DIO - United Kingdom Defence Training Estate - Deputy Commander East Region

The Overseas Region & Defence Training Estate, part of the DIO, delivers a safe, sustainable place to train. We do this by managing and developing hard, soft and rural services, and providing training advice and guidance to help our Armed Forces use the military training estate more effectively and efficiently. The Training Estate is managed in partnership with the commercial partners, Landmarc Support Services.

The Headquarters Defence Training Estate (East) is tasked with delivering the HoE role and training services to allow Defence and partners across government to live, work and train. The main effort for HQ DTE (East) is to manage the safe place to train, support and advise Training Safety Officers at each site in the delivery of their safe place duties and responsibilities. All staff focus on delivering the safe place to train, ensuring the rigorous application of statutory legislation and mandatory regulation contained in the various standing orders, with especial focus on the safe system of training.

Reporting to the Commander DTE (East), the Deputy Commander, as the principal staff officer in HQ DTE (East), is responsible for all matters of policy and strategic significance. The lead for UK Operations and liaison with Regional Brigades, the post holder is also responsible for developing and maintaining close working relationships at HQ level with DIO, OS & Trg, UK DTE and with LMS and local stakeholders. The Deputy Commander provides a central focus for all regional outputs and advises the Training Safety Officers (TSOs) in the execution of their duties.

The Deputy Commander also has specific responsibility for the delivery of a safe training service, the operation of the Bidding and Allocation Management Service (BAMS), adjudication between conflicting bids, the operation of the BAMS Support Cell and the Regional Operations Room.

The postholder oversees the HQ DTE (East) responses to Parliamentary business, Freedom of Information requests, Public Relations and Media and Community Engagement and leads on the interpretation and development of military byelaws.

The Deputy Commander deputises for the Commander as required, is the Deputy Authorising Officer for the TESC contact and advises the TSOs on its interpretation.

Previous Military experience and knowledge at unit level are essential as the role requires a detailed understanding of 'Safe Place' and its application to military training. The Deputy Commander will be required to visit all parts of the DTE in the delivery of his responsibilities and to assure safe place.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

The post has Line Management responsibility for one civil servant and four FTRS staff.

Staff focus for HQ DTE (East) for all matters of policy and strategic significance.

Lead for all UK Ops that affect DTE (East) working closely with Regional Brigades, HQ UK DTE and HQ OS and Trg Ops Plans staff.

Develop and maintain a close working relationship with DIO, HQ OS and Trg, HQ UK DTE, Regional Bdes and RPOCs and user units

Assure all areas of DTE (East) business with a focus on Operational and Safe Place to Train standards.

Build a working relationship with the local community in order to understand their concerns and manage the wider non-MOD stakeholders, including NGOs, in order to sustain the MODs consent to train.

Encourage and endorse a collaborative relationship with our commercial partners working together to deliver the very highest standards of contract output

Deputise for Commander DTE (East) when required. Act as defacto Head of Establishment in absence of RAU Commander.

Service Funds Account Manager.

Risk and Issues (SPRITE) Manager

Provide a central focus for all headquarters staff outputs, monitor the region’s response to higher authority returns and reports to ensure that they are submitted, on time, comply with the recognised staff process and procedure, maintain a standard of convention and deliver the required detail in an easy to understand format.

Specific responsibility for Business Continuity, Risks and Issues and Incident Reporting

Support and direction for Training Safety Officers in liaison with military units and civilian organisations using training area facilities to ensure that their requirements are met and any on-site issues resolved.

Support for the Commander DTE (East) in all aspects of his work, and deputising for him in his absence when required.

Ensure the Regional Operations Room remains safe, effective and efficient by regular review of the Standing Orders, monitoring the day-to-day operation and giving direction to the Ops WOs and the Industry Partner Operators as necessary. Act as the regional lead on BAMS.

On a rota, take the role of Duty Officer for weekend and out-of-hours cover as required.

Single point of contact for Media and Public Relations working closely with the TSOs, DIO media team and the three service media offices. Responsible for Community Relations working with the local authorities and parish councils to ensure we maintain the 'Consent to Train' including: Local Authorities, Parish Councils, Conservation Groups, Natural England, Historic England, National Parks, Public Access forums and lobby groups

Investigate, research and prepare all responses to Parliamentary Questions, letters from MPs, Freedom of Information Requests and requests for information from the Media.

Maintain effective liaison within DIO, industry partners, contractors and local stakeholders to foster collaborative working and safeguard the reputation of the MOD.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

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

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

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

Candidates will be required to provide:

• CV details to include job history; qualifications, previous skills and experience.
• A Statement of Suitability. (750 Words)
• Detailing in no more than 750 words - please use examples to demonstrate relevant, suitable experience and knowledge as to how you meet the job criteria.

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

• Leadership (lead behaviour)
• Making effective decisions

At interview, you will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Delivery at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Further Information:

Interviews will take place in person at: Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), HQ West Tofts Camp, THETFORD, Norfolk, IP26 5EP.

The sift will take place week commencing early September and the Interviews to be conducted in person at West Toffs Camp, Norfolk, late September 26.

PLEASE NOTE: The dates for sift and interviews may be subject to change depending on business demands.

A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interview

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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 eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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