Army - Workforce Policy Advisor
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 18th November 2024
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We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspace will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuing you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. The Army is operating a hybrid working balance which states 60% (3 days a week) of time in the Andover office.
About the job
Job summary
The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,5000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such using data to aid understanding of our workforce is vital.
Within the Army Headquarters Personnel Directorate, the Terms of Service team is one of a number of policy pillars overseen by Head Personnel Policy Army. The Terms of Service team is the Army’s policy focus for Terms of Service and Employment Policy relating to Army personnel (Officers, Soldiers, Regular and Reserve). As the policy holders, the team provide policy advice and carry out processes, casework, and exceptional employment decision-making in relation to individual cases, which have operational as well as personal significance and impact on the Army’s overall operational capability.
The Policy Advisor is responsible for carrying out a number of processes contained within Terms of Service and Employment policies on behalf of Head Personnel Policy Army as the Competent Military Authority. Specifically, the role will support the policy owners and lead on the processing of medical employment documentation, employment and enlistment waivers, Over Age Extension applications for Army Reservists, and will co-ordinate and process Delayed Medical Discharge applications.
We are looking for a talented and motivated individual to join us, working to a Civil Servant line manager and managing a civilian Administrative Officer. If you are a strong communicator able to engage with stakeholders across the Army and veteran community, work efficiently and at pace, and maintain well organised file structures, we need you!
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuing you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. Whilst embracing hybrid working, there is an expectation you will attend the office an average of at least 3 days a week and align with other Secretariat staff.
Job description
The successful candidate will:
- Provide support across the Workforce Policy Terms of Service team and conduct the assurance of the compulsory discharges, delayed medical discharges, medical employment, and enlistment waivers processes.
- Line management responsibilities for 1 x Administrative Officer
- Liaise with regional consultants to process Delayed Medical Discharge (DMD) casework and draft decision outcomes under the guidance of the staff officer Employment Policy.
- Process medical employment casework in line with Medical Employment Policy and communicate outcomes via letter.
- Process special enlistment & medical training waivers. Engage with relevant stakeholders to determine waiver outcomes.
- Scrutinise Engagement Expiry Dates to identify personnel serving beyond their Engagement End Date.
- Assess applications for discharge to ensure policy compliance
- Prepare written, appeal and retention briefs for the head of personnel policy’s decision and draft the result notification letters as required.
- Scrutinise applications to determine re-join eligibility in line with the recruitment policy
- Assist with delivering discharges training presentations on the higher formation discipline administrator, staff support supervisor and all arms adjutant’s courses as required.
Full training of process and procedures will be given to the successful candidate.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Be able to understand and deliver advice across policy areas.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong familiarity with Microsoft 365 applications such as Excel and OneNote.
- Strong teamwork skills
- Strong attention to detail.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
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 employer contribution of 28.97%
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 office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, 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). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
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.
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/.
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 however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. 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.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability of no more than 500 words outlining how you meet the essential criteria displayed in the advert
At application you will be assessed against your statement of suitability and the following behaviours:
- Seeing the Bigger Picture
- Delivering at Pace
At interview you will be assessed against the following behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date.
Interview dates are to be confirmed. These will likely be held in person but may be online via MS Teams. We endeavour to stick to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
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.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Patrina Cossey
- Email : Patrina.cossey100@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
