About the job

Job summary

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 followed and the policy on safety in Defence is being promoted and implemented whilst Defence activities are conducted. This assurance is achieved through proportional and appropriate evidence-based assessment of the activity that supports Defence’s operational imperatives. The DSA consists of Defence safety regulators across all operating environments, the Defence Accident Investigation Branch (DAIB) and an HQ led by a 3* military officer.

The Defence Fire Safety Regulator (DFSR) sets Defence regulation and assures both Defence and statutory legislation, the former covering fire and rescue, and the latter fire safety. This is to ensure that risks are being managed to at least Tolerable and are As Low as Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). The DFSR fire and rescue oversight and assurance team has a principal responsibility to regulate the fire and rescue services across Defence, in accordance with the SofS’s Charter for the DSA.

The DFSR’s statutory fire safety duties fall into two provisions of relevant legislation. Firstly, the requirement to take general fire precautions for the safety of relevant persons delivered by the Responsible (Accountable) Person. Secondly, the duty to consult with the DFSR as the fire safety enforcing authority in relation to proposed building works. These two duties are discharged respectively by risk based (fire safety) audits and a works consultation process. Allied to this, post-fire audits may be undertaken to resolve failings in compliance with legislation (at the time of the fire) for any fire which occurs on the Defence estate.

Enforcement Notices and Prohibition Notices may be served by the DFSR where breaches of fire safety legislation have been identified that an immediate risk to life is present. In addition, the DFSR also has the capability to deploy its personnel to theatres of operation overseas to provide assurance to commanders.

This position is advertised at 42 hours per week.  The role requirements are full-time, and the nature and level of the work means it cannot be done part-time.  Job-share can only be considered if full-time cover can be achieved.

Job description

This is a high profile, diverse and rewarding role, reporting directly to the Deputy Director General with regular engagement with the DSA Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Regulator and Branch Heads. The DFSR Team Leader (TL) is a pivotal role within the DSA.

As the DFSR TL, you will play a crucial role in assuring both fire safety and fire and rescue in Defence, ensuring the safety and protection of our assets and personnel. This role requires a visionary leader with the ability to build positive relationships both within and outside our organisation. Outstanding communication skills will be vital as you collaborate with key partners, effectively conveying the DSA’s and DFSR’s strategic objectives to ensure Defence remains a safe place to live and work.

We require a confident communicator who can collaborate, lead the team, and have a sound grasp of UK Fire Safety and Fire & Rescue legislation.

No two days will be the same and you will have opportunities to immerse yourself in multidimensional tasks. You will extensively use your advanced analytical and interpretation skills to lead the team and to assess compliance with relevant UK Fire Safety and Fire & Rescue Legislation and Defence Safety Regulations.

Travelling is critical to the role which will take you to numerous UK and overseas locations to conduct your duties.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. 

 

If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com 

 

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments.  Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this 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. 

Person specification

Ability to work independently and within a team, making sound decisions to solve specific program problems, prioritise resources, and evaluate performance, using professional judgement to make effective decisions.

Outstanding communication skills to influence and persuade partners in creating, assessing, and delivering effective fire safety and fire and rescue solutions.

Ability to recognise where change is needed and to challenge existing practices, processes, and activities, and identify and deliver effective solutions which promote change.

Ability to use own judgement to identify, define and analyse alternative courses of action, thinking creatively to deliver innovative solutions to complex issues.

Exceptional people management and performance management skills with the ability to lead and inspire, providing direction and support to individuals and the DFSR team.

Broad knowledge of how Defence operates.

A transformational leader with significant leadership and management experience.

Experience of successfully operating in a senior leadership role gained within a Fire & Rescue environment.

Strong leadership with high levels of integrity to uphold regulatory standards irrespective of level of authority.

This job role is suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station) and working from home, with management approval and to meet business needs. If you are successful, your permanent duty station and any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

 

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence - Many of the MOD locations where you are required to attend are remote and public transport may not be available therefore a full driving licence is essential.

Essential Experience

Experience of working at a Strategic Level within a Fire and Rescue environment.

Desirable Qualifications

Level 4 Certificate in Fire Safety, or an equivalent recognised by an official awarding body.

Fire Safety Level 4 Diploma

Fire Safety Level 5 Diploma

Lead Auditor (ISO)

All qualifications/licences declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,310, Ministry of Defence contributes £21,953 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide a statement of suitability with a maximum word count of 750 words. This should outline how your skills meet the requirements of the role which will be explored further at the interview stage.

You will also be asked to provide a CV covering your career history and key achievements.

You should also provide evidence in no more than 250 words of examples of the following behaviours:

• Leadership,
• Communicating and Influencing,
• Making Effective Decisions

At interview you will be assessed on:

Experience
Behaviours:

• Leadership,
• Communicating and Influencing,
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

You will be also be asked to give a 5 minute presentation on a subject that will be notified to you if sifted for interview.

Behaviours will be assessed at level 4 (Grades 7 and 6).

Successful candidates if external to the MOD will be required to undertake a pre employment medical prior to employment and be subject to further assessments to confirm their fitness for duty and general wellbeing, in accordance with the DFRS medical standards.

This is a uniformed Defence Fire and Rescue Service, Defence Fire Safety Regulator Assistant Chief Officer post available on level transfer to current competent Assistant Chief Officers, and current competent Area Managers on promotion or individuals who can demonstrate the relevant Behaviours, skills, qualifications, and experience for this role.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam1@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

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. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.