Range Safety Officer

Are you an experienced safety professional with a passion for managing risk, influencing decision-making, and ensuring the safe delivery of complex trials and testing activities?

Dstl is seeking a Range Safety Officer to provide expert safety leadership, assurance and independent oversight across our test, trial and evaluation activities. As Dstl's senior specialist for range safety, you will play a key role in protecting people, assets and the environment while shaping the future of our range and trials capability.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

What you'll do

• Act as Dstl's lead subject matter expert for range safety, providing trusted advice to senior leaders, Duty Holders and project teams.
• Oversee and continually improve the Range Safety Management System, ensuring compliance with Defence regulations and safety standards.
• Provide independent assurance that range activities are planned and delivered safely, with risks reduced to tolerable and ALARP levels.
• Review and challenge safety cases, risk assessments and safe systems of work to ensure robust decision-making.
• Lead investigations into significant incidents and drive organisational learning and continuous improvement.
• Identify emerging risks and provide evidence-based recommendations to support safe and effective trial delivery.
• Represent Dstl in engagements with regulatory bodies and support inspections, audits and assurance activities.
• Contribute to the development of future technologies, capabilities and innovative test and evaluation programmes

As a Dstl Leader you will: -

• Confidently lead, with the ability to adapt quickly to changing direction and priorities. Positively, motivating, inspiring, encouraging and influencing others through effective communication and engagement.
• Maintain and Manage strong, effective relationships with peers, role modelling Enterprise Leadership to deliver the One Dstl vision ensuring collaboration on delivery outcomes and strategic direction.
• Create a positive working environment, aligned with Dstl Principles and Civil Service Behaviours, which supports diversity and inclusion, and enables people to excel.
• Consistently demonstrate and role model Dstl’s leadership behaviours to ensure our Dstl culture is maintained at all levels.
• Foster an inclusive working environment where open communication and psychological safety are prioritised to encourage constructive feedback and continuous improvement.
• Ensure that all team members understand and meet their defined accountabilities, regularly reviewing performance and providing necessary support and training to uphold Dstl’s standards, culture and values which aligns with the Civil Service Code and values.
• Actively endorse the Civil Service Line Management Standards to improve Line Management skills across the organisation.

• NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, or equivalent recognised health and safety qualification

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 12th October with interviews to be arranged from the 9th November 2026, interview will consist of a behavioural & technical interview to include a 10 minute presentation entitled, "What are the challenges of delivering low-TRL trials on ranges in rapidly evolving disciplines?"

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