Job description for Salvage Operator Underwater

Why join SALMO? SALMO is the MOD’s centre of excellence for marine salvage and emergency response. Our multidisciplinary team, ranging from Master Mariners and Naval Architects to Environmental Scientists and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) / Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) Operators, delivers critical support to UK Defence operations around the globe. Whether it’s locating downed aircraft on the seabed, surveying wrecks, towing warships, or conducting emergency response drills, our work is as varied as it is vital.

Are you an experienced surface supplied diver with an interest in the field of marine salvage operations? Are you excited by the prospect of working in a challenging role and want the opportunity to advance your career in diving and marine environment? Then this could be the ideal position for you!

The SALMO team at the Marine Salvage Units in Devonport are looking for experienced divers to act as our diving safety focal point, and be responsible for the day to day management of all aspects of diving maintenance both ashore and afloat.

Building on your proven background and qualifications in surface supplied diving, DE&S will provide you with the necessary training and help you on your journey to becoming an experienced salvage operator underwater.

In addition to your core role and responsibilities as a diver, supervisor, maintainer, you will have the opportunity to support all other areas of SALMO, as and when required. This may be in the form of underwater engineering support, welding/tooling, seabed survey and ROV. There may also be the opportunity for regular deployments within the UK, abroad and afloat, leading as a focal point of the dive team, instilling best practice in operations as well as the shore-based management role.

What’s in it for you? This is more than just a job; it’s a chance to make a real impact. The role is operationally critical and comes with additional allowances under SALMO Terms and Conditions, reflecting the importance and intensity of the work you’ll be doing.

What you’ll be doing

• As an experienced diver serve as a leading member of the diving team overseeing the day‑to‑day management of diving and maintenance activities ashore and afloat.
• Lead equipment preparation, operational planning, documentation, and the implementation of safe systems of work for diving operations.
• Manage compliance with HSE regulations, system maintenance requirements, and associated reviews.
• Conduct diving‑related risk assessments as part of routine responsibilities.
• Maintain the Safety Case, standard operating procedures, and safety management systems in line with the post’s Safety Delegation.
• Support wider SALMO and Defence outputs by undertaking additional tasks as required.
• Contribute to marine operations, including workboat operation, towing, aircraft location and recovery, underwater engineering, remotely operated underwater vehicles, moorings, and dive system auditing work.

Person specification

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

• Have experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful subsea activities or marine operations; and

• Have technical experience of marine operations in a variety of contexts; and

• In date Surface Supplied Diving qualifications that comply with Schedule 1 or Schedule 2, of the HSE Diving at Work Regulations 1997 List of Approved Diving Qualifications1 plus 3 years diving experience (supported by a logbook).

And: 

• Be a Sole UK National; and
• Full UK Driving Licence; and
• Annual HSE dive medical
• Be able to satisfy requirements of:
• 2-Yearly ENG1 Seafarers Medical2., and
• Be enlisted as a Royal Navy Sponsored Reserve 2.

This role is subject to Retained Grade Terms and Conditions and differ from the DE&S standard Terms and Conditions.

For SALMO Retained Grade seeking promotion, please refer to Part 2, Section 10.2 of the SALMO Retained Grade Handbook.

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

• Core Behaviour 1: Making Effective Decisions – CSBC 3
• Core Behaviour 2: Working Together – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_02 Safety Management – Awareness
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions – Supervised Practitioner

 Offered Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,200, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,515 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Full time staff employed for less than 5 years are entitled to 26.5 days’ annual leave per year, rising to 31.5 days per year after 5 years of service
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded professional 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

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES_Candidate-Information-Pack
• SALMO Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/SALMO-Terms-and-Conditions

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.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

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