Military Aviation Authority – Junior Design Organization Approvals Manager

Looking for a role with real-world impact? Do you have the passion and dedication to be part of an ambitious organization at the forefront of supporting the Ministry of Defence to ensure the safety of personnel and protection of the environment? The Design Approved Organization Scheme (DAOS) team provides independent assurance of defence contractors and service organisations that are involved in the design, modification and repair of military aircraft systems, associated equipment and airborne explosive ordnance and armament equipment.

We work with a diverse portfolio that ranges from early engagement on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), to established fast jet and helicopter programmes like the Typhoon and Merlin EH101 and incorporates uncrewed/remotely piloted air systems (UAS / RPAS), weapons, engines, and life-saving equipment. Our role is to ensure that these organizations adhere to the regulations and utilise recognised standards and practices whilst incorporating innovative technology considerations.

Vacancies have recently arisen due to team members successfully gaining promotion within the team and secondment opportunities to a multi-national programme. We are seeking individuals to join our dynamic team, offering exciting opportunities to work in the field of assurance of design organisations and processes. These roles are highly collaborative and each support the management of assuring approximately 25 organizations located across the UK, Europe and the USA.
We believe in creating an environment where our people can grow, thrive, and be their best selves.

So, whether you’re looking for a next step, a fresh start, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, here you’ll find an encouraging organisation to be a part of.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

As a Junior Design Organization Approvals Manager, you will contribute to the planning, preparation, conduct, and delivery of assurance tasks. This will involve a combination of desktop reviews and on-site visits, requiring occasional pre-planned travel to various locations in the UK and internationally. Your main focus will be evaluating organizations’ compliance with MAA Regulations (RA1000 and RA5000 Series) and assuring the use of design processes that lead to equipment that is safe to operate. You will help generate audit reports, make recommendations, maintain assurance records, engage with counterparts, and provide briefings to internal management. Prior auditing experience is desirable, although tailored training will be provided to develop you as an Auditor. Additionally, you’ll support crafting future regulations to ensure their effectiveness and help review and provide recommendations on submissions of acceptable alternative means of compliance.

Responsibilities

• Planning, preparing, conducting, and reporting of DAOS Assurance activity, including audits.
• Support to managing assurance of a portfolio of approx. 25 Organizations, including updates to their Design Approvals scopes.
• Leading engagement directly with some of these Organizations to boost your development!
• Collaborating with colleagues across the MAA to ensure coherent and effective delivery of outputs and related services.
• Scrutinizing company documents and procedures to ensure safe and coherent design processes.
• Recommending resolutions to audit findings, agreeing these with the Organization leads and Industry personnel to bring about effective change to the design and development of their products.
• Engaging in the development and review of MAA regulations and policy, recommending changes to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose and reflect advances in technology and design practices.
• Supporting the overall outputs of the team (and the MAA), to improve the delivery of our services across Defence.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Alternative working patterns can be considered, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

How the MAA fits into Defence

As part of the Defence Safety Authority (DSA), the MAA is responsible for the regulation, surveillance, inspection, and assurance of Defence Aviation. We ensure the safe design and use of military Air Systems, with full oversight of all Defence aviation activity. Through independent audit and continuous surveillance, the MAA provides critical assurance to the Director General DSA (DG DSA) regarding the maintenance of safety standards while delivering operational capability.

The ideal applicant should have an engineering background in the design or development of military (or civil) aviation equipment. Prior auditing experience is desirable, although tailored training will be provided to develop you as an Auditor.

Professional registration (or the ability to achieve this) to Incorporated Engineer status is also desirable.

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Airworthiness Competence Set: Core Function: 1.1 to 1.5 (at Supervised Practitioner Level).

The MOD Discover My Benefits page lists the full set of benefits. Some of the many benefits you will receive include:

• Generous Pension Scheme
• 25 days annual leave rising (by 1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days leave per year.
• 8 public holidays per year plus an extra day of leave for HM The King’s birthday
• Flexi-time scheme (after 6 months)
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your wellbeing
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity (see our commitment below)

Hybrid working is supported on an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (at MOD Abbey Wood North) and working from home to meet business needs and with management approval.

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 crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request further information.

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 : Arminder Sahota
• Email : Arminder.Sahota100@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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