Army Force Protection Health & Safety Advisor

Job summary

The Land Warfare Centre (LWC) delivers the Deployable Force training and education, driving agile adaptation of the Army, to enable success on current and future operations. Fundamental to this is protecting the Army's Licence to Operate and its ability to deliver challenging and appropriate training, education and experimentation while keeping the risk to force and reputation As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) and tolerable.

This Force Protection (FP) role, based in Warminster is a senior Health and Safety position that provides specialist, Safety Health Environment & Fire (SHEF) advice across LWC’s global Area of Responsibility. This post provides authoritative and technical guidance to Director Land Warfare (DLW) and supports 36 units worldwide, to compliance with UK legislation, MOD policy and safe delivery of land training.

The role requires visits to LWC Operating Groups, including overseas locations, to assure, help resolve safety issues and strengthen organisational safety culture.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

We are looking for a Health and Safety practitioner with experience of operating at management board, formation level. The role is, based in Warminster but will entail visiting units across the UK and overseas. This position is responsible for providing safety advice, guidance and direction relating to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, supporting Regulations and MOD SHEF Policies. It is also responsible for ensuring all safety risks are managed correctly, that service personal on land training exercises and courses are protected and that MOD and Army Policies are met across the LWC’s Area of Responsibility.

The Force Protection Health & Safety Advisor role provides an exciting opportunity to deliver Health and Safety advice, guidance, direction and support at a senior level, to protect the Army’s licence to operate.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Provide specialist Force Protection and SHEF advice to DLW and HQ LWC, ensuring compliance with UK legislation, MOD policy and mandatory Defence requirements.
• Lead and coordinate Health, Safety, Environmental Protection, Training Safety and wider Force Protection activity across LWC.
• Maintain and continuously improve Health and Safety and Force Protection (FP) governance, processes and organisational arrangements.
• Drive and promote a positive Health and Safety culture into the Land Training Systems and support senior leaders in driving continuous improvement across LWC.
• Identify Health and Safety and Force Protection training needs and ensure delivery of Safety Risk Manager, Duty Holding, Risk to Life and other mandatory training.
• Capture and share best practice to support learning, assurance and consistent standards across LWC.
• Build effective relationships with Defence partners, senior commands and other stakeholders to enable coordinated Health and Safety and FP activity.
• Develop, maintain and assure compliance with all LWC Health and Safety and Force Protection policies, processes and directives.

Person specification

Essential Skills Required:

• Strategic leadership and influence in promoting and embedding a strong FP and SHEF culture across a complex organisation.
• Ability to provide authoritative safety and FP advice, assessing risk and identifying proportionate mitigation measures.
• Strong communication skills, with confidence briefing and advising senior leaders and diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to analyse safety data, identify trends and support informed decision-making.
• Effective problem solving skills, able to deliver timely, pragmatic and compliant solutions.
• Adaptable and resilient, able to operate within changing regulatory, operational and organisational contexts.
• Level 3 certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety or be working towards or willing to undertake this once in post.
• Skilled in managing competing priorities and stakeholder expectations at senior levels.
• High standards of professional integrity, resilience, determination and confidence
• An inclusive visible leader, approachable and accessible
• Experienced in operating at a senior level with the written and oral communication skills to engage across the rank structure.
• Comfortable managing both demanding routine and short notice high impact work

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience translating higher formation SHEF/FP policy into clear, practical guidance for varied audiences.
• Evidence of implementing and improving SHEF or FP systems within a large or dispersed organisation.
• Experience supporting organisational safety culture development.
• Awareness of international or Host Nation SHE frameworks.
• Strong leadership experience with ability to drive accountability and improvement
• Certificate in Environmental Management.
• Recognised Industry safety training courses such as DSEAR, Fire safety manager
• Member of a professional safety body such as IOSH.
• Audit qualification such as ISO45001 lead auditor.

Qualifications

Level 3 certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

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

• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Inspection, Audit & Assurance, Intermediate level
• Organisation and Culture, Intermediate level

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

• Inspection, Audit & Assurance, Intermediate level

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).

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme with a 28.97% contribution
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future caree