We have an exciting opportunity to join the Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (OHSE) team within the Corporate Services Group.

As our Occupational Health and Safety Senior Advisor, you’ll play a pivotal role in helping to shape a safer, more compliant workplace, managing risk, and ensuring alignment with statutory regulations, as well as DE&S and MOD OHSE policies. You will have regular, meaningful engagement with key regulatory bodies such as the Health & Safety Executive, Civil Contingency Teams, and the Defence Safety Authority and will be empowered to challenge and influence senior stakeholders and suppliers, helping to uphold safety standards with confidence and professionalism.

You’ll find the work will be varied and rewarding, offering a wide range of safety activities that will stretch your skills and support your growth. You’ll be a trusted advisor to the Head of Establishment and other department stakeholders, leading regular forums, creating space for collaboration, knowledge sharing, continuous improvement, and providing expert guidance on Occupational, Fire, and Health & Safety legislation. As the lead for fire safety, you’ll take ownership of all related matters, acting as the competent advisor and ensuring the internal emergency plan is robust, up to date, and fit for purpose.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60%, 3 days of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

What you’ll be doing

• Functioning as the site focal point for fire safety management by fulfilling corporate requirements, managing enquiries, and liaising with internal and external stakeholders.
• Conducting reviews, audits, and supports assurance activities to ensure due diligence against fire risk assessments and internal emergency plans.
• Supporting accident incident reporting, conducting investigations, and learning from experience.
• Assisting in embedding compliance of OHS legislation and regulations across DE&S including reviewing safety critical documentation while promoting a positive safety culture.
• Providing metrics for performance reporting and managing dashboard reporting and risk registers.

Person specification

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

• Hold a NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent level 3 qualification and demonstrate relevant work experience in a similar role.
• Demonstrate experience of fire safety management.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Communicating and Influencing – CSBC3
• Core Behaviour 2: Delivering at Pace – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: Audit & Assurance (OHS) – Practitioner Level
• Technical Competence 2: Conducting Risk Assessments (OHS) – Practitioner Level

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,200, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,197 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So, whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles – Civil Service Commission
• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code: The Code – Civil Service Commission 

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here. 

Disability Confident

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Conflicts of Interest

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.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1

• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2

• 3rd: Technical Competencies

• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criterion, and/or and additional assessment.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints – Civil Service Commission

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