Maritime Assurance Inspector

Job summary

The Defence Safety Authority (DSA) is responsible for the regulation of Defence Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HS&EP), operating under a Charter from the Secretary of State for Defence (SofS). The DSA provides independent assurance to the SofS that the law is followed and the policy on HS&EP in Defence is being promoted and implemented. This is achieved through proportional and appropriate evidence-based assurance of the defence activity.

The Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR) vision is to provide high-quality safety and environmental protection across the Defence Maritime Domain through assurance, regulation, and enforcement to support the generation of operational capability. The DMR Mission is to protect people and the environment from harm arising from Defence Maritime Activity. This allows DMR to provide the SofS for Defence the required assurance that appropriate standards of maritime HS&EP are maintained and delivered across Defence Maritime Activities.

DMR consists of four teams: Regulation and Compliance (R&C), Executive and Enabling (E&E), Shipping Inspectorate and Maritime Assurance.

Maritime Assurance Inspectorate - responsible for the third-party assurance of MOD Accountable Persons and Organisations that deliver and/or support wider maritime activity than the operation of Surface Ships and Submarines. The team also provides third party assurance, advice, and stakeholder interaction in areas deemed cross boundary or experimental, including Small Craft, Army Maritime, UK StratCom, Novel Technology and Autonomy, and Ports and Harbours, as well as assurance and inspection of DMR’s 'Duly Authorised Organisation' who performs maritime assurance functions on behalf of DMR.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This is a Higher Executive Officer (C2) grade post based in Bristol within the Maritime Assurance Inspectorate of DMR within the DSA. Attendance at office would be expected for 40% of the time in accordance with the hybrid working model.

We are currently seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our dynamic team within the Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR). This position requires a self-starter, capable of acting independently and communicating effectively both verbally and in writing. You must be able to build productive relationships with stakeholders at all levels across Defence, industry, academia and other regulatory bodies.

The successful candidate will play a key role in the assurance and regulation of emerging maritime capabilities, including Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS), remotely operated systems, uncrewed vessels, digital technologies, artificial intelligence-enabled systems, alternative propulsion technologies and other novel maritime capabilities. The role will primarily involve engaging with projects at the outset of the capability lifecycle, helping ensure that innovation is delivered safely, environmentally soundly, and responsibly whilst enabling Defence outputs.

You will need to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, take ownership of tasks, and contribute to the development of regulatory approaches for technologies where established standards and regulatory frameworks may be immature or evolving.

There will be considerable opportunities to develop expertise in maritime safety, environmental protection, assurance, regulation and emerging technology governance within a rapidly evolving area of Defence activity.

Travel, including overnight stays in the UK and abroad, will be required.

Responsibilities:

• Support the planning and delivery of DMR assurance, audit and inspection activities across the Defence maritime domain.
• Lead or support regulatory engagement with Maritime Autonomous and Novel Technology projects and stakeholders.
• Build relationships with stakeholders across Defence, industry, academia and government to gather regulatory intelligence and support risk-based assurance activities.
• Assess the adequacy of safety and environmental management arrangements associated with novel and emerging maritime technologies.
• Support development and refinement of regulatory policy, guidance and assurance methodologies relating to autonomous and innovative maritime capabilities.
• Contribute to horizon scanning activities, identifying emerging risks, opportunities and regulatory challenges associated with advances in technology.
• Support the Section Head in assuring DMR that MOD Accountable Persons and Organisations have appropriate safety and environmental management systems that deliver the required regulatory outcomes against DSA02-DMR.
• Provide regulatory advice and guidance to project teams developing innovative maritime capabilities.

Person specification

Essential Qualifications / Experience

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks efficiently.
• Demonstrable ability to analyse complex information and apply critical thinking to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Experience of working with technical, engineering, safety, environmental or assurance-related information.

Desirable Qualifications / Experience

• Formal qualifications (Degree, HND, HNC or equivalent) in Engineering, Science, Environmental Management, Safety Management, Systems Engineering, Maritime Studies or a related discipline.
• Knowledge or experience of autonomous systems, robotics, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, systems engineering, safety engineering or emerging technologies.
• Experience in assurance, audit, inspection, regulation, governance or risk management activities.
• Knowledge of the Defence maritime domain and/or maritime regulatory frameworks.
• Experience engaging with stakeholders external to your organisation, including industry partners, regulators or delivery organisations.
• Demonstrates awareness of the challenges associated with assuring and regulating novel and emerging technologies.
• Ability to identify and assess technical, safety and environmental risks associated with innovative maritime capabilities.

Please use the Personal Statement/Statement to highlight your experience/skills in these areas.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Stakeholder Engagement
• Inspection, Audit and Assurance

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes

£10,927 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%

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (750 Word count)

At sift, Candidates will be assessed against their CV and Personal Statement.

At interview, Candidates will be assessed against the following Behaviours and Technical Skills:

Behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Working Together

Technical Skills:

• Stakeholder Engagement
• Inspection, Audit and Assurance

The interviews will be based around CV, personal statement and the Civil Service behaviours framework.

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