DIO - Head of Structural & Civil Engineering

DIO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). We are the Defence estate authority and play a key role in keeping our country safe. We are the primarily provider of Defence Infrastructure advice and delivery of infrastructure services both in the UK and overseas. We support the Armed Forces to enable military capability, and through infrastructure seek to improve the lived experience for our service personnel and their families by planning, building, maintaining, and servicing infrastructure throughout the infrastructure life-cycle of acquire, operate, maintain, and dispose. Our vision is: One team, excellent advice, outstanding delivery.

About Technical Services

Technical Services comprises the following core areas:

• Engineering and Construction
• Civil and Structural Engineering
• Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
• Health and Safety
• Environmental Protection and Sustainability
• Security Services Group
• Programme Support Team
• Risk, Standards & Assurance

DIO Technical Services is a multi-disciplinary team which provides technical subject-matter expertise across a wide range of subject areas to support the operation of the Defence estate and land on which the MOD operates, both in the UK and overseas. The Team provides impartial and objective Intelligent Customer Capability to DIO, MOD and wider government, supporting UK Defence outputs world-wide. The specialist skills available through the Technical Services team span construction, engineering, electronic and physical security requirements, safety systems, environmental management, sustainable development, access and recreation, historic environment and natural environment.

About DIO

View our YouTube video to see more about our work

Person specification

The post holder, will be responsible for driving improvements in our safety and operational performance in key infrastructure, leading the DIO TS Building and Civil Engineering Infrastructure team (B&CE Infra) teams.

The Head of TS B&CE Infra is responsible for the development of overarching policy, strategy and arrangements, the provision of advice to support strategic decision making, provision of specialist assurance and compliance, chairing internal forums and representing DIO on external forums as appropriate. Building and Civil Engineering, including masts, towers and wide span structures, Building Control Compliance, Joint Competent Authority and the licensing of high rise residential buildings, Maritime Infrastructure, Water and Waste Water Infrastructure, Weapons Effects on Structures, Airfield Pavement Design and Construction, Airfield Pavements Maintenance and Railway Infrastructure.

• Producing a Safety and Environmental Management Plan that identifies the arrangements required to sustain the safety performance of the system.
• The post holder will have management responsibilities and be responsible for the work of other Building and Civil Engineering professionals.
• Responsible for supporting the Co-Ordinating Senior Authorising Authority for JSP 375, Part 2 Volume 3 for Infrastructure High Risk Safe Systems of Work (SSOW) including Working At Heights and Confined Spaces resources.
• Principal Technical Authority for DIO for Building and Civil Engineering Infrastructure.
• Deputy Head of Profession, Building and Civil Engineering Infrastructure.
• Review and maintain the corporate MIRS schedules to support the delivery of the aims and objectives of the MOD infrastructure requirements for statutory, mandatory and Pre-Planned maintenance schedules in support of MOD FM delivery strategies.
• Development, review, and maintenance of DIO and MOD Corporate Building and Civil Engineering Infrastructure Policy, Standards, Guidance and the framework for their implementation, to ensure that they incorporate the latest developments in legislation and performance-based solutions, reflecting organisational change.
• Reviewing changes in Building and Civil Engineering statute and codes of practice for relevance to DIO and MOD policy and governance supported by the production of relevant corporate guidance.
• Engage with the business and key partners to ensuring that DIO Policy reflects the MOD requirements and best practices.
• Ensuring Building and Civil Engineering Infrastructure documents are aligned to DIO and MOD Corporate Health & Safety Policies.
• Support the DIO Hd of Profession for the Building and Civil Engineering Practitioners portfolio; as Deputy Head of Profession and share best practice and maintain effective relations with specialists.
• Policy lead and named point of contact with external bodies on enforcement, censure and compliance issues.

Desirable Experience & Skills

• Ability to influence, challenge and collaborate across boundaries and in sensitive environments.
• Skilled at presenting complex technical concepts to a non-technical audience.
• Skilled in creating and maintaining organisational networks.
• Skilled in interpersonal and negotiating skills.
• Good IT skills including the use of MS Office applications: Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Essential

• A building and civil engineering infrastructure specialist with extensive and demonstrable experience leading teams of professionals in the field of building and civil engineering infrastructure
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to use vary tools, techniques and media to suit audience.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple simultaneous outputs requiring frequent communication, organisation and time management.
• A strong proven track record in relationship building using exceptional interpersonal and relationship leadership skills.

Licences
Essential: Full UK Driving Licence required.
Please note: DIO covers journey costs, providing hire cars and fuel cards for UK wide travel.

Qualifications
Essential: Minimum of Degree qualified in a relevant Engineering discipline.

Memberships
Essential: Chartered Engineer
Corporate Member of a relevant Professional Institution/Institute.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

• Highly competitive Pension Scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• Alternative working practices such as working from home.
• Opportunity to join one of our several D&I Networks. We value diversity and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service.
• Enhanced Parental Leave.
• Social Clubs, Gym, on site shops and subsidised canteens.

To learn more about our full range of benefits, view our Candidate Information Guide attached.

To hear from a range of Engineers on their positive career experiences in the Ministry of Defence, and how we champion all forms of diversity in our community please follow the link Defence Engineers Give it all you are

VAdm Paul Marshall CBE (Defence Head of Profession Engineering) in discussion with Dr Bethany Hickton regarding perceptions of Defence Engineers. My Lived Experience as a Civilian Defence Engineer

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and crafting a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

Allowances

This post does not offer any assistance with relocation allowances.

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.

Employment Hours

The post advertised is for 37 hours net, however the Ministry of Defence offers a range of flexibilities to enable a better work-life balance for employees. Flexible working and Job Share working patterns will be considered.

We recognise that the best people for the job may have commitments outside of work, so were pleased to promote flexible working to support our colleagues in balancing work and home life and offer a hybrid working approach. You will benefit from significant flexible working options in line with our Smarter Working policy.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the CV. In this instance the remaining elements will be tested at interview.

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

Experience:

• CV including Job History and Previous Skills
• Personal Statement
  

In no more than 250 words, please provide evidence to demonstrate the following essential criteria:
1. Leading and managing diverse teams.
2. Improvement performance/mentoring of individual team members.
3. Example of leading and managing multi geographical teams with technically diverse specialists.

Atinterview you will be assessed against the above PLUS the following:

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isnt always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months. It is also possible that we may offer similar lower graded role/s to reserve candidates or, if no reserves are appointed, candidates that meet the lower grade criteria in merit order.

Application sifting is scheduled to take place on week commencing: 27th March 2023.

Interviews are currently taking place either remotely or face to face and will be conducted week commencing: 6th April 2023.

A minimum of 2 full working days notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs.

To assist with your application please find attached below:

DIO Candidate Information Guide

DIO Candidate Information Guide - Accessible Version

For help and support with your application check out our

Civil Service Careers Homepage and the How to apply section

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window) .

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.