UK Ministry of Defence
Navy Command, Health, Safety and Environmental Protection Manager
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Navy Command HQ, Portsmouth, PO2 8BG, HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, PL2 2BG or Kentigern House, Glasgow, G2 8EX
Job Summary
At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.
As the authority for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
Are you ready to take on a high-profile safety leadership role at the heart of the Submarine Directorate’s mission?
As the Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HSEP) Manager, you will lead the newly established Submarine Plans and Force Generation Safety Cell, providing expert HSEP, welfare and human factors advice across a complex and operationally critical area of Defence. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and strengthen safety and environmental management arrangements, drive assurance activity, support regulatory compliance, and influence risk management across submarine capability, policy and force generation. Working closely with senior military and civilian stakeholders, the wider Submarine Enterprise and the Directorate Safety community, you will play a key role in ensuring safe, compliant and effective delivery today and into the future, while helping to build a new team and develop best practice across a diverse and high-impact portfolio.
What You Will Be Doing:
- Point of professional knowledge and expertise on HSEP Management, acting as HSEP Advisor to the Deputy Director Submarines through management of the Safety Cell.
- Ensure the Safety and Environmental Management System and Plan meet the requirements of BRd10, Defence policy and Defence Maritime Regulations for HSEP.
- Act as the principal interface for engagement with the Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR), as a key role within the Operating Duty Holder’s (ODH) Safety Management Arrangements (SMAs).
- Deliver conventional Safety Assurance functions through interpretation of complex Statutory/MOD requirements to formulate the development and maintenance of conventional Safety and Environmental Management Systems (i.e. Policies/Process Maps/Support Documents etc).
- Support delivery of the directorate level assurance programme of 1st Party Assurance, ensuring regulatory and legislative requirements are met whilst driving for continuous improvement. Where there are shortfalls oversee the administration of Corrective Actions.
- Act as lead for recording, review and update of HSEP risks, and provide termly reporting. In doing so, ensure that complex and safety critical issues are escalated in a timely manner.
- Co-ordinate the delivery and management of the Submarine Operating Safely Working Group and Board, providing support and input to the Directorate Submarine Safety Working Group and Board.
- Act as the lead interface with the Submarine Directorate Safety Cell and through them, the Navy Safety Directorate. Participate as an active member of the Defence Safety Community of Practice.
Person Specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
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Essential:
- NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent); professional membership of a recognised HS&E body; experience managing and maintaining Safety and Environmental Management Systems within a high-hazard or highly regulated environment; experience of governance, assurance, risk management and regulatory engagement.
Desirable:
- NEBOSH Diploma (or equivalent); Chartered IOSH membership; experience within Defence, Maritime, Nuclear or Submarine environments; knowledge of JSP 815, BRd10, and Duty Holder/Accountable Person arrangements.
Memberships
- NEBOSH General Certificate (or equivalent); professional membership of a recognised HS&E body; experience managing and maintaining Safety and Environmental Management Systems within a high-hazard or highly regulated environment; experience of governance, assurance, risk management and regulatory engagement.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- System Safety Functional Competences
- Internal Audit and Fraud Analysis Functional Competences
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%
- Personal & professional development
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to a confidential, professional support service
- Discount schemes
- Bicycle / season-ticket loans
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
- Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)
- Assisted travel scheme
In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.
You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact
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.
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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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
As part of Defence Reform, Navy Command continues to review and evolve its Target Operating Model to support more agile ways of working. In this context, the role and responsibilities of this role may develop over time to reflect changing business priorities and opportunities.
At Sift, you will be assessed against the following;
- Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and qualification details.
- Candidates will be required to provide a personal statement. This should be a maximum of 500 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential requirements for the role.
At Interview, you will be assessed against strengths and the following success profiles:
Behaviours:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
Technical Skills:
- System Safety Functional Competences
- Internal Audit and Fraud Analysis Functional Competences
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a
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