About the job

Job summary

His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde (HMNB Clyde) is home to the United Kingdom’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent, Astute Class Attack Submarines, Sandown Class Mine Hunter Vessels and 43 Cdo Royal Marines. It is an operational support and maintenance base, within the Navy Command TLB and comprises both Faslane and Coulport sites. HMNB Clyde’s primary purpose is to provide engineering and logistical support to the Royal Navy in maintaining Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD). This is achieved by ensuring at least one Vanguard Class submarine is on patrol at sea every day of the year.         

RNAD Coulport is responsible for the storage, processing, maintenance and issue of the Trident Weapon System and the ammunitioning of all submarine-embarked tactical weapons.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Safety Assurance (SA), headed by Captain Base Safety (CBS), provides self-regulation and assurance of compliance with all relevant legislative and regulatory requirements on behalf of the Naval Base Commander, the Authorisee.

Within SA, the NSAO posts provides assurance that the extant Nuclear Site Safety Justification is supported by an approved and authorised suite of documentation of an appropriate standard and that it is being implemented such that Nuclear Safety is achieved and maintained. The NSAO posts provide support to the Nuclear Activity Assurance Manager (NAAM), who is the lead for the Nuclear Safety Assurance Inspection Programme, which provides assurance to the Authorisee (Naval Base Commander Clyde) of the Naval Base's continued compliance against the requirements of the Authorisation Conditions as described in DSA02-DNSR.

Person specification

The NSAO posts are responsible, on behalf of the Clyde Authorisee, CBS and SA Asst Hd for:

Providing Assurance that all NP Activities undertaken at HMNB Clyde comply with regulatory and legislative requirements; in particular the NP Authorisation Conditions detailed in DSA02-DNSR and the Nuclear Weapons Safety Principles and Safety Criteria (if in a supporting role to combined inspections). The NSAO posts deliver this by managing and conducting a programme of combined NP, NW and WiH AC inspections, including system based, reactive and themed inspections. (NUC 1.1 & 1.2 – I, NUC 1.5 - II).

Undertaking detailed review of the Authorisee’s Policy for AC compliance and supporting Safety Management Arrangements.

Where appropriate recommend any enforcement action to be taken against identified non-compliance i.e., safety improvement notice / prohibition notice.

Providing Assurance that the safety and design intent requirements detailed in the suite of safety cases, for NRP and NW activities /operations undertaken at HMNB Clyde are fulfilled and complied with (NUC 1.3 - I, NUC 1.2 & 1.5 – II).

Supporting assessments of the safety submissions as a member of the Clyde Nuclear Safety Committees (SDCC, NSSSC & CNSC).

As an ex-officio member of the Clyde Nuclear Authorisation Groups (PAG, NSAG & DNSAG) Supporting assessments of installation, commissioning, examination, inspection, maintenance, testing (EIMT) and operating procedures associated with the safety submission to gain assurance that they comply with the safety and design intent requirements contained therein; in particular AC23 Operating Rules and AC27 SMDC.

Undertaking targeted compliance inspections of new activities and operations scoped by the safety submission to gain assurance that safety and design intent requirements contained in the safety submission are fulfilled.

Assisting in the review and production of the DSA02-DNSR Internal Intervention Strategy and Intervention Plan for HMNB Clyde. NUC 1.5 – II

To provide advice and guidance on all aspects of activities and operations Nuclear Safety Management Issues within HMNB Clyde, primarily in their area of expertise and consistent with SA objectives.  NUC 1.2 – II

Provide support to the NAAM function of providing assurance that adequate control is being exercised, in the course of introducing new operations and activities to Clyde (Hold Point Control), such that all risks are identified and demonstrated to be As Low As Reasonably Practicable and that Nuclear Safety is achieved and maintained NUC 1.5 – II.   

Represent SA at Level 4 Regulatory Interface Forums, routine dialogues and Facility Workstreams.    NUC 1.5 – II

To act as Internal Assessor during HMNB Clyde Nuclear Emergency Exercises, in support of NAAM when required, providing and interpreting feedback to facilitate continuous improvement, being aware of how other agencies will engage with the Defence Nuclear Programme emergency response plans and who will be best placed to perform their duties. Maintaining knowledge of and applying industry good practice in Nuclear Emergency Planning.  NUC 3.3 – I & NUC 1.5 - II

To provide advice and guidance on all aspects of the HMNB Clyde Nuclear Site Safety Justification within the primary area of work.  NUC 1.3 – I

Ex-officio member for the following:-

• Nuclear Site Safety Sub Committee            
• Hold Point Readiness Assessment (HPRA) – VCSOWG, WSOWG & IWG
• Procedure Authorisation Group (PAG)                     
• Nuclear Services Authorisation Group (NSAG) – Faslane
• Nuclear Services Authorisation Group (NSAG) – Coulport
• Site Safety Case Working Group
• Facility Workstream
• Docking Nuclear Services Authorisation Group (DNSAG)
• Safety Design Control Committee (SDCC)

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 Technical skills.

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

 Applications and interviews will be sifted based on the behaviours and the Technical Skills attached to this Vacancy.

At Sift/Interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours/Technical Skills:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• NUC1.1 - Nuclear Safety and Security Culture
• NUC1.2 - Nuclear Safety Management Systems
• NUC1.5 - Nuclear Safety Assurance and Regulation

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.

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

Security

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.

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.