About the job

Job summary

Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?

Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence? 

Would you like to be at the heart of a unique organisation driving forward safety assurance and regulation within the MOD?  Do you have the passion and commitment to be part of an exciting organisation at the forefront of supporting the Ministry of Defence to ensure that they operate safely?

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our organisation as the lead for alternative fuels and assurance of auxiliary bulk fuel storage within Defence.  We are seeking an experienced individual to join our dynamic team, the Fuel & Gas Safety Regulator (FGSR), which is responsible for providing assurance to the Secretary of State that Defence fuel activity is compliant with legislation and Defence Regulations. The development of alternative fuels, notably hydrogen, has driven a requirement for this additional post within FGSR. You will track the development and use of alternative fuels on the MOD Estate, understanding the statutory and mandatory requirements relating to these, notably Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR). You will also develop the means for FGSR to assure bulk auxiliary fuel storage, assuring the compliance and environmental safety of these.

You will need to be prepared and be able to deploy for short periods in the UK and overseas, to lead and support inspections of bulk fuel infrastructure. Working either in an unescorted capacity or by joining hybrid civil / military teams to inspect activity at MOD establishments, on training areas, and elsewhere, anywhere in the world where UK Defence armed forces operate. Many of these locations are remote and public transport is not available, therefore a full driving licence is essential.

If this interests you, this highly rewarding role will offer you the opportunity to work as part of a diverse and multi-skilled team of circa 70 personnel within the Defence Land Safety Regulator (DLSR). DLSR is a stimulating, challenging, forward thinking and forward leaning team at the forefront of assuring the provision of safe capability to people across Defence worldwide.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

Job description

As the Alternative Fuels HEO, you have the opportunity to develop this new post within the Fuel & Gas Safety Regulator, leading on alternative fuels, notably hydrogen, and the assurance of ancillary fuel tanks. The role will include:-

• Tracking the development and use of alternative fuels across the MOD estate.

• Monitoring Fuel & Gas Safety Legislation and industry best practice and inform Defence Policy and Regulations.

• Providing assurance over the ancillary tanks across the MOD estate by conducting targeted inspections of facilities, auditing existing maintenance and inspection regimes, and overseeing the management of these assets.
• Supporting the routine inspection/licencing of bulk fuel and gas assets across the MOD estate.
• Engaging with the Military Commands and Enabling Organisations to support the understanding and use of alternative fuels.

• Tracking industry/military best practice through engagement with industry, partner nations and regulatory bodies.

• Provide advice and guidance on the use, management and safe handling of alternative fuels, notably relating to Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations.

• Contribute to role-specific working groups and stakeholder committee meetings.

Many of the locations where inspections are conducted are remote and public transport is not available, therefore a full driving licence is essential.

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 as a personal choice, 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.

The Organisation: The Defence Safety Authority (DSA) is responsible for the regulation of Defence health, safety, and environmental protection. Its purpose is to provide independent, evidence-based assurance to the Secretary of State for Defence, that their policy on safety in Defence is being promoted and implemented within the course of Defence activities. The DSA brings together the MOD safety regulators across all environments, including maritime, air, land, nuclear, ordnance and fire, and accident investigators into a single independent organisation led by a 3* military officer.

Our Department: The Defence Land Safety Regulator (DLSR) is one of 9 Regulators that sit within DSA, and is responsible for safety and environmental protection regulation across four specific areas of predominantly land domain activity:  Land Systems; Movement and Transport; Fuel and Gas; and Adventurous Training.

At the DSA, we are committed to equal employment opportunities and building a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunities Employer recruiting solely based on merit; we strive to eradicate bias and search for all types of talent. We work diligently to ensure every social group can feel included; our dedication to diversity is evident across our organization and reflects our vision of encouraging an inclusive workforce that harnesses the power of difference to safeguard our nation's security and stability.

We’ll also ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request further information.

Person specification

•  Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work flexibly in order to meet stretching deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Can work independently and as part of a wider team.
• Ability to interact and engage confidently with a range of stakeholders across Defence.

You will work closely with external Defence safety and assurance organisations to develop relationships, gain an understanding of issues, share information arising from risk-based analysis, and conduct audits, both remote desk-based and site-based as appropriate.

When applicable, you will recommend any enforcement action where breaches in regulations have occurred or where a risk is deemed unacceptable, and improvement is required.

You will produce comprehensive electronic post inspection reports explaining in detail any areas of non-compliance as well as making recommendations for improvement.

Your considered opinions will be invaluable to numerous related working groups and stakeholder committee meetings which you will actively participate in, offering succinct and accurate advice.

As a self-disciplined operator you will develop and sustain an expert level of knowledge of fuel and gas compliance pertinent to Defence, including the relevant policies and regulations.

You will be expected to collaborate with others and provide advice and guidance with regards to changes within HSE regulations for possible read across into updating Defence policy.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential Experience

• Prior experience of undertaking either audits or inspections;
• Knowledge and experience in fuels, notably Hydrogen;
• Safety engineering & risk management concepts;
• Environmental protection experience.

 Desirable Qualifications

• ​Member of Professional Institution. (IOSH, IMechE, IEMA or equivalent).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,528 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.

CV – this has been asked for to show your job history, as well as your previous skills and experience relevant to fuel & gas facilities.

Personal Statement

Within your personal statement please include details of your experience of :-

• Undertaking inspections and/or audits;
• Fuels and gases;
• Safety engineering;
• Risk management;
• Environmental protection experience.

Behaviours

 As part of the application process, you will be required to submit a different example of when you have demonstrated each of the Civil Service Behaviours below. Your examples must be no more than 250 words for each.

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving (interview only)
• Making Effective Decisions (interview only)

Please use the ‘STAR’ technique when writing your examples to enable you to provide a meaningful and complete example for assessment. For those not familiar with STAR, it is an acronym that stands for:

• Situation
• Task
• Action
• Result.

 It is suggested that you make full use of the 250 word-allowance available, ensuring you provide full details of your own actions and how you have fully demonstrated all aspects of the Behaviour at the level of the role applied for. As a guide, approximately 70% of the word-allowance should be used to describe your actions.

Sift

Within 10 days of the advert closure date, the sift will be conducted. If a large number of applications are received, then an initial sift may be held on the lead behaviour, Communicating & Influencing, and your experience. All other behaviours will be assessed if you progress to full sift.

Interviews

Interviews are expected to take place in January. The panel will ask behaviour-based and technical-based questions to explore what you are capable of and your experience. You will be expected to use DIFFERENT Behaviour examples at interview to the ones you provide on your application form.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Candidates who meet the requirements for the position but are unsuccessful on this occasion will be placed on a Reserve list and may be offered a similar position at the same or a lower grade should one become available within the next 12 months.

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-Resourcingteam3@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. 

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.