About the job

Job summary

Army adventurous training is looking for a dynamic, experienced and qualified Head of Sailing Training (HST) at the Joint Services Adventurous Sailing Training Centre (JSASTC).The successful candidate will join the JSASTC senior leadership team providing critical management of the delivery of offshore sailing training across all training areas, as well as providing advice and assurance to the Officer in Command (OIC). The post is responsible for the coordination of activity, temporary and permanently employed qualified sailing staff and other resources to deliver safe, efficient, and effective sailing training in the UK and worldwide.

As JSASTC delivers and supports offshore sailing Adventurous Training (AT) all over the world, to over 4000 service personnel a year, most of whom are processed through the Gosport site, the Head of Sailing Training will be primarily responsible to the Officer in Charge for assuring the safe, efficient and effective delivery of all sailing output.

The Civil Service offers a wide range of personal and professional experience with a team that respects and values individual contributions.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week with specific contract arrangements to enable on water training delivery up to a maximum of 10 weeks a year. 

Job description

The HST responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

· Providing up to date UK and MOD related offshore sailing Subject Matter Expertise (SME) advice to the OIC.

· Planning, managing and assuring the delivery of all sailing output.

· Managing the quality of current and future sailing output.

· Managing provision of assurance of sailing operations.

· Coordinating assets to deliver the agreed short, medium and long term sailing programme.

· Managing recruiting, induction, training and validation of all permanent and temporary sailing staff.

· Delivering training analysis to structure future output.

· Line management of sailing staff.

· Convening and chairing routine sailing assurance meetings.

· Investigating sailing incidents at JSASTC and elsewhere as directed.

· Lead, deliver and validate on water sailing training activity in person.

· Undertaking other tasks as appropriate to the grade in furtherance of pan-Army objectives and for personal development opportunities.

Person specification

JSASTC is looking to appoint a highly motivated, passionate, and dynamic individual to join its senior management team to lead the provision of core output:- Adventure Training to UK Service Personnel through offshore sailing and a combination of course delivery in accordance with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) sailing scheme, and worldwide sailing expeditions, using a large and well equipped MOD training fleet of yachts from 34 to 72ft. 

Based at JSASTC’s modern and well-equipped site at Gosport, the Head of Sailing Training will work with the two Chief Instructors responsible for the two key areas of delivery - RYA courses and Continuation Training to deliver assured and effective training, closely coordinated with the other core departments within JSASTC. The HST is integral to the planning and assurance of all sailing activity, specifically safety and training quality, working closely with the OIC to develop and deliver the long-term strategy for continued delivery. The HST is a member of the JSASTC management team, providing clear and independent advice to the OIC and other members of the management team.

Suitable applicants will require to have a strong understanding of sailing training assurance underpinned by formal qualifications as an experienced RYA Yachtmaster Instructor (YMI), preferably YM Examiner, with significant ocean level and worldwide sailing experience on large yachts (up to 72 feet). The HST will be expected to participate in sailing activity in the UK and worldwide to assure, validate and lead sailing training as part of the JSASTC commitment to delivering sailing activity. However, the position is primarily a sail training management position, and the successful applicant will be focused on ensuring the delivery rather than delivering. Specifically, the HST will manage the JSASTC leadership development programme to identify and develop future Service Personnel Adventure Training leaders. The HST is Line Manager for seven Civil Servants of EO to HEO grade.

After an initial induction period, the HST will need to be familiar with the MOD Adventure Training scheme and the principles embodied in it. All Civil Servants are offered comprehensive induction training as well as the opportunity to develop individual knowledge and skills as part of the MOD commitment to continuous professional development and skills development.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes £11,631 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.

The recruiting process will consist of the following elements.

At sift and interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Developing Self and Others
• Changing and Improving

Candidates will be required to provide a Statement of Suitability (250 Words) and a CV; details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.  

Your initial written application will be assessed against the following criteria:

Relevant Experience:

• Experience of managing sailing activity, sailing staff, finances and training output as a RYA School Chief Instructor, manager or at a similar sailing organisation delivering offshore sailing.
• Significant experience of delivering effective assurance of sailing activity through Safety Management Systems.
• Ocean going Sailing experience as Skipper of up to 70ft sailing vessels on extended passages
• Experience of yacht management and maintenance as a user.

Sailing Qualifications:

• Applicants must be a minimum of RYA Yachtmaster Ocean and in date Yachtmaster Instructor, preferably YM Examiner
• Up to date Professional Practises and Responsibilities Course
• Up to date Seafarers medical certificate (ENG 1) with at least 12 months remaining. 
• Preferably Classroom Instructor qualified.
• Safety Risk Manager trained.
• Proficient with MS Windows and Office suite.

As part of your written application you will be required to submit a personal statement aligned to provide evidence that you have the required knowledge and recent practical experience, and to demonstrate your suitability for the position. Your personal statement should address the following:

• Why do you want to work at JSASTC?
• What management skills will you bring to JSASTC?
• What do you understand about the role of Adventure Training in the MOD?
• How do you think that delivery of Adventure Training may be different from commercial delivery of sailing training?
• What will you aim to achieve in the first six months?

Following sift of the written applications, individuals selected for interview will be invited to visit JSASTC for a meeting with the OIC and tour of the facilities to enable them to prepare for interviews. This will include viewing training activity, JSASTC equipment, including the MOD yachts, and meeting key staff. A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice, but normally more, will be provided for interviews. We endeavor to stick to these timelines, but they are subject to change around business needs. Individuals called forward for interview, to be held at Headquarters Army Adventure Training Group (AATG) based in Upavon, Wiltshire (to be confirmed) will be required to provide a formal presentation, using appropriate presentational aids, to the interview board. Further details will be provided to applicants selected for interview. This will be followed by questions by board members, focused on all 4 Behaviours and relevant Qualifications and Experience listed above.

Following initial acceptance, the successful applicant will be processed by Defence Business Services (DBS), including security clearance. This process can take up to four months from the interview date depending on the individual. Following an agreed start date, AATG and JSASTC will provide an effective general Civil Service and focused JSASTC induction period followed by the standard Civil Service probationary period of six 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. 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.