Defence Accident Investigation Branch - Recommendations Lead

Job summary

The Defence Accident Investigation Branch (DAIB) conducts independent, impartial and expert no-blame safety investigations across Defence. The Recommendations Lead is responsible for supporting the effective management, scrutiny and progression of Defence Safety Authority (DSA) safety recommendations, ensuring that recommendations are clear, evidence-based, properly tracked and progressed to closure to reduce future risk and support organisational learning.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The postholder will report to the Deputy Head DAIB and work closely with Head DAIB, investigation teams, recommendation reviewers, implementation managers, Defence Safety Authority stakeholders and Front-Line Commands. They will maintain oversight of the Recommendations Implementation Tracker, support recommendation socialisation, review and closure meetings, prepare recommendation updates and statistics for senior review, and provide advice on the recommendation process. This will include ensuring that recommendation owners’ agreement and acceptance are evidenced and recorded appropriately.

The role includes line management responsibility for the DAIB Investigation Support Manager, an Executive Officer post. It also includes participation in the DAIB duty administrator rota. The expected commitment on appointment is approximately one week in two, although this may reduce to approximately one week in three if rota capacity allows. This supports DAIB’s 24/7 accident notification and response arrangements and may involve out-of-hours activity in accordance with local arrangements. An on-call allowance is payable for this duty commitment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate DAIB recommendation management activity, supporting the progression of recommendations from socialisation through publication and to final closure.
• Maintain oversight of recommendation data, including the Recommendations Implementation Tracker, recommendation status, ownership, review activity and closure evidence.
• Prepare clear recommendation updates, briefings and management information for Head DAIB, DG DSA and other senior Defence stakeholders.
• Support and facilitate recommendation review and closure meetings, including agendas, briefing material, follow-up actions and records.
• Engage with recommendation owners, implementation managers, reviewers and Safety Centres to support timely, evidence-based recommendation closure, including advising on escalation requirements where progress or engagement is insufficient.
• Provide advice and constructive challenge to investigation teams on recommendation wording, rationale, traceability, evidence and closure requirements.
• Line manage the DAIB Investigation Support Manager, providing clear direction, support, objective-setting and performance management.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of DAIB recommendation processes, guidance, SOPs and user material.
• Participate in the DAIB duty administrator rota. The expected commitment on appointment is approximately one week in two, although this may reduce to approximately one week in three if rota capacity allows. An on-call allowance is payable for this duty commitment.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Ability to communicate clearly and credibly in writing and verbally, including briefing, presenting and explaining complex information to senior military and civilian stakeholders up to 3* level, or the capability and willingness to develop this quickly.
• Ability to manage complex information, maintain accurate records, identify issues, interpret data and turn detailed evidence into clear management information or decision-ready advice.
• Sound judgement, including the ability to assess evidence, identify risk, challenge incomplete information and support proportionate, evidence-based decisions.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to plan, prioritise and deliver routine and emerging work to time in a busy operational environment.
• Confidence engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including military and civilian personnel across Defence, and the ability to build constructive working relationships while maintaining appropriate independence.
• Ability to line manage effectively, including setting direction, supporting development, managing delivery and addressing issues professionally.
• Ability to handle sensitive information professionally and appropriately.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of Service Inquiries, Non-Statutory Inquiries, accident investigation, safety investigation, assurance, governance, lessons or recommendations processes.
• Knowledge of Defence safety, governance or recommendation management processes.
• Experience preparing senior-level briefings, dashboards, statistics or management information.
• Experience working with military and civilian stakeholders across Defence or a similarly complex organisation.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of DAIB operations, the successful candidate will be exposed to information and material (including video and photographic imagery) that could be distressing. It is essential that candidates take these requirements into consideration before applying for the post.

Personnel joining the Branch may be required to complete a baseline psychological review on appointment, with optional annual follow-up thereafter.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

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 (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%

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.

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.

Things you need to know

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.

This vacancy will use Civil Service Success Profiles and will assess Behaviours and Experience. Candidates will be asked to provide a CV detailing their employment history, skills and experience and a statement of suitability of no more than 750 words.

Your statement of suitability should provide evidence against the essential criteria and should specifically address:

• how they have managed complex information, records, recommendations, actions or decisions through to completion;
• how they have engaged, influenced, briefed or presented to senior stakeholders, including where they have had to explain risk, evidence or progress clearly;
• how they would maintain grip of DAIB recommendations, including data quality, closure evidence, outstanding actions and senior reporting;
• any experience they have of investigations, Service Inquiries, Non-Statutory Inquiries, safety, assurance, governance, lessons or recommendations work;
• their approach to line management and supporting a team member working in a specialist support role.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, statement of suitability and the following Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, the sift will be conducted on your statement of suitability.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Presentation

• The interview will include a short presentation to assess the candidate’s ability to explain recommendation information clearly to a senior audience. The topic and preparation requirements will be provided in advance.

Candidates should note that interviews are currently scheduled to be held in person at MOD Boscombe Down during the week commencing 21 September 2026, although this is subject to change.

Further information:

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.

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