About the job

Job summary

Have you ever considered working in an exciting inclusive engineering training environment? Do you have the desire and ability to deliver the underpinning principles for electronic and mechanical engineering (EME) within a military aviation environment? If so, there is a brilliant opportunity for you in a modern teaching organisation. 

DCTT Vision 

The Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT) trains and educates highly skilled technicians and engineers to meet the operational demands of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. We specialise in aeronautical engineering, electronic and mechanical engineering, nuclear and marine engineering and communications and information systems - to prepare our trainees to operate in today's and tomorrow's combat environment. 

With nearly 2,500 military, civil service and contractor staff based across six locations, we value our diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage mutual respect, actively foster kindness and fairness, and promote a healthy work-life balance. We invest in our people; offering career and personal development opportunities and recognise staff efforts and commitments. 

One of DCTT’s School’s, The Defence School of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (DSEME), plays a key role in delivering world-class technical training to soldiers and aviators across a variety of engineering disciplines. Currently based at MOD St Athan, DSEME’s sub-school, No 4 School of Technical Training (4SoTT) will be relocating to MOD Lyneham over the coming months, which presents an exciting opportunity to join the Royal Air Force 4SoTT to deliver Trade Group 5 (TG5) initial and specialist trade training. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As the Head of Training Flight the specific responsibilities will be;

Training Practices and Procedures. The planning, direction and control of training resources to meet the training programme. Ensuring all trainee records are maintained in accordance with current procedures. Ensuring all training materials, resources and documentation (including examinations) are maintained in accordance with applicable policies. 

Training Compliance Ensuring that training procedures and engineering practices within the Flight conform with the Training Procedures Manual, Training Squadron Order Book, Unit Quality Manual and other applicable policy. Monitoring all training practices and procedures employed throughout the Flight ensuring they are safe, compliant with applicable policy and promote effective learning.  This includes conducting/ensuring Instructional Techniques monitoring and Content monitoring for all Defence Trainers is carried out in accordance with applicable policy, ensuring that induction programmes for new Defence Trainers are implemented and working with the Learning Support Coordinator to manage Defence Trainer capability within the Flight.

Management of Staff  The control, administration, welfare and discipline of all staff within the Flight.  This includes (but is not limited to) Line Manager administrative tasks such as managing sickness/leave/time off in lieu recruitment (including Civil Service recruitment and military suitability interviews), performance appraisal reporting (in accordance with RAF and MOD Civil Servant policies), Engineering Authorisations and managing staff mandatory training compliance (including disclosure and barring and security requirements).

Management of Trainees The administration, welfare and discipline of all trainees and students within the Flight.  This includes ensuring compliance with the Training Review Procedures, chairing Flight Commander Training Review Boards (TRBs), attending Squadron Commander and Unit TRBs, conducting Trainee Warning reviews and provision of additional/extra training where required. 

Training Resources Managing all Ground Training Aids within the Flight in accordance with current engineering policy, liaising with the DSEME training equipment maintenance team as required and undertaking action in accordance with DCTT processes for the procurement, repair or replacement of training aids (including ensuring future requirements are captured within future plans).  Ensuring that all training areas are clean, in good order, suitable for the task and comply with all relevant health and safety, quality assurance, fire, environmental and security regulations.  This includes working with Building Custodians and DSEME Garrison Support Unit to implement infrastructure repairs and improvements as required. 

The Ministry of Defence offers a range of flexibilities to enable a better work-life balance for employees. Alternative Working Patterns, in accordance with policy, can be considered where it can be accommodated by the business, but there may be occasions when a presence on site during standard working hours may be required. All working patterns and flexibilities are subject to agreement with the Line Manager. 

Person specification

The ideal candidate should be a great communicator with the ability to effectively describe complicated ideas to different audiences. You must be well organised, proficient in time management, and have good public speaking skills. You'll be required to be both proactive and reactive, assessing the skills and knowledge within the group and determining what training is needed to grow and nurture these individuals. 

We have job opportunities available in the; 

Head of Mechanical Engineering Training Flight (METF) 

Head of Electrical Training Section (ETS) and Workshops Training Section(WTS) - this is a single post covering both Sections

Specific Criteria for: 

Head of Mechanical Engineering Training Flight (METF):

Recognised experience in a military ground engineering background.

Familiar with mechanical engineering management practices and trade policy. 

Head of Electrical Training Section and Workshops Training Section: 

Recognised experience in a military ground engineering background.

Familiar with electrical engineering and/or workshops management practices and trade policy.

Other Essential Criteria:

Vetting under the Disclosure and Barring Service

Instructional qualification and experience

Proven instructional qualification and experience.

Previous experience of working in a military environment

Proven management experience.

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.

Apply online via CS Jobs, application sifting is scheduled for 16 Jan 24.

Interviews will be held late Jan/early Feb 24 

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include: job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

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.