Navy Command, Health, Safety and Environmental Protection Manager

Job summary

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Are you ready to take on a high-profile safety leadership role at the heart of the Submarine Directorate’s mission?

As the Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HSEP) Manager, you will lead the newly established Submarine Plans and Force Generation Safety Cell, providing expert HSEP, welfare and human factors advice across a complex and operationally critical area of Defence. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and strengthen safety and environmental management arrangements, drive assurance activity, support regulatory compliance, and influence risk management across submarine capability, policy and force generation. Working closely with senior military and civilian stakeholders, the wider Submarine Enterprise and the Directorate Safety community, you will play a key role in ensuring safe, compliant and effective delivery today and into the future, while helping to build a new team and develop best practice across a diverse and high-impact portfolio.

What you will be doing:

• Point of professional knowledge and expertise on HSEP Management, acting as HSEP Advisor to the Deputy Director Submarines through management of the Safety Cell.
• Ensure the Safety and Environmental Management System and Plan meet the requirements of BRd10, Defence policy and Defence Maritime Regulations for HSEP.
• Act as the principal interface for engagement with the Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR), as a key role within the Operating Duty Holder’s (ODH) Safety Management Arrangements (SMAs).
• Deliver conventional Safety Assurance functions through interpretation of complex Statutory/MOD requirements to formulate the development and maintenance of conventional Safety and Environmental Management Systems (i.e. Policies/Process Maps/Support Documents etc).
• Support delivery of the directorate level assurance programme of 1st Party Assurance, ensuring regulatory and legislative requirements are met whilst driving for continuous improvement. Where there are shortfalls oversee the administration of Corrective Actions.
• Act as lead for recording, review and update of HSEP risks, and provide termly reporting. In doing so, ensure that complex and safety critical issues are escalated in a timely manner.
• Co-ordinate the delivery and management of the Submarine Operating Safely Working Group and Board, providing support and input to the Directorate Submarine Safety Working Group and Board.
• Act as the lead interface with the Submarine Directorate Safety Cell and through them, the Navy Safety Directorate. Participate as an active member of the Defence Safety Community of Practice.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

Essential:

• NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent); professional membership of a recognised HS&E body; experience managing and maintaining Safety and Environmental Management Systems within a high-hazard or highly regulated environment; experience of governance, assurance, risk management and regulatory engagement.

Desirable:

• NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent); Chartered IOSH membership; experience within Defence, Maritime, Nuclear or Submarine environments; knowledge of JSP 815, BRd10, and Duty Holder/Accountable Person arrangements.

Memberships

NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent); professional membership of a recognised HS&E body; experience managing and maintaining Safety and Environmental Management Systems within a high-hazard or highly regulated environment; experience of governance, assurance, risk management and regulatory engagement.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• System Safety Functional Competences
• Internal Audit and Fraud Analysis Functional Competences

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service

• Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%

• Personal & professional development

• Alternative working patterns for many roles

• Access to a confidential, professional support service

• Discount schemes

• Bicycle / season-ticket loans

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

• Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)

• Assisted travel scheme ****

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.

You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

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.

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