About the job

Job summary

Within the Design Authority, this role is responsible for the production and approval of the nuclear safety cases for current and new classes of nuclear submarine at HMNB(C). 

This post may be eligible for the NSQEP Recruitment Retention Allowance of up to £12,000 per annum. This allowance is discretionary and will be dependent on a candidate's ability to successfully demonstrate the necessary competency, qualifications, and experience to an independent panel of Subject Matter Experts.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Her 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. RNAD Coulport is undergoing a significant period of change with the introduction of new submarines, weapons systems and infrastructure. The Design Authority is a key enabler to making this change a reality.

As a Design Authority Nuclear Safety Assessor, you will be responsible for managing the continuous development of nuclear safety cases covering key defence nuclear activities relating to nuclear powered warships and nuclear weapon systems, considering both the current fleet of nuclear class submarines, and also developing the safety case supporting the integration of the next generation nuclear submarine including the Nuclear Steam Raising Plant and Strategic and Tactical Weapons Systems . To do this you will:

• Act as the Intelligent Customer for delivery of Nuclear Reactor and Nuclear Weapon safety cases, ensuring these are consistent with current good practice and regulatory requirements.
• Provide subject matter expert advice and guidance to the Site Operator.

Person specification

This role requires experience of nuclear safety case production and assessment. Candidates with experience of safety case development in other high hazard industries will also be considered.

The following Skills and Experience are required:

• Safety Case delivery, including Hazard Analysis, demonstration of ALARP, and ensuring the validity of claims, arguments and evidence.
• Presenting to Safety Committees.
• A track record of making intelligent, evidence-based decisions using various sources of data.
• The ability to effectively manage and prioritise your own and a team's workload.
• Experience of communicating with different teams on safety related subjects – ensuring clarity of message and a common understanding of issues and objectives.
• Minimum of Engineering Council degree in an engineering/science subject (or equivalent qualification or experience).

This role is a Reserved Post as it requires access to Protectively Marked Information associated with the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme and Nuclear Weapon Programme and therefore applicant requires to be a sole UK national.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

This vacancy assesses candidates through Success Profiles, the new recruitment framework used within the Civil Service. Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly. 

Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history, full details of education and qualifications and previous experiences and skills.

Candidates will be required to complete a Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words. Please provide experience relevant to the role.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The minimum level of security needed for this role is Developed Vetting.

Applicants at interview will be assessed on the following behaviours: 

• leadership
• making effective decisions 
• communicating and influencing

Applicants at interview will be assessed on the following Technical Skills:

• Nuclear Competence framework competence 1.3 Level 2 (see attached) - Nuclear safety cases

We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of gender and ethnic group. Appointment will be based on merit alone

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

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  

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 developed vetting (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.