DNO - Emergency Planning Policy - Assistant Policy Adviser

The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) is responsible for the provision of the nuclear deterrent, encompassing our submarines and nuclear warheads, while also advising on UK nuclear planning and fostering international co-operation on nuclear matters. With a multidisciplinary team of over 700 professionals, the DNO brings together expertise in science, engineering, finance, policy, programme delivery, and more. We work in partnership with the Royal Navy, the Submarine Delivery Agency and the Atomic Weapons Establishment as the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE).

Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated, and our people feel supported, included and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world.

This is an exciting time to be joining the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), and the Emergency Planning Policy team which leads on all emergency issues from legislation through to operational effectiveness across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

This role offers substantial opportunities for development as a Policy Professional, together with Nuclear Enterprise know how and, for the right candidate, delivery and operational responsibility.

The role supports policy development and providing advice, contributing to growing emergency resilience across the enterprise and is the focal point for coordinating our HQ emergency call-out arrangements.

To support MOD’s response to an emergency this role will:

• become a super user of our web-based Radiation Response Emergency Management System (RREMS) used across the UK for Civil and Defence Nuclear Emergency response management.
• maintain currency of the Headquarters Defence Nuclear Emergency Organisation (HQ DNEO) Nuclear Emergency Alerting arrangements and liaison with the Chief of the Defence Staff Duty Officer (CDSDO).
• provide support to DNO-EP Pol Assistant Head and DNO-EP Pol1, including financial planning, commercial support, information gathering and running consultations, assisting advising Ministers and designing Policy.
• provide support to DNO-EP Pol Ops, including support planning for, and participate in, exercises involving the HQ DNEO emergency organisation.

This role has the potential to join the on-call rota, attracting an allowance, subject to training and satisfactory demonstration of capability.

This post attracts the NSQEP Recruitment Retention Allowance of up to £6,000 per annum. This allowance is discretionary and is dependent on a candidate's ability to successfully demonstrate and evidence their competence, qualifications, and experience to an independent panel of Subject Matter Experts.

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.

Open to UK nationals only.

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; qualification details and previous skills and experience. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability in no more than 500 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential/desirable requirements for the role.

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

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

At interview, you will be assessed against your Experience and the following Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

Please note that not following the appropriate format will mean that you may be unable to reach the required grades for sift or interview

Further information:

Interviews will be conducted face to face at Main Building, London.

Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit.

The Defence Nuclear Organisation plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of the UK’s independent strategic nuclear deterrent. To help enhance security, staff working for the DNO are encouraged to always exercise a high level of discretion in sharing information or talking about their work. As part of the application process, we ask that you do not tell anyone other than your partner or close family member about your application to join the DNO. You should not mention your application on social media or discuss it with anyone else at this stage.

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 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.