Job description for Seabed Surveyor

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 excited by the prospect of working in a challenging role and want the opportunity to continue on your journey to become an ROV or AUV Surveyor or Maintainer? Then this could be the ideal position for you!

You will develop experience to independently operate ROV and AUV systems for various underwater tasks, including inspections, data collection, and repairs. Take responsibility for the system’s performance, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring safe and efficient operations in diverse environments. Throughout these tasks, you will be applying strict safety practices, protecting the marine environment, and ensuring all activities comply with relevant maritime regulations. Your contribution will help ensure that complex marine operations run safely, efficiently, and to the highest professional standards.

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. 

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 10 years and obtain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining DV security clearance can be a lengthy process. You’ll join us once Security Check (SC) clearance is obtained, and then the more enhanced DV checks will continue after you’ve started your employment. If SC clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months, we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made. 

What you’ll be doing

• Deploy with the ROV and AUV systems, circa 10-12 weeks split over multiple deployments each year.
• Operate as an integral part of the team, working to assist the Operations Manager in the planning and organisation and conduct of pre-and post-deployment activity.
• Carry out survey planning and mission preparation.
• Monitor systems whilst online, ensuring correct operation and data collection.
• Conduct post-acquisition data review, processing and analysis.
• Day to day management of data storage, and system security as well as being responsible for developing systems and standard operating procedures.
• Support fault finding activity on survey and payload equipment and topside navigation systems.

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

Hold (as minimum) either:

• An Engineering, Science, Technical, Technology or Marine based qualification at RQF Level 6; or
• A Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Marine based qualification at RQF Level 4, plus with a Professional body/institution related to your discipline hold current professional registration at the level listed below; or
• A Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Marine based qualification at RQF Level 3, plus a minimum of 3 further years of relevant professional experience; or
• With a Professional body/institution listed below, hold current professional registration at the level listed below, plus a minimum of 3 further years of relevant professional experience; or
• STCW 1 OOW Unlimited (STCW) or STCW OOW Engineer, or Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) III/6 (Unlimited); or
• An AUV or ROV Pilot / Technician Grade II certification and nominally 90 days’ minimum offshore experience as ROV Pilot/Technician Grade II and a minimum of 50 hours operating hours as ROV Pilot/Technician Grade II, of logbook demonstrated offshore experience; or

Professional Registration List (minimum levels provided)

• Engineering Technician (EngTech) or
• Registered Science Technician (RSciTech); or
• Marine Engineering Technician (MarEngTech); or
• Marine Technician (MarTech).

And: 

• Be a Sole UK National; and
• Full UK Driving Licence; and
• Be able to satisfy requirements of:
  • 2-Yearly ENG1 Seafarers Medical 2., 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_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Supervised Practitioner
• 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

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

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.’

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 (CV Review) 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 relative importance of the assessed competencies as per the hierarchy below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 1
• 3rd: Technical Competencies
• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise an additional assessment.

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