About the job

Job summary

Have you ever considered working in an exciting inclusive engineering training 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 a modern 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 Personal Learning Adviser (PLA) for 4SoTT, you will be responsible to the CO 4SoTT, through the Chief of Staff for the efficient operation, administration, and effectiveness of all professional and personal development activities in accordance with current MOD and single Service Policy, Rules and Guidance, giving timely and accurate managerial advice whenever required.

Having an awareness of the different types of training and development activity and be able to advise all staff on the most appropriate method to meet their needs.

Provide impartial and confidential advice and ensure that personnel are able to undertake courses which are of the right level for their ability and use the right delivery methods for their preferred learning style or work patterns.

The Personal Learning Adviser will monitor and assist those undertaking distance learning who may require additional support, particularly with regard to access to IT facilities.

Assist Line Managers in checking that the training and development activity provides best value for money and fulfils the business objectives by ensuring the completion of individual evaluation forms which are be used to provide constructive feedback to the 4SoTT Executives, Line Managers and the training providers.

Have a good knowledge of the training guidance contained in the RAF Manual of Training and Education and other publications setting out current MOD Civilian Policy, Rules and Guidance on the help that is available from the Department: e.g. funding, day release etc.

Provide appropriate facilities to support learners including Classrooms, Study/Interview Rooms, exam facilities, reference materials, and IT facilities.

Maintain a current library of training information that is available to all staff. This should include, as a minimum, copies of the current Defence Academy prospectus, resettlement information, and information from local higher and further education Colleges and other training providers.

Process applications for both internal and external training and development activities using the appropriate process and procedures.

Act as the focal point for advice on the enhanced learning credits and standard learning credits funding schemes for Service personnel. To facilitate this, the personal learning adviser is to be aware of changes to the schemes and have access to the on-line authorisation system.

Maintain electronic and/or manual training records. Local reporting requirements should be considered when deciding which training records are essential to keep.

Produce regular statistical information and reports on training activity for Line Managers and Training Officers to aid the evaluation process, and feed into Training Plans.

Manage training spend against budget. Where necessary the personal learning adviser will obtain the approval from Budget Staff on expenditure over your personal specific limit as detailed in any Letters of Delegation.

Manage and administer Induction Training for all Unit personnel. This to include arranging the Unit Arrivals Brief and mandated induction training activities.

Maintain accurate Mandatory Training records for all Unit personnel and provide regular management reports.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) 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. You must be well organised and proficient in time management. 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. 

Essential:

• Vetting is required from the Disclosure and Barring service.
• A thorough knowledge of the work of the Unit. 
• An understanding of the development opportunities available across Government, the Department and externally in local colleges, institutions etc.
• An awareness of changes to the organisation that may affect training needs.
• An awareness of developments in the wider training and development field.
• The desirable professional skills, knowledge or qualifications for the post are:
• Previous training delivery experience / qualification
• Project Management experience / qualification.
• Coaching and Mentoring Qualification

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,641 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.

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

Interviews will be held late Jan/early Feb 24  

Sift and Interviews will be assessed against the following Behaviours :

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

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.