About the job

Job summary

DE&S Deca is a specialist operating centre within Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S).  An integral part of UK Defence, we are tasked with supporting the maintenance, repair, overhaul, upgrade, procurement and managed services provision of a vast range of defence avionics, electronics and general equipment to ensure the UK Armed Forces can operate safely and effectively.  

This new role is key to the modernisation and development of the technical skills and knowledge of our apprentices, wider workforce and external military learners. Working closely with all stakeholders, the role holder will deliver engaging, high quality theoretical and practical training to improve technical competence and skills of the whole workforce.

As a Defence electronics focused repair and maintenance organisation, we adhere to exacting standards with the ability to adapt flexibly to an ever-evolving strategic landscape.    

Ideally, you will be an experienced subject matter expert who has the drive, enthusiasm and commitment to improve the skillset of the current workforce. You will keep abreast of developments to ensure our workforce, now and in the future, is equipped to meet the demands of tomorrow.

Being mindful of the scrutiny on public sector pay and in accordance with Civil Service Terms and Conditions, salary on appointment is normally at the minimum point of the salary range and this should therefore be the expectation. Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the normal Civil Service pay rules.

Job description

Working as part of the Learning & Development team, the primary focus of the role will be to co-ordinate the Technical Apprenticeship Programme, ensuring it provides an engaging and supportive experience for our apprentices, while delivering the future skills the business needs.  This will include delivering in- house training and revise the technical content for our two Level 3 Apprenticeship schemes in line with business needs.

Secondary focus is to co-ordinate the provision of technical training solutions for internal and external customers either by delivering bespoke events, through partnerships with local colleges, promoting Defence delivered courses or via commercial partners. The role will ensure that training is provided in accordance with defined standards.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Manage the technical training room and workshop to ensure it is fit for purpose, conduct risk assessments for all activities undertaken.
2. Lead the annual review of technical apprenticeship curriculum and ensure content delivered by DE&S Deca compliments the foundations established by the college.
3. Coordinate work placements to ensure the evidence for professional accreditation is achieved.
4. Ensure that technical apprentices have accurate logbooks reflecting the training and learning that is delivered and working with technical line managers to develop action plans to support training needs. Develop and deliver technical training solutions based on analysis of current and future SQEP (Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel) requirements.
5. Ensure new starters in technical roles undergo basic technical training and safety awareness.
6. Monitor, measure and evaluate the effectiveness of training provided.
7. Maintain a keen understanding of training trends, developments and best practices adopted by Defence and industry.
8. Provide governance of technical training completed and ensure that qualifications and accreditations are accurately recorded.
9. Supporting internal training delivery and examinations: including Electrostatic Sensitive Devices (ESDs); Precision Termination Tooling (PTT); Surface Mounted Technologies (SMT); Printed Circuit Board Repair Techniques (PCB); Human Factors (HF) and any other agreed courses.
10. Delivering conversion courses to enhance single skilled and dual skilled personnel to a multi skilled technician.
11. Creating syllabus and programmes to meet the need identified in accordance with Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT).
12. Delivering training, syllabus and student management in accordance with DSAT.
13. Delivering contracted training programmes to external customers on a scheduled basis.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you will need to show that you meet the following criteria: 

Essential Criteria:

• Relevant HNC qualification (i.e. Level 4 or higher) in a Technical Engineering discipline.
• Level 3 qualification in Education or Training or prepared to attain within year one.
• Track record of delivering aviation and electronic theory including associated practical hand tool-skills
• Previous experience of syllabus and instructional specification writing to Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT) specifications.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience as a repair technician with evidence of competence in electrical/electronic military systems or other relevant fields.
• Capable of delivering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subject matter in practical and theoretical formats for outreach activities.
• Experience as an instructor / examiner in avionics, electronics or other relevant field.
• Experience of course design experience in a training environment.
• Experience of supporting and engaging with a range of students from 16 years plus.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,678, DE&S Deca contributes £9,363 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.

At application you will be required to provide a CV and Personal Statement of 250 words evidencing against the essential criteria, and your overall suitability for the role. You will also be required to provide specific competency examples against the following Behaviours at both application and interview stages:

• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together

At interview you will need to provide further examples against the following Technical Skill:

• Knowledge of delivering aviation and electronic theory.

A UK driving license is also a requirement for this role.

All employees joining DE&S Deca who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period, which will be effective from the employment start date.

A smoke-free organisation As of 31st December 2022, we’re a completely smoke-free organisation, with the use of all tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vaping devices prohibited on DE&S Deca sites.

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

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.