Army - Welfare Manager

About the job

• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

MOD Lyneham, SN15 4XX

We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuring you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face to face working, especially for new joiners, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week).

About the job

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence, Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from cyber and digital transformation, police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, psychologists, storekeepers, and policy secretariat staff to support the British Army.

The Welfare Manager delivers a comprehensive, professional welfare service to all serving and retired members of the REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) community and their families. Directly accountable to the Deputy Corps Secretary, this pivotal role ensures the strict implementation of Army and tri-Service welfare policies laid down for the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This position demands an expert balance of compassionate, high-priority casework and rigorous fiscal discipline. You will spearhead critical support for personnel serving on operations, lead complex interventions for injured service members, and provide dedicated care to the families of REME soldiers who die in service.

Working at the heart of the Corps' welfare network, you will maintain continuous operational liaison with the Deputy Corps Secretary, the Welfare Warrant Officer, and Colonel REME regarding open cases. Concurrently, you will exercise robust financial oversight over a circa £400,000 annual Benevolence budget, translating frontline case data into strategic insights that shape long-term welfare policy.

REME Benevolence Management:

• Manage the annual Benevolence budget c. £400k. Record all grants made and produces monthly updates and statistical reports for the CEO and board of Trustees. Process all returned grants and ensure that they are logged with finance. Process all statistics, facts and trends seen during the year in order to inform the board of Trustees and impact their long term financial and welfare strategy. Record donations and send acknowledgement letters where necessary
• Primary POC for all REME Benevolence Fund queries. Process welfare applications received either via MOSAIC or the internal system. Ensure all are assessed for need. Liaise with the RBL ( Royal British Legion) and the ABF ( Army Benevolent Fund) when required. Send all approved grants to the finance department for payment withing 2 working days.
• Produce the monthly Benevolence update for the Welfare Committee, informing them of exceptional cases where necessary.

Stakeholder Management:

• Primary POC for REME Welfare support across the serving and retired community. Responsible for maintaining a good working relationship with the Corps Welfare Officer and Unit Welfare advice, providing help and assistance when needed.
• Primary POC for all other military charity's. Liaise with POC in each to understand trends, current issues and best practice. Liaise with the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Serviceman League to assist with aid for overseas veterans and complete the annual ABF return.

Person specification

Essential skills required:

• Must have a compassionate approach and be able to demonstrate genuine empathy and resilience when handling sensitive casework involving injured personnel and bereaved families.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills to deliver clear briefs to senior leadership and vulnerable individuals.
• Effective stakeholder management skills and the proven ability to build trusted working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficient in managing electronic databases, case management systems, and standard office software packages.

Desirable skills:

• Background knowledge of British Army structures or tri-Service welfare policies is highly advantageous.
• Capability to evaluate financial or welfare data to help leadership plan long-term support initiatives.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

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

• 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).

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme with a 28.97% contribution
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

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.

At the application stage, you will be assessed against the following criteria, listed in priority order:

• Personal Statement - 500 words demonstrating your relevant skills and experience in line with the essential criteria.
• CV
• Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift may be conducted against the Personal Statement only. The remaining evidence submitted at the application stage will be assessed only if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following criteria, listed in priority order:

• Behaviour - Managing a Quality Service
• Behaviour - Delivering at Pace
• Behaviour - Communicating & Influencing
• Behaviour - Changing & Improving

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

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.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

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.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligib