Army - Equipment Support Officer

UK Ministry of Defence; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Army Headquarters, Andover, SP11 8HJ

Job Summary

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army.

Field Army Troops is an exciting organisation that consists of Specialist Groups and Brigades (Bdes) which operate across the UK and world-wide in support of conventional forces. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Equipment Support Officer within the Equipment Support (ES) team. The team's focus is to deliver functional advice, support, guidance and direction on ES matters to all Groups/Bdes within the organisation. The Equipment Support Officer is a fundamental role in enabling high levels of deployable specialist equipment in support of unique units that are held at readiness, on operations, deployments and training.

You will work alongside civilian and military staff within a lively environment. This role is ideal for an ambitious individual looking to expand and refine their skills.

We actively seek to provide an inclusive working environment which gets the best from every member of our team. We recognise team members for their dedication and integrity. We seek and encourage diversity of thought, background, experience and approach.

Does this sound appealing? Then read on, this could be the role for you!

Job Description

The Field Army prides itself on treating our people as our greatest asset by harnessing skills and improving talent. Getting the best from our people are a key value shared across the organisation, and we believe that a Civil Service career supporting the Army offers an outstanding blend of challenge and variety not found anywhere else!

You will act as an interface between the Brigades/Groups and Army Headquarters, investigating and advising the chain of command on arising issues, and assisting Brigades/Groups with resolution of these issues.

Additionally, you will be required to monitor the annual Techeval and Land Equipment Assurance program for Field Army Troops ensuring chain of command reporting delivery meets policy. You will provide Equipment care policy advice to units on all related technical matter and operates as an auditor for Techevals as part of the Equipment Support Team for Field Army Troops.

The post is associated with several secondary roles including the management of Contractor Field support, acting as Branch Information Manager, and providing support to the Fleet Management Branch.

Your Responsibilities As Equipment Support Officer Will Be:

• Manage Safety Communication traffic from outside agencies through the chain of command, ensuring it is coherent and relevant, record and issue to supporting Groups using auditable tools
• Maintain currency and competency on our inhouse Information Management System (JAMES). Provide reports on specialist equipment as directed by line manager and to meet reporting requirements
• Be responsible for the management of information and administration of the Branch SharePoint site
• Develop and maintain knowledge currency on specialist equipment
• Collaborate with other members of the Branch to form short term project teams to manage high priority requirements from Army Command
• Collaborate with other members of the team to manage Assurance visits and deliver Techeval and Technical Advisory reports
• Provide technical advice and situational awareness to Army Command and DE&S and subordinate formations for specific equipment, to ensure units can meet operational and training priorities
• Maintain awareness of deployment of new-to-service equipment and advise the command, Army Command and DE&S of the equipment implications
• Act as Authority for Contractor Field Support (CFS) for the Division, liaising with units to provide Contractor Equipment Support where Military solutions cannot be sourced

As a civil servant you will work alongside military colleagues in jobs that matter; jobs which often have a direct impact on the people, and the quality of the operational capabilities the Army delivers. Roles can offer great job satisfaction and there are many opportunities to develop and progress both within the Department and across the wider Civil Service.

We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuring you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face to face working, especially for new joiners, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week).

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Person specification

Ideally, we are looking for an experienced Equipment Care focused Technical Specialist, as you will be leading with engineering policy, safety issues, providing background information and subject matter expertise (SME) on formation technical equipment. Applicants should have strong stakeholder management and communication skills to be able to establish and develop productive relationships internally and externally across HQ Field Army and the Bdes/Groups. This includes the ability to overcome communication barriers and deliver clear messages, decisions or direction, whilst taking diversity of interest into consideration. As well as being a team member in a flexible and dynamic environment, individuals will also be required to work on their own initiative.

Essential Criteria:

• Be able to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and confidently with a broad range of people using a variety of styles (oral and written)
• Be able to work independently, as well as part of a wider team
• Have keen attention to detail and proof-reading skills
• A high level of IT competence is essential
• Be confident working across the O365 suite of applications
• Have experience of making effective decisions and working at pace in varied tasks and projects
• Background in Engineering

Licences

A Full UK Driving Licence is required as you will need to be able to attend meetings and represent the organisation at various establishments around the UK

Desirable Criteria:

• Engineering Qualification
• Working Knowledge of DE&S and Equipment Support Organisations
• Techeval Assessor and/or Lead Auditor Training

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

Other Benefits For Army Civil Servants Include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

Selection process details

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

At application Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and a personal statement of no more than 500 words outlining your suitability for the role against the person specification. This will be used at both sift and interview.

At sift you will also be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Bigger Picture

When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.

Applications will be sifted using all elements listed above, but in the event of a high number of applications, a sift will be conducted on the CV, personal statement and lead Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions.

At interview you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Leadership

You will also be asked experience based questions.

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed but these will be held in person in Andover. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

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: [e-mail].

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.

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

Job Contact :

• Name : Neil Gallagher
• Email : [e-mail]

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]