About the job

Job summary

Join an integral part of the UK's defence and discover a rewarding professional career as part of the organisation responsible for the design, build, in-service support and disposal of the UK’s Nuclear Submarines.

Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence.

Engineering is the largest business function in our organisation – and it’s one of the most fulfilling too. Because it’s only by delivering the most advanced, battle-winning technology that we can keep those on the front line at the top of their game. That’s why we stay inventive and create positive change, with a strong focus on sustainable sourcing and minimising environmental impact too.

Environmental protection, climate change and sustainability are crucial subjects for us here at the SDA. You’ll be supporting one of the most complex products on the planet, which includes end-to-end lifecycle activities associated with nuclear submarines and the supporting infrastructure. These opportunities will allow you to work with our integrated team of highly skilled professionals to ensure that we manage our environmental impacts appropriately.

The SDA is looking for talented, motivated, and creative potential environmentalists to join our Level 6 Environmental Degree Apprenticeship Scheme and become our Environmentalists of the future. If you’ve got the pride, passion, and commitment to be part of an exciting organisation at the forefront of supporting our country's armed forces and help to deliver on operations at home and abroad, apply online now.

Job description

Successful applicants will undertake a comprehensive programme of study associated with the Environmental Practitioner (Degree) Standard ST0778.

This is a five-year apprenticeship scheme starting in September 2024. During the scheme, your permanent duty station will be MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, and your training will be at our approved training supplier The University of the West of England (UWE).

During your apprenticeship you will have the opportunity to carry out a number of work-based technical placements at defence specific locations within the UK, such as Abbey Wood, Bristol, HMNB Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness, HMNB Devonport, Plymouth as well as Rosyth and HMNB Clyde in Scotland.

Following a successful Gateway Interview, at the end of Year One, you will proceed to the next phase of your apprenticeship.

On successful completion of Year Three and following a further successful Gateway Interview, and will progress onto the final stage of the apprenticeship to complete your full degree, whilst continuing to work on work-based technical placements across defence.

On successful completion of the scheme and End Point Assessment you will be appointed to an environmental role within the Engineering Function within the SDA, where you will use your Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours to support and equip the armed forces, specifically within the Submarine Delivery Agency. You may be given the opportunity to permanently relocate to one of our waterfront locations listed above.

This apprenticeship offers a permanent contract which is bound to successful completion of the scheme.

Because of the classification of much of the work in the SDA, all posts will be open to UK Nationals only. Further information on Nationality Requirements is attached below. 

Responsibilities

In this role, you will participate in structured training and gather experience and knowledge through several work-based placements to learn and then apply environmental concepts and principles in a defence environment.

 You’ll be expected to:

• Participate fully in assigned educational training to develop your own environmental capabilities in a defence context; 
• Deliver environmental products/services against agreed objectives to develop knowledge and experience and add value to the team and wider business within the SDA; 
• Build an awareness and understanding of how environmental sections within the Engineering Function and wider business operates to assist with own development and career progression; 
• Seek opportunities to develop knowledge and experience to progress as an Environmental Degree Apprentice within the time specified; 
• Provide support to colleagues in their specialist area and actively contribute to team meetings to help with the work of the team; 
• Build and maintain a network of internal business contacts and peers to gain knowledge and identify opportunities to learn and develop; and
• Identify and participate in wider development opportunities to build on Engineering Function Success Profile Competencies and Behaviours, such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) events. 

Throughout your scheme, you will be supported by your Apprentice Manager, as well as a Placement Supervisor. You will participate in various professional and personal development opportunities and workshops as well as a peer mentoring scheme, with plenty of opportunities to reach your full potential and become a real asset to the SDA Engineering Function and beyond.

Person specification

You will be assessed against the following essential qualifications, behaviours and technical skills listed below. 

Interviews will be held throughout April 2024 and following completion of all pre-employment checks successful candidates can expect to start employment in September 2024.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,270, Ministry of Defence contributes £6,823 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.

Your application will go through several stages of assessment which are outlined below:

Application - We strongly recommend tailoring your CV in line with our CV guidance before applying, with specific sections to highlight Key Achievements, Relevant Experience, and Applied Skills & Knowledge. 

Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the above categories, using a simple numerical scoring system and the top scoring candidates will be invited to a formal interview. It is beneficial to your application if you can demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• Relevant work experience, demonstrating environmental skills, including through internships or placements.

Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories and the technical competences and behaviours listed below. More details about our Behaviours can be found attached at the bottom of the page.

• Formulate environmental policy and procedures (Awareness);
• Implementation of policy and procedures, creation of strategies and effective plans for environmental aspects of MOD acquisition cycle (Awareness);
• Communicating and Influencing CSBC2; and
• Working Together CSBC2.

During the interview, it will be advantageous to demonstrate you have an understanding of the following:

• The CADMID Cycle;
• The potential environmental impacts of a nuclear submarine; and
• The importance of recognising environmental impacts.

Please note, expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please note offers of employment are subject to achieving satisfactory pre-employment and security checks. These include an Occupational Health Assessment and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). As part of this you will need to confirm your identity, employment/education history, nationality and any criminal record (unspent convictions only). 

The level of security needed is Security Check (SC) and you should usually have been continuously resident in the UK for 5 years immediately before clearance action commences. If you have lived overseas or travelled extensively during this period, it may affect the length of time to obtain full security clearance and this may affect your offer of employment. It is essential that ALL requests for information are completed fully and timely, as incomplete information may result in significant delays. Offers of employment are also subject to candidates achieving acceptable grades where predicted.

Nationality Requirements - Further Information for Candidates  

1. This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per Civil Service Nationality Rules Section 3. In accordance with these rules, ‘only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service’1 (Paragraph. 3.1).  

UK National Definition  

1. The definition of a ‘UK National’ can be found at Paragraphs. 1.4-1.8 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules.  

Dual Nationals  

1. As per Paragraph. 1.41 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:  

1. ‘Candidates with dual nationality are in principle eligible for employment in the Civil Service provided that they meet the requirements in relation to one of their nationalities [i.e. UK National]. They may not be eligible, however, for employment in certain reserved posts where additional nationality requirements are imposed.’  

Additional Restrictions for Reserved Posts  

1. As per Paragraphs. 3.10-3.11 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:  

1. ‘…departments and agencies are entitled to impose additional requirements in reserved posts if this is considered necessary. This could include, for example, requirements as to the residency of the applicant or the nationality of one or both parents of the applicant.’  

1. If you are a Dual National who possesses UK Nationality and wish to check your eligibility for the post, please contact our recruiting team at the details below. Please be advised that we will not be able to provide a justification for our decision for security reasons.  

1.Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before, or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996. (Paragraph. 3.1)   

No application can be accepted after the closing date.  

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

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.