UK Ministry of Defence
Navy Command - FOST(S) Gunnery Instructor
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HMS Drake, PL2 2BG
Job Summary
Devonport Naval Base is the largest Naval Base in Europe. It is a 650 acre site with 15,000 acres of water space, employing 12,000 people on site. The Base is primarily focused on delivering timely deep maintenance to the UK’s submarine fleet. It is also the operating home base for frigates, amphibious Ships, Royal Marines. Devonport Naval Base is the nerve centre for the Royal Navy in the Southwest. It supports operations around the globe and provides the ships, submarines, people, and equipment to deliver the UK’s defence policy. Its mission is to meet the support and operating requirements for the Naval Service and UK’s allies, from the Southwest, reaching worldwide.
Fleet Operational Standards and Training Ships (FOST(S)) is a training and assurance provider that has its centre of gravity in HM Naval Base Devonport, with training hubs located in Portsmouth and Faslane.
An outstanding opportunity has arisen for a high calibre and motivated individual to work in a dynamic and exciting environment in support gunnery training and assurance. FOST(S) trains the ships of the Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), and those of our international partners to deliver highly trained and capable ships to meet the operational demands that they may be required to face. This training is delivered to individual Force Elements either in the UK or globally. The FOST(S) brand is internationally recognised as the gold standard provider of Operational Sea Training (OST) and is highly sought after. The ability to provide complex, live, multi-unit warfighting training, delivered by highly experienced and specialist staff, under-pinned by a comprehensive but unobtrusive safety systems, is unmatched.
The Gunnery Instructor (GI) provides an organic capability that enables FOST(S) to deliver training and assurance to the RFA. This enables ships of the RFA to maintain their required levels of Force Protection (FP) which directly contributes to the ships overall Operational Capability (OC). In fulfilling this role there is a requirement to work individually and under own initiative, but also work collaboratively as part of a wider FOST team to deliver outputs.
Flexible working is available by agreement with the line manager, but due to the nature of the role, candidates must be prepared to spend the majority of their time on site or deployed to ships of the RFA either in the UK or on operations globally.
Job Description
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Deploy both in the UK and overseas to provide weapons training and assurance, which will include 20mm and 30mm calibre weapon systems, to ensure that all RFA vessels receive and maintain the required level of FP training to sustain their OC.
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To liaise with Navy Command and as directed other stakeholders to ensure suitable oversight and input into policy, training and requirements. The ability to build an effective network would be advantageous.
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To have ownership of the relevant weapon Books of Reference (BR) sections or chapters concerning the RFA, particularly the gunnery sections of BR 1043 and BR 875 for integration and policy. In doing so the right candidate will act as a focal point for updates, reviews and liaise on all matters pertaining to RFA FP.
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Represent FOST(S) as required at appropriate meetings and interact with relevant stakeholders for matters concerning RFA gunnery and explosive matters.
Person specification
The ideal candidate for this role will have extensive maritime gunnery experience and be able to demonstrate the ability to work in a complex and dynamically changing environment. Often this will require the ability to prioritise in order to find safe and efficient solutions to enable the ship to maintain its operational output.
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Successful candidates for this role must have experience of developing relationships and the ability to build effective networks and managing stakeholder expectations would be advantageous.
You must be able to demonstrate problem solving ability and have the vision to enable activity, looking for opportunities to deliver and meet FOST(S) objectives. Successful candidates will have a demonstrable record of delivering results through the application of individual initiative and working collaboratively.
The successful candidate will have to demonstrate strong communication skills in a variety of mediums.
Licences
- Full driving licence
Qualifications
The RFA FOST GI is to posses a wide breadth of Above Water Warfare (AWW) skills, hold relevant crew served weapons instructor qualifications, have, or be able to obtain, a valid ENG1 Medical Certificate, have sea experience as a PO (AWW) or above and have completed the following STCW courses:
- Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-1);
- Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-2);
- Elementary First Aid (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-3);
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (STCW Code - Table A-VI/1-4);
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
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%
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
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.
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.
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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.
Sift and interviews will take place 2 weeks after the advert closing date.
Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.
Personal Statement:
Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. ( 500 word count)
At sift, candidates will be assessed against their CV, Statement of suitability and the following:
Behaviours:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
If a high volume of applications are received, only your CV and Personal Statement will be assessed.
Behaviours:
At interview, candidates will be assessed against the following:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria
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