Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support
Salary: £36000 per annum (plus generous benefits)
Grade: Senior Technical Specialist I
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working
Contract Type: Permanent
At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.
DE&S has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director Group (NAD Group). The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies.This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence. For further information about the NAD Group, please visit: National Armaments Director Group - GOV.UK
We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.
This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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 SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.
We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.
Are you an experienced Health and Safety advisor with expertise in high-risk operational environments? If so, we have an excellent opportunity for you to join the Defence Munitions (DM) Safety Assurance team, where you’ll play a key role in delivering assurance activities across multiple sites throughout the UK.
As a member of the central DM Safety Assurance team, you will support the team in ensuring that safety and environmental arrangements across multiple sites operate effectively to protect both people and the environment. Through robust audit and assurance activities, you will ensure compliance with all legislative and departmental requirements. In addition, you will undertake trend analysis and support the improvement of our Safety Management Systems.
You will provide timely, professional, and effective safety advice and assurance on all pan-DM activities, including explosives storage, processing, and movements.
We champion flexible working arrangements. While on-site attendance is encouraged to foster the benefits of face-to-face collaboration, we offer flexible hours to support a healthy work-life balance.
Please note: This role requires travel to multiple Defence Munitions sites across the UK. Transportation will be provided as needed. Initially, you may be required to attend more frequently to familiarise yourself with the sites, the team, and your responsibilities.
What you'll be doing
Person specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria
Lead Criterion - Minimum NEBOSH General Certificate or an equivalent Level 3 qualification in a relevant health & safety discipline.
Experience working in a Health & Safety role.
Experience working in environments with higher‑risk activities.
A valid UK driving licence, as travel between sites is required.
In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:
Core Behaviour 1Communicating and influencing – CSBC3
Core Behaviour 2Delivering at Pace – CSBC 3
Technical Competence 1Incident Reporting and Investigation – Practitioner
Technical Competence 2Audit and Assurance (OHSEP) – Practitioner
Offered benefits
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.
Selection Process Details
Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:
Pre-sift - We will check your application to ensure 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.
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.
Interview - If you're invited to interview, you will be assessed against the following:
CV Review
Core Behaviour 1
Core Behaviour 2
Technical Competencies
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:
In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criteria, and/or an additional assessment. Please note for this specific assessment, the Lead Criteria will be:
Minimum NEBOSH General Certificate or an equivalent Level 3 qualification in a relevant health & safety discipline.
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.ukIf you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission
Offering at a lower level
If you’re not successful at interview, we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.
Join an integral part of the UK's Defence and play your part in the procurement and in-service support of all our armed forces’ equipment, from fighter jets, armoured vehicles and aircraft carriers, to clothing, food, and ammunition. If you have the pride, passion and commitment to be part of an exciting organisation at the forefront of supporting our country's armed forces to deliver on operations at home and abroad, then apply online now!

DE&S is part of the Ministry of Defence. We equip our armed forces with the edge to protect our nation.
We are proud to deliver world-class equipment and services to the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, playing a vital role in keeping the UK safe and prosperous.
From fighter jets to food deliveries, from patrol boats to protective clothing, we deliver safe and innovative kit to the frontlines across the globe.
We employ over 11,500 talented civil servants, military personnel, and private contractors, across more than 150 locations around the world. Together, our team delivers over 80% of the UK’s largest and most complex defence projects.