Defence Equipment and Support
Health and Safety Advisor
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support
Salary: £36,000 per annum (plus generous benefits)
Grade: Senior Technical Specialist I (STSI)
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.
Nationality, visas, and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country.
We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.
SC clearance: 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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.
Job description
This is a unique opportunity to work at one of the UK’s most important operational RAF bases, supporting cutting-edge programmes like P-8A Poseidon and the upcoming E-7 Wedgetail.
As the Team’s ‘go-to’ Health and Safety (H&S) Advisor, you’ll ensure a safe and compliant environment for military personnel, civilian staff, and industry partners, directly contributing to missions that protect the United Kingdom.
With the anticipated growth of the E-7 program and an increase in Delivery Team staff, your role will be pivotal in managing our expanding presence and working collaboratively with Air Base colleagues.
This is a visible, impactful role where your expertise will enable you to build a career working on high-profile defence programmes, gaining experience in a technically complex environment, and making a real-world impact in safety-critical operations shaping how safety is delivered.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face engagement, while maintaining flexible working arrangements that support a work-life balance and business needs. You'll be required to be on-site on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and at times when it is necessary to conduct safety activities in-person. Additional face-to-face meeting attendance may be required and will be scheduled in advance.
What you’ll be doing
- Delivering effective risk management and safety assurance activities
- Working with stakeholders to maintain a safe and compliant working environment
- Contributing to matters of security, business continuity, office management and service level agreements by actively sharing knowledge, best practice, and learning from experience (LFE)
- Conducting audits, inspections, and incident prevention, reporting and investigating
- Delivering health and safety Subject Matter Expert (SME) support to committees, hazard review boards, management plans, and management Boards
Person specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
- Lead Criterion: Relevant work experience in a dedicated Health and Safety position
- Hold a NEBOSH National General Certificate or equivalent L3 H&S qualification, or be willing to achieve it within first 6 months of employment
- Evidence of working with a range of stakeholders, internal and external, at all levels
In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:
- Core Behaviour 1: Working together – CSBC3
- Core Behaviour 2: Managing a quality service - CSBC3
- Technical Competence 1: Conducting Risk Assessments – Practitioner Level
- Technical Competence 2: Audit and Assurance - Practitioner Level
Offered benefits
- 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
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
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 MOD Privacy Notice.
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 how-to-write-cv 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:
- 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 criteria, and/or an additional assessment. Please note for this specific assessment, the Lead Criteria will be:
- Relevant work experience in a dedicated Health and Safety position
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](mailto:DESHR-WS
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills