UK Ministry of Defence
Health, Safety & Environment Adviser – South West Region RAF Air Cadets
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
MOD Boscombe Down
Job Summary
Have you ever considered working in an innovative, inclusive, military-orientated youth organisation? Do you have the skills and experience to support a large volunteer workforce in maintaining the highest standards of health, safety and environmental management? If so, an exciting opportunity exists to join the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) as the Health, Safety & Environment Adviser for South West Region.
RAFAC is the volunteer-military youth organisation sponsored by the Royal Air Force, comprising the Air Training Corps and RAF Sections of the Combined Cadet Force. Through a combination of military personnel, civil servants and volunteers, RAFAC delivers challenging, exciting and rewarding opportunities to thousands of young people across the UK.
The Health, Safety & Environment Adviser plays a critical role in supporting the safe delivery of all RAFAC activities by providing professional advice, assurance, auditing and training across South West Region.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
South West Region RAF Air Cadets is seeking a motivated and professional individual to provide specialist Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HS&EP) advice and assurance across the Region.
The successful candidate will support Regional Headquarters, Wings and Squadrons in implementing RAFAC and MOD safety policy, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and contributing to the continuous improvement of the Region's safety culture.
The role covers all RAF Air Cadet units within South West Region, including: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Channel Islands.
Responsibilities
Reporting to both the Regional Commandant and Regional Chief of Staff, the successful candidate will:
- Provide professional Health, Safety and Environmental Protection advice to Regional Headquarters, Wings and Squadrons across South West Region.
- Support the RC and RCOS with implementation, oversight and analysis of Regional level 3 risks on PARMIS and assisting with the maintenance and management of the Regional Risk Register.
- Act as the principal adviser on Health, Safety, Fire and Environmental matters within the Region, supporting compliance with RAFAC, RAF and MOD policy.
- Develop, coordinate and deliver the Region's assurance programme, including inspections, audits and compliance reviews.
- Support the implementation and maintenance of the RAFAC Safety and Environmental Management System (SEMS).
- Ensure accidents and incidents are appropriately investigated, reported and monitored, including RIDDOR-reportable occurrences.
- Analyse assurance findings and incident data, identifying trends and recommending improvements to safety performance.
- Provide health and safety advice, assurance and support to all permanent staff and CFAV’s within South West Region.
- Act as the lead adviser for workplace and office health and safety matters across the Region.
- Oversee building-related health and safety compliance, including fire safety, risk assessments, workplace inspections, and statutory assurance requirements.
- Work with RFCA, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), station authorities, landlords and other stakeholders to ensure safe place under the safe systems of training.
- Support Wings with the recruitment, development and mentoring of volunteer Health & Safety Officers.
- Act as the Regional focal point for Fire Safety and Radiation Safety matters.
- Deliver Health, Safety and Environmental Protection training and awareness programmes for volunteers and permanent staff.
- Support the planning and assurance of major regional activities, events and camps.
- Chair or support Regional safety committees and working groups, producing reports and recommendations for senior leaders.
- Represent South West Region at RAFAC and MOD meetings, workshops and assurance events.
- Maintain awareness of changes to legislation, policy and best practice, ensuring timely dissemination of advice throughout the Region.
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.
This reporting line also reflects the South West Region headquarters structure and emphasises that the postholder supports both strategic regional leadership and day-to-day regional governance.
Working Arrangements
Although the location shows MOD Boscombe Down and whilst flexible working opportunities may be available, the successful candidate must be able to travel regularly throughout South West Region and attend Regional Headquarters at Le Marchant Barracks, Devizes, Wiltshire as required.
Person Specification
Essential
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong organisational and planning abilities.
- Experience of health and safety management, assurance, compliance or auditing.
- Ability to interpret legislation, policy and guidance and provide practical advice.
- Experience of producing reports and presenting findings to senior stakeholders.
- Strong Microsoft Office and IT skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage a varied workload.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across South West Region.
Desirable
- Experience within the MOD, Armed Forces, Cadet Forces or public sector.
- Environmental management experience.
- Training delivery experience.
- Knowledge of safety management systems and assurance frameworks.
Licences
- Full UK Drivers Licence- Required to work from different locations and will have to travel to the different sites for assurance, inspections & meetings.
Qualifications
- NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent Health & Safety qualification.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Free on-site car parking.
- A variety of reward and recognition schemes.
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service.
- 9 days public and privilege holiday per annum.
- Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period for Reserve service commitments.
- Special Paid Leave for other volunteer duties.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
- Advance of pay to purchase travel season tickets or ‘cycle to work’ scheme (upon completion of 6 months service).
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.
Candidates will also be required to provide a Persona Statement (500 words max)
At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Personal Statement and the following Behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
In the event of a high number of applicants, the sift will be based on the CV and Personal Statement only.
At interview, you will be assessed against the following
“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