Land System Safety Regulator Auditor

Your Role: Are you looking for a high-reaching and exciting role that can make a real difference? Do you have the passion and dedication to be part of an ambitious organisation at the forefront of supporting the Ministry of Defence to ensure the safety of personnel and protection of the environment? If so, then we would like to hear from you!

As part of a cohesive and friendly assurance team you will be encouraged to use your analytical skills and awareness of system safety to aid you with identifying areas for improvement within the organisation’s regulation set and acceptable means for compliance. As part of an assurance team you will assist in the completion of sophisticated end to end audits that will allow you to articulate recommendations to reduce risk to an acceptable level and when required, contribute to the raising of enforcement action against unsafe practices. Your developed communication skills are key to conveying facts and information you identify through your analysis. You should also be at ease with producing written reports and technical briefings to a range of stakeholders across the Ministry of Defence.

If you have an interest in safety, have an inquisitive mind, and wish to make a difference then we would be delighted to receive your application.

The Organisation: The Defence Safety Authority (DSA) is responsible for the regulation of Defence health, safety, and environmental protection. Its purpose is to provide independent, evidence- based assurance to the Secretary of State for Defence (SoS), that their policy on safety in Defence is being promoted and implemented within the course of Defence activities. The DSA brings together the MOD safety regulators across all environments, including maritime, air, land, nuclear, ordnance and fire, and accident investigators into a single independent organisation led by a 3* officer.

Our Department: The Defence Land Safety Regulator (DLSR) is one of 9 Regulators that sit within DSA, and it regulates the acquisition and use of equipment that operates on land, the safe conduct of Defence Movement and Transport activities, the licensing of all Defence fuel and gas installations worldwide and all Defence Adventurous Training centres. DLSR consists of circa 70 personnel and comprises of four Sub-Regulators: Adventurous Training Safety Regulator (ATSR), Fuel and Gas Safety Regulator (FGSR), Land Systems Safety Regulator (LSSR) and Movement and Transport Safety Regulator (MTSR). Your position sits within LSSR.

At the DSA, we are committed to equal employment opportunities and building a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunities Employer recruiting solely based on merit; we strive to eradicate bias and search for all types of talent. We work diligently to ensure every social group can feel included; our dedication to diversity is evident across our organization and reflects our vision of encouraging an inclusive workforce that harnesses the power of difference to safeguard our nation’s security and stability.

We’ll also ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request further information.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

As a growing organisation we have a fantastic opportunity for dedicated individuals to join us. This role will offer you the opportunity to work within the Land System Safety Regulator, to independently regulate safety and environmental protection for the acquisition, management and operation of ground-based vehicles and equipment used across the entire Defence portfolio. These could range from robotic autonomous vehicles, a main battle tank, a flight simulator or even a secret communications system. Within the team you will analyse and exploit land systems safety and environmental information, advise regulatory intervention and assist in the identification and reporting of land system risk areas, thereby contributing to reducing Risks to Life (RtL) and improving Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HS&EP) across Defence.

The work undertaken by the LSSR team is interesting and exciting, no two days will be the same and you will be encouraged to immerse yourself in a mixture of wide-ranging tasks, and to use your natural curiosity, communication, and analytical skills to engage with partners across Defence.

You will work closely with external Defence safety and assurance organisations to develop relationships, gain an understanding of issues, share information arising from risk-based analysis, and conduct audits, both remote desk-based and site-based as appropriate.

Using analytical skills, you will review data looking for trends and areas which require you to conduct further investigation so that risk to life activities can be reduced and the likelihood of further injuries and/or damage to equipment can be minimised.

When applicable, you will recommend any enforcement action where breaches in regulations have occurred or where a risk is deemed unacceptable, and improvement is required.

Exploiting your excellent writing skills, you will produce comprehensive electronic post inspection reports explaining in detail any areas of non-compliance as well as making recommendations for improvement.

Your considered opinions will be invaluable to numerous related working groups and stakeholder committee meetings which you will actively participate in, offering succinct and accurate advice.

As a self-disciplined operator you will develop and sustain an expert level of knowledge of ground-based systems pertinent to Defence including the relevant policies and regulations.

You will be expected to collaborate with others and provide advice and guidance with regards to changes within HSE regulations for possible read across into updating Defence policy.

Occasionally you may be required to provide ad-hoc support to, and deputise for, the team’s Lead Auditor.

Person Specification

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work flexibly in order to meet stretching deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Can work independently and as part of a wider team.
• Ability to interact and engage confidently with a range of stakeholders across Defence.
• Experience of conducting assurance activity is desirable but not essential.

Desirable Experience

• Audit or assurance experience
• Safety management
• Project management
• System design
• Engineering
• Quality management
• Legislation compliance
• Information analysis

Previous experience of any of these roles would provide transferable skills and be very welcome however they are not essential, and training will be provided.

Desirable Qualifications

• Lead Auditor of Safety Management Systems (ISO 45001)
• National Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety (NEBOSH)
• System Safety Awareness Online

 If you do not hold these desirable qualifications, for the successful applicant, attendance on these courses can be arranged.

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

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

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

• Communicating and Influencing

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

• System Safety

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options including a flexi-time scheme
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Highly competitive Civil Service pension scheme with average 27% employer contribution
• Alternative working practices such as hybrid working
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Minimum of 15 days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments
• Special paid leave for volunteering up to 6 days per year
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing – a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• On-site gymnasium (for a small monthly fee for membership of Civil Service Sports Club)
• Loan to purchase a Bicycle (Advance on Salary)
• Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA)
• Access to Defence Discount Service & Blue Light Discount

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 : Julie Mael
• Email : Julie.mael966@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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