About the job

Job summary

Dstl’s Engineering capability manufactures bespoke, prototype items for Defence and the security of the UK for customers from across the business and other government departments. The Engineering Workshop is the heart of the team, undertaking complex tasks utilising a range of mechanical and electronic engineering disciplines and equipment to get the job done and to ensure the timely delivery of items in a dynamic environment where no two days are the same.

The General Hand is an important role providing a broad range of essential activities that support the team and helps to maintain a safe and efficient working environment. The role duties Material Handling Equipment (MHE) operations (Counterbalance and Pedestrian Fork Lift Truck, Over Head Crane), housekeeping, waste disposals, vehicle checks, general support to the capability, escorting duties and supporting operations (subject to competency). You will have the opportunity to develop yourself and the role, and use your skills to make a difference.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.

Job description

What will the successful candidate be doing?

Recent development of Dstl’s engineering workshop has resulted in a period of growth in terms of volume and type of activity undertaken. The team currently manages around 500 requests for support per year, and increasing. A corresponding increase for general support to meet this demand has resulted in the need to expand resources.

In the General Hand role you will:
• Provide flexible, agile, proactive and reactive enabling support to the Capability and your colleagues
• Ensure your allocated and ad-hoc tasks are delivered to Time, Cost and Quality
• Build on customer relationships across the business to strengthen the reputation and standing of the capability
• Ensure Dstl is receiving best value for money
• Be responsible for completing the successful delivery of routine, allocated, and day-to-day reactive tasks
• Be required to maintain a safe, tidy and organised work areas and to assist with housekeeping and waste disposals.
• You will be required to support the Goods-in/out.
• Operate MHE to load and unload goods vehicles, and to move items around the workshop and site
• Drive vehicles up to 3.5t on site, locally and occasionally nationwide to make deliveries and collections
• Complete daily pre-use MHE and vehicle checks.
• Provide escort duties for visitors, staff and contractors, in classified areas.

• You will be required (subject to competency) to support basic workshop operations, such as preparing material stock, hole drilling and assembly under supervision and direction

Person specification

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for someone who has:
• Experience of working safely within a dynamic and busy practical environment
• Experience of working in goods-in / out
• Experience of safely operating Material Handling Equipment, eg Fork Lift truck, Over Head Crane, Pallet truck, etc.
• Experience of driving commercial vehicles up to 3.5t
• Experience of performing daily first parade checks of MHE and vehicles
• Knowledge of practical workshop operations and recognising the hazards
• An understanding of a basic range of raw material types, and how to identify them
• A desire to use your skills to deliver results
• A desire to add value and improve efficiencies
• A desire to add to your existing skillset
• The ability to be flexible, agile, proactive and reactive
• The ability to multi-task, with good communication skills
• The ability to convey information accurately
• The ability to support those around you

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £21,333, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £5,759 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.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you

Sifting will take place during the lifespan of the advert with interviews will be arranged week commencing 15th January 2024

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

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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.