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Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
Join an integral part of the UK's defence and discover a rewarding professional career as part of the organisation responsible for the design, build, in-service support and disposal of the UK’s Nuclear Submarines.
Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence.
The SDA is looking for talented, motivated, and creative potential engineers to join our Level 6 Nuclear EngineeringApprenticeship Scheme and become our Engineers of the future.
Job description
Successful applicants will undertake a comprehensive program of study associated with the Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer standard ST0289: Nuclear scientist and nuclear engineer (integrated degree) / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. This is a four-year apprenticeship starting in September 2024.
During the four-year scheme, your Permanent Duty Station will be MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, however, year one of the scheme will be full time in college, based in the National College for Nuclear, Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset.
Following a successful Gateway Interview, at the end of Year One, you will proceed to the next phase of your apprenticeship.
During Years Two and Three you will have the opportunity to carry out a number of work-based technical placements and defence specific nuclear training at any of these locations: Barrow-in-Furness, Bristol, Helensburgh, Plymouth, Rosyth.
Whilst in placements, you will continue with your foundation degree with block release attendance at the National College for Nuclear.
On successful completion of Year Three and following a further successful Gateway Interview, you will progress onto the final stage of the apprenticeship to complete your full degree, whilst continuing to undertake work-based technical placements across defence.
On successful completion of the scheme and End Point Assessment at the end of Year Four you will be appointed to a role within the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, and you may be given the opportunity to permanently relocate to one of our waterfront locations listed above.
This apprenticeship offers a permanent contract which is bound by successful completion of the scheme.
Due to the secure nature of these positions, posts will be reserved for UK Nationals only and may require you to obtain Developed Vetting clearance once in post. Further information on Nationality Requirements is available here.
Your Responsibilities:
Throughout your scheme, you will be supported by your Apprentice Manager, as well as a Placement Supervisor to reach your full potential and become a real asset to the SDA Engineering Function and beyond.
You will participate in various professional and personal development opportunities and workshops as well as a peer mentoring scheme, with plenty of opportunities to participate in structured training and to gather experience and knowledge through several work-based placements, to learn and then apply Nuclear Engineering/scientific concepts and principles in a defence environment.
Person specification
You will be assessed against the following essential qualifications, behaviours and technical skills listed below.
Interviews will be held throughout April 2024, and following completion of all pre-employment checks successful candidates can expect to start employment in September 2024.
Qualifications
In addition:
Candidates must have or will achieve 3 A Levels which must include Mathematics, Science and one other subject. Grades typically expected are CCC or grades 4-9
or
Candidates must have or will achieve a National Diploma in engineering with a minimum value of 96 UCAS Points.
Higher level qualifications in engineering/science-based subjects may also be considered.
Candidates are asked to distinguish between an English Language or English Literature qualification awarded.
If successful you will be asked to provide evidence that you meet the stated qualification criteria.
Applicants with predicted grades should check that when asked if they have the mandatory grades they tick YES, otherwise their application will automatically be rejected.
Please see the guide for acceptable equivalents – What qualification levels mean: England, Wales and Northern Ireland - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and qccb-web-oct-2019.pdf (scqf.org.uk) for Scotland
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Application of Analytical Techniques (Awareness)
- Technical Decision Making (Awareness)
Benefits
- 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 average employer contribution of 27%
- More information on the benefits offered by SDA are available here.
Discover My Benefits
Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD.
https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/
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. 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.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). DBS cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. These roles are working 37 hours per week full time and a minimum of 30 hours per week for part time. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
This post does not offer relocation expenses
This post does not offer any assistance with relocation allowances, however, some applicants may be eligible to claim Apprentice Living Away from Home Allowance.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.
Complete a full application and upload your CV, which clearly demonstrates the following areas (which you will be assessed against in a CV sift):
- Key Achievements.
- Relevant Experience.
- Applied Knowledge and Skills.
For additional guidance on writing a CV for SDA please click here
Stage 2: The top scoring candidates will be invited to a formal interview to discuss your Key Achievements, Relevant Experience and Applied knowledge & Skills. In addition to the above, you'll also be assessed against a technical skills and competence and the listed behaviours, aligned to the role.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Interviews will be held throughout April 2024, and following completion of all pre-employment checks successful candidates can expect to start employment in September 2024.
Please note offers of employment are subject to achieving satisfactory pre-employment and security checks. These include an Occupational Health Assessment and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). As part of this you will need to confirm your identity, employment/education history, nationality and any criminal record (unspent convictions only).
The level of security needed is Security Check (SC) and you should usually have been continuously resident in the UK for 5 years immediately before clearance action commences. If you have lived overseas or travelled extensively during this period, it may affect the length of time to obtain full security clearance and this may affect your offer of employment. It is essential that ALL requests for information are completed fully and timely, as incomplete information may result in significant delays. Offers of employment are also subject to candidates achieving acceptable grades where predicted.
Nationality Requirements - Further Information for Candidates
- This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per Civil Service Nationality Rules Section 3. In accordance with these rules, ‘only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service’1 (Paragraph. 3.1).
UK National Definition
- The definition of a ‘UK National’ can be found at Paragraphs. 1.4-1.8 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules.
Dual Nationals
- As per Paragraph. 1.41 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:
- ‘Candidates with dual nationality are in principle eligible for employment in the Civil Service provided that they meet the requirements in relation to one of their nationalities [i.e. UK National]. They may not be eligible, however, for employment in certain reserved posts where additional nationality requirements are imposed.’
Additional Restrictions for Reserved Posts
- As per Paragraphs. 3.10-3.11 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:
- ‘…departments and agencies are entitled to impose additional requirements in reserved posts if this is considered necessary. This could include, for example, requirements as to the residency of the applicant or the nationality of one or both parents of the applicant.’
- If you are a Dual National who possesses UK Nationality and wish to check your eligibility for the post, please contact our recruiting team at the details below. Please be advised that we will not be able to provide a justification for our decision for security reasons.
1.Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before, or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996. (Paragraph. 3.1)
No application can be accepted after the closing date.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
Applicants should monitor their Civil Service Jobs application centre regularly for updates.
Some of MoD’s Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS) changed from 3 February 2014. Those TACOS changes applied to Broader Banded and Skill Zone staff who were new recruits to MoD or who were appointed to a post on substantive promotion, progression or advancement. On the same basis, the TACOS for Departmental Retained Grades changed with effect from 01 September 2014.
All employees joining MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.
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/.
Complaints
Please be aware that the selection and interviewing of applicants is the responsibility of the Recruiting Line Manager (RLM) and not the Defence Business Services (DBS) Resourcing team. DBS do not play any part in the selection and interview process.
Therefore, if you wish to discuss your feedback, or you are dissatisfied with your markings, you should in the first instance raise this with the Recruiting Line Manager of the vacancy.
If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint. by writing to DBS at the following address:
Complaints Management Team, Defence Business Services, Oak Building Mail Point #6109, MOD Abbey Wood North, Bristol, BS34 8QW
If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address:
Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ
Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk
Cabinet Office Fraud Checks
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant whose details are found to be held on the IFD will be refused employment
Civil Service Recruitment Principles
Please see the link below for the civil service recruitment principles.
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-principles/
To find out a bit more about what it’s like working for MOD, visit the Civil Service Careers Website
https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/departments/working-for-the-ministry-of-defence/
Please see the MOD Privacy Notice link below which describes how we will use your personal data, explains your rights and gives you information you are entitled to under Data Protection legislation.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-privacy-notice/mod-privacy-notice
