Assistant Team Leader Permissions – Defence Ordnance Munitions and Explosives (OME) Safety Regulator (DOSR)

An exciting new opportunity has arisen to become the Assistant Team Leader Permissions to the Defence Ordnance Munitions and Explosives (OME) Safety Regulator (DOSR) within the Defence Safety Authority (DSA).  The Post Holder is responsible to DOSR Team Leader for oversight and delivery of DOSR Regulatory Permissions which includes, Certification of OME, Classification of Dangerous Goods Class 1 (Explosives), and Licensing of MOD’s Ranges and associated Explosives activities.  They will also coordinate and manage requests for Regulatory Waivers and Alternative Acceptable Means of Compliance (AAMC) with input from other specialist DOSR staff and other SMEs.  As the lead coordinator for the Defence OME Certification Process, they will also be responsible for the coordination and delivery of Mutual Recognition agreements between DOSR and other international approving authorities.  This latter responsibility will require the individual to undertake international travel.  Due to the classification of certain OME natures, the Post Holder will be required to hold Developed Vetting.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

As one of the 8 Defence Regulators DOSR TL is personally appointed by DG DSA to regulate, assure and enforce Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (OME) Safety across Defence activities worldwide in accordance with SofS’s Policy Statement on Health Safety and Environmental Protection within the MOD and to maintain an appropriate regulatory regime.  The authority and powers of enforcement of Defence Regulators derives from the DSA Charter and the scope of DOSR regulatory oversight includes: OME acquisition (including Lasers and Directed Energy Weapons), in-service and operational safety management of OME, MOD Ranges where live-firing, trials and training with OME takes place and, Major Accident Control Regulations (MACR) on certain MOD establishments which are designed to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances and limit the consequences to people and the environment of any accidents which do occur.  As the ATL Permissions for DOSR you will be personally responsible for managing resources to ensure that outputs are achieved in accordance with the DSA Business Plan.

Key Responsibilities for the ATL Permissions post holder:

• Contribute to the promotion and fostering of an engaged safety culture, competence and continuous improvement, by all who are involved in, or connected with, OME activities across Defence;
• contribute to the maintenance and promulgation of Defence OME Regulations and coherence with other Defence regulatory regimes;  
• implement processes, consistent with the regulatory regime, to certify, license, authorise, approve, agree and / or permission Defence activities, people, facilities and equipment as appropriate; 
• where appropriate, enforce Defence Regulations through appropriate sanctions;
• provide input to the DOSR Annual Report to DG DSA of independent assurance of safety performance across the OME domain;
• where necessary, conduct regulatory investigations, or to co-operate with an independent investigation;
• influence Departmental arrangements which may affect safety and environmental protection, including the Secretary of State’s Policy Statement;
• influence international conventions, including NATO and UK HS&EP legislation relevant to your domain or functional area;
• examine emerging relevant legislative proposals, assess the impact of such proposals; consider the need for exemptions; and where necessary secure those exemptions;
• promote and foster peer relationships with relevant statutory regulators and government departments; establish liaison arrangements; where appropriate, develop and maintain joint regulatory regimes;
• promote and foster peer relationships with relevant overseas HS&EP authorities or government agencies.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate their ability to lead and develop a diverse team of personnel and demonstrate teamwork, change management skills and excellent leadership qualities. Stakeholder engagement forms a key part in the success of the team and effective communication and influencing skills are essential. They will have the ability to think strategically, communicate effectively, and prove they will be able to execute their authority with confidence.  They will be able to demonstrate effective leadership and experience gained through a profile of successful career progression in OME related posts. 

They should also have a passion for OME safety and an ability to lead a team of experts in this diverse and challenging field.  Hence, we are seeking a candidate with a high level of competence and a proven track record of success in the practical application of Explosives Safety and Munitions Risk Management, Explosives Licensing, Range Safety Management, Regulatory Waivers and Exemptions, associated Certification and Permissioning of Defence activities, people, facilities, and equipment as appropriate.  You should have a proficient understanding of Defence OME Regulations, associated Defence Codes of Practice, and underpinning civil legislation, plus a working knowledge of NATO Ammunition and Explosives Safety Guidelines.

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• WOME Skills Framework SM2.1 Formulate national policy for explosives substances and articles
• WOME Skills Framework SM 2.5 Review an organisation’s safety management system for explosives
• WOME Skills Framework SM 2.10 Develop and implement assurance systems for explosive safety
• HS&EP Competence Framework 4.3 Permissioning
• HS&EP Competence Framework 4.5 Risk Appreciation

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%

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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. 

Job contact :

• Name : Bob MacNaught, DOSR TL
• Email : robert.macnaught319@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : 07879434381

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk