About the job

Job summary

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of around 27%, to help work, work for you.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job description

Join us at the British Forces Postal Office (BFPO) and take on a challenging yet rewarding role. For centuries, our Armed Forces have managed an in-house postal service, delivering mail throughout our military history including both World Wars. The BFPO is dedicated to providing postal and courier services to the UK Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence (MOD), and Other Government Departments (OGDs) and is a renowned brand across Defence.

As a Courier Escort Driver, you will work 5 days in 7 and operate in a broad and varied role depending on operational requirements and staff rosters. Key role duties include ensuring the safe and timely escort of Defence Courier Service Protectively Marked Material (PMM) in the UK and across Europe, and Defence Postal Service mails to and from a range of UK locations. It’s vitally important that you deliver items in a timely, secure, and safe manner.

We are looking for self-motivated, hardworking, and organised individuals who can work in a customer-focused environment, and to tight timescales while remaining positive and focused on delivery.

Due to the location, this role also offers a recruitment and retention total allowance of £3,250 per annum.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide broader support to BFPO by undertaking bespoke Courier Escort Driver (CED) tasks in support of routine and short-notice tasks and assist with fleet management by collecting and dropping off vehicles at local garages for scheduled maintenance.
  
  
• Assisting with the loading and unloading of Protectively Marked Material and be responsible for the correct, safe, and compliant management and handling of all loads carried (within the weight and size constraints of the vehicle).

• Maintain vehicle security and safety when DCs are away from vehicle or otherwise engaged.
  
  
• Analyse routes (with DCs when appropriate) selecting most appropriate based on delivery deadlines, number of items to be delivered/collected, and weather conditions.

• Ensuring correct documents and passes are always carried in your work vehicle.
  
  
• Driving and travel throughout the UK, with overnight duties away from Northolt, and routinely to mainland Europe and isolated areas.

• CEDs are routinely required to complete overtime due to the nature of the role.

Please note you will be expected to: take reasonable care for the health and safety of others that may be affected by their acts or omissions at work, and to observe best practice and compliance with legislation in the protection of the environment and energy conservation. Lift items weighing up to 11kg unaided, and up to 30kg with assistance.

HQ BFPO is conveniently accessible from the M40 motorway, the A40 and London Underground tube stations.

Please note: Positions will be offered in Interview Merit order. Further details can be found in the Selection Process Details.

Person specification

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

• Hold a full UK driving licence with a minimum Cat C1, with less than six penalty points.
• Willingness and ability to complete the Commercial Airport Airside training and Department of Transport Security awareness training to an appropriate level, as well as learn, understand, and conduct your role in line with BFPO's specific procedures and guidance.
• Basic level of IT proficiency and understanding as you will be required to use MoD systems.

It will also benefit your application if you are able to demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• Experience of manual handling and have worked in the Defence industry or similar previously.
• Experienced Multi-drop driver, and able to do single day tasks and weekly road service schedules away from Northolt lasting 4-5 days covering the UK and Germany.
  
• Knowledge of European driving requirements.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Customer Service - Awareness
• Making evidence-based decisions – Supervised Practitioner
• Delivering at pace – CSBC2
• Making effective decisions– CSBC2

Benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 27%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills

Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

1. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. When two (or more) candidates are on equal interview scores, positions will be offered based on the scores assessed at interview, in this order – 1st) Technical competence, 2nd) CV Review, 3rd) Behaviour one, 4th) Behaviour two.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.