Defence Aircrew Publications Squadron – Desk Officer-Perf-02 Full Time

Job Summary

Primarily located at MOD Boscombe Down (alternate office location at RAF Brize Norton), a post at the Defence Aircrew Publications Squadron offers you the unique opportunity to work with past and present military aircrew, industry partners and Defence procurement to ensure that military aircrew get the aircraft technical, performance and handling information, together with normal and emergency operating procedures in an accessible format at the point of need.

Providing assurance, documentation, support and advice, the mix of Civil Servants and Serving military aircrew of the Defence Aircrew Publications Squadron serve the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and Army aircrew, whether flying fast jets, transport, ISTAR or training aircraft, helicopters or Uncrewed Air Systems.

Our output directly supports each Air System’s Type Airworthiness Authority, as the individual who is ultimately responsible for the Aircrew Publications used by the Front Line. You will work with the Delivery Teams, industry partners and the Front Line to ensure you maintain a comprehensive working knowledge of the publications, the processes that support them, and their deficiencies and challenges to enable an effective continuous improvement cycle. Where airworthiness, air safety or fitness for purpose is challenged, you will use your expertise to flag the issues and help shape the get-well package.

The position is advertised at 37 hours per week, although part-time hours would be considered. Managed hybrid working is an option, however regular attendance at the Squadron is essential to ensure Squadron output standards are maintained.

Job Description

Depending on your experience and the skill set you bring, you may work initially in Assurance, Delivery or Aircraft Performance Flights. Regardless of Flight, collaborative working is essential, requiring the sharing of information, the ability to review the work of others, and importantly, the willingness to offer your own work for review, accepting the drive to improve.

The work packages range from small, well-defined pieces of work, where both output and process are defined, to long term programmes where you will need to establish relationships; visiting stakeholders, attending meetings virtually or in person and seeking out relevant information.

Written media remains the primary output, whether in hard or softcopy. The ability to produce clear, concise, and correct text, focused on the reader, is important whether within the Aircrew Documents, an Assurance report, advice to a Delivery Team, routine correspondence, or just maintaining the internal audit trail.

Our support to Airworthiness requires your work to be recorded, auditable and retained for future reference. Regulation and supporting business processes govern what we do; however, compliance does not guarantee safety and you should be open and ready to intervene where the intended path introduces additional, unexpected, hazards or challenges to Air Safety or Airworthiness.

The Role May Include The Following:

Your role in the Squadron will be Flight dependent, but all roles contribute to the whole and the key deliverables.

Assurance Flight requires you to use your critical thinking skills to review evidence against defined criteria, highlight where evidence is weak, identify where additional information may be sought, and produce an assurance report for the Air System’s Type Airworthiness Authority. Prior to release you will offer the draft report for peer and management review to ensure the report has captured the relevant details, that the arguments are clear, and recommendations appropriate.

The Delivery Flight role requires you to establish a working knowledge of the processes providing the Aircrew Document, including softcopy material or information provided to electronic flight bags. Your prior experiences and the relationship you build with the Front Line will aid your understanding of the content and use of the Aircrew Documents. Where we produce Aircrew Documents, you will author and maintain those documents allocated to you. Where documents are industry supplied you will review and provide comment.

The Performance Flight role is similar to Delivery, although few documents require authorship. An additional, task is to review the evidence provided to substantiate the performance data and provide advice to the Delivery Team. Increasingly the Flight is tasked to review programs or apps that provide performance information. You may also be tasked with providing advice to the Front Line on performance matters

Depending on your experience and the skill set you bring, you may work initially in Assurance, Delivery or Aircraft Performance Flights. Regardless of Flight, collaborative working is essential, requiring the sharing of information, the ability to review the work of others, and importantly, the willingness to offer your own work for review, accepting the drive to improve.

The work packages range from small, well-defined pieces of work, where both output and process are defined, to long term programmes where you will need to establish relationships; visiting stakeholders, attending meetings virtually or in person and seeking out relevant information.

Written media remains the primary output, whether in hard or softcopy. The ability to produce clear, concise, and correct text, focused on the reader, is important whether within the Aircrew Documents, an Assurance report, advice to a Delivery Team, routine correspondence, or just maintaining the internal audit trail.

Our support to Airworthiness requires your work to be recorded, auditable and retained for future reference. Regulation and supporting business processes govern what we do; however, compliance does not guarantee safety and you should be open and ready to intervene where the intended path introduces additional, unexpected, hazards or challenges to Air Safety or Airworthiness.

The Role May Include The Following:

Your role in the Squadron will be Flight dependent, but all roles contribute to the whole and the key deliverables.

Assurance Flight requires you to use your critical thinking skills to review evidence against defined criteria, highlight where evidence is weak, identify where additional information may be sought, and produce an assurance report for the Air System’s Type Airworthiness Authority. Prior to release you will offer the draft report for peer and management review to ensure the report has captured the relevant details, that the arguments are clear, and recommendations appropriate.

The Delivery Flight role requires you to establish a working knowledge of the processes providing the Aircrew Document, including softcopy material or information provided to electronic flight bags. Your prior experiences and the relationship you build with the Front Line will aid your understanding of the content and use of the Aircrew Documents. Where we produce Aircrew Documents, you will author and maintain those documents allocated to you. Where documents are industry supplied you will review and provide comment.

The Performance Flight role is similar to Delivery, although few documents require authorship. An additional, task is to review the evidence provided to substantiate the performance data and provide advice to the Delivery Team. Increasingly the Flight is tasked to review programs or apps that provide performance information. You may also be tasked with providing advice to the Front Line on performance matters

Person specification

Your Experience And Knowledge Are Key To Establishing Yourself As Credible When Representing The Squadron And In Enabling Your Work. Key Requirements Are:

A good knowledge of the role of the Aircrew Documents in maintenance of Airworthiness and Air Safety in the Defence Aviation Environment. This might have been obtained as aircrew, within industry or a Delivery Team, or within an aviation engineering organisation.

All roles require an inquiring attitude and the ability to make evidence-based judgements.

Good communication skills are essential, including the ability to draft documents for aircrew or briefs for Senior Officers, using clear, concise English.

The ability to seek, collate and evaluate evidence, such that clear advice can be given is highly desirable.

The ability to review performance information requires some numeric competence and analytical skills. Experience of the production of performance information would be advantageous.

This role may be suited to an individual with experience of working with Aircrew Publications or experience in the management or delivery of a Quality Management or Quality Assurance System, or an individual with experience in the use of, or assessment of performance information.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

Please apply online by the closing date, providing detail of your experience and suitability for the role, as these are essential due to the Air Safety Critical nature of the post. A sift of all applications will then take place, with those candidates suitable for interview will be contacted to arrange a date for an interview at DAPS.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include: job history and previous relevant skills and experience.

At interview, you will be assessed against your previous experience gained and also the following Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership

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 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.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : Lt Cdr Marcus Wilson
• Email : marcus.wilson901@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.