Defence Safety Authority – Skills Manager

The Defence Safety Authority (DSA) is responsible for the regulation of Defence Health, Safety and Environmental Protection, operating under a Charter from the Secretary of State for Defence (SofS). The DSA provides independent assurance direct to the SofS that the law is complied with and his policy on safety in Defence is being promoted and implemented whilst Defence activities are conducted.

The People & Development Team’s function is to support the organisation achieving Strategic Objective 1:

“Develop the DSA’s organisation and People”

• Optimise the DSA’s organisational structure to meet the needs of today and be sufficiently agile to accommodate future requirements.
• Improve the employee lifecycle including recruitment and retention.
• Develop DSA training and career development.
• Improve the DSA’s work environment.

The Team are also the DSA focal point for civilian HR matters that do not fall within HR shared services. The team undertake a variety of HR activities to support the DSA leadership and wider workforce.

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as a Skills Manager in the Defence Safety Authority (DSA). Your responsibilities will be as described in this job advert. The reason why you are appointed for a fixed period is due to the requirement for temporary resource to address a short-term business need relating to Skills gaps in the DSA. This post will therefore begin on your appointment and end 12 months after that date. You should be aware that when your Fixed-term Appointment at MOD comes to an end, arrangements will be made in line with the FTA policy.

If you are a permanent MoD civil servant and are found successful for an advertised Fixed-term Appointment (FTA) you should move into the post under a Temporary Transfer (for up to a maximum of 23 months). At the end of the posting you will return to your previous MoD Business area. If this posting is at a higher grade, your promotion will be temporary, and you will return to your substantive grade at the end of the Temporary Transfer. If a Temporary Transfer cannot be agreed between all parties then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA and Change of Work Location in the UK policy for further information.

If you are transferring to MoD from another government department (OGD) you should join the MoD on an inward loan. At the end of the loan you will return to your home (OGD) department. If a loan cannot be agreed between all parties then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA policy for further information.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

If you want to use your HR experience to add value in a fascinating environment, this role could be the perfect challenge for you. Our people are the difference that makes the DSA a great place to work and you will play a critical role to enable the DSA to deliver its outputs effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with DSA business areas to address skills shortages.
• Lead on the provision of recruitment advice and administrative support to civilian and military line managers, promoting best practice, encouraging a diversity of applicants and expediting the process to fill civilian vacancies, achieving value for money by filling the post first time, every time, with high-quality candidates.
• Lead on the provision of expert advice on hard to fill posts, working with line managers to identify alternative channels to advertise vacancies and consider alternative resourcing options.
• Lead on the implementation of the new Pan-Defence Skills Framework within the DSA when it is launched.
• Line manage an EO (Band D) Skills Officer.
• Provide data and input to the senior leadership team on reducing the time taken to fill posts, addressing skill pinch points, and persistent long-term vacancies to support the achievement of the DSA’s Business Plan deliverables.
• Work proactively with HR resourcing teams, the DSA’s HR Business Partner, Heads of Profession, Head Office Civ HR policy teams and TUs to ensure that DSA’s requirements are understood and supported.
• Support to the wider DSA HQ People and Development team’s deliverables, as required.

We are looking for an individual who has a can-do attitude, can work independently, as well as part of a team, and is highly organised.

The successful candidate must have excellent interpersonal skills to engage the business and communicate effectively with key stakeholders and colleagues.

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

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership

• 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 : Stan Arberry
• Email : stanley.arberry100@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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