousands who aspire to be the sea cadets and marine professionals of the future. It is also about equipping them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world, while growing our charity to benefit even more people – including those from under‑represented or marginalised groups.

We are currently looking for three part‑time Weapon Assurance Assistants (WAA) at the above locations to join our Safety Assurance Team. This newly created role requires someone who is self‑motivated, organised, positive, IT competent and who has or has the ability to obtain Security Clearance. The ideal candidate will have previous experience of firearms security arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct firearms and ammunition musters
• Ensure all firearms held are maintained and serviceable in accordance with relevant requirements
• Accurately maintain records and reports with keen attention to detail
• Ensure mandatory inspections and assurance visits are undertaken
• Maintain relevant qualifications and develop skills through training
• Facilitate the issue/receipt of firearms for the organisation's activities

Requirements

• Be available to work evenings and weekend work if required
• Have or be able to obtain valid Security Clearance
• Experience of Firearms Security and Management
• Able to work unsupervised and organise own workload
• Excellent interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave pro rata, per annum, increasing with length of service
• Hybrid working for many roles
• Volunteering Leave
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC's values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre‑employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire.

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre‑employment checks including a criminal record check.