Army - Safety Adviser

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence, Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from cyber and digital transformation, police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, psychologists, storekeepers, and policy secretariat staff to support the British Army.

This role sits within the Force Protection Safety, Health, Environment and Fire team and plays a key role in helping 1st (UK) Division meet its health and safety obligations and comply with Ministry of Defence policies and legislation.

The successful candidate will provide specialist safety advice and support, helping to promote a safe working environment across the organisation. The role also involves analysing accident and incident data to identify trends, provide assurance, and recommend preventative actions and improvements to reduce risk.

There will be opportunities to engage with a wide range of stakeholders across Defence. The role also requires occasional travel within the UK and, at times, overseas to support audits, meetings, training and Safety, Health, Environment, and Fire (SHEF) activities. Travel requirements, frequency and locations are subject to change in line with business and operational needs.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Key responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with UK health, safety and environmental legislation, as well as Ministry of Defence policies and procedures, both within the UK and overseas.
• Conduct audits across Brigades and senior military units to assess compliance with safety and environmental management requirements, identifying areas for improvement and supporting the implementation of corrective actions.
• Monitor and analyse accident, incident and safety reporting data to identify trends, highlight emerging risks and support evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide training, advice and guidance on safety reporting systems and processes, helping colleagues to meet their health and safety responsibilities.
• Support senior leaders by providing professional advice on health, safety, environmental and fire-related matters, including the identification and management of emerging risks.
• Work closely with internal teams and external organisations to ensure appropriate safety arrangements are in place to support operational activities and organisational objectives.
• Build effective relationships with safety representatives and stakeholders across the organisation, providing expert advice and promoting best practice.
• Lead the coordination and delivery of the Division's Health and Safety Committee, ensuring actions are tracked and governance requirements are met.
• Contribute to the review and development of health, safety and environmental policies, procedures and assurance frameworks.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to ensure assurance activities, audit frameworks and compliance measures remain effective, proportionate and aligned to organisational requirements.

Person specification

Essential skills required:

• Well organised and will possess strong communication skills in both written and verbal form.
• Able to quickly build good working relationships with a variety of partners, both internal and external to the organisation and be able to provide support to a wide range of people of different backgrounds.
• Good IT skills, such as basic Microsoft Office 365, and have excellent time management skills.
• Able to use initiative to prioritise work with minimal direction whilst maintaining an excellent attention to detail.

Desirable skills:

• NEBOSH General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• ISO 45001:2018 Lead Auditor Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.

If the successful candidate does not currently hold the above qualifications, they will be expected to achieve them within 6 months of being in post.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

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

• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 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 career.

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