Occupational Health and Safety Senior Advisor

Job description

Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support

Salary: £36,000 per annum (plus generous benefits)

Grade: Senior Technical Specialist I

Working Pattern: Full time, Part time, Job Share, Flexible Working

Contract Type: Permanent

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, striving for what's next and helping keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe - for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days' holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

Nationality, visas, and vetting: We're unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you've been recruited for. If it isn't obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn't obtained within 12 months.

What you'll be doing

• Provide competent Occupational Health and Safety advice and guidance across two operational sites, ensuring that all on site activities are conducted in line with legislative requirements, best practice, and internal standards.
• Develop and maintain a robust inspection and first line assurance programme that effectively measures compliance across both sites. This includes planning and conducting inspections, producing clear and actionable reports, monitoring progress, and ensuring all follow up actions are completed to drive continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across the business, collaborating confidently with colleagues at all levels as well as external stakeholders including Delivery Partners, Contractors, and wider Defence organisations.
• Lead on accident and incident management within your area of responsibility, conducting thorough investigations, delivering root cause analysis, identifying lessons learned, and producing high quality reports across both sites.
• Deliver expert Occupational Health and Safety subject matter support to Committees and Management Boards, providing informed guidance, contributing to decision making discussions, and ensuring that safety considerations are fully integrated into strategic planning and operational oversight.
• Lead on fire safety compliance across both sites, ensuring that all statutory and organisational fire safety requirements are met. This includes reviewing fire risk assessments, coordinating exercises and drills, managing control measures, and supporting continuous improvement in fire prevention and response arrangements.

We champion flexible working arrangements. While 100% on site attendance is required to foster the benefits of face to face collaboration, we offer flexible hours to support a healthy work life balance.

Working at DM Crombie offers a rare opportunity to deepen your professional experience in high hazard sites. You will be supported to build expertise in Major Accident Control Regulations (MACR - the MOD's adaptation of COMAH), fire safety, and the control of radiation sources.

This role involves minimal travel to other locations across the UK for training and development opportunities, with transportation provided where necessary.

Person specification

• Lead Criterion: Minimum NEBOSH General Certificate or an equivalent Level 3 qualification in a relevant health & safety discipline.
• Experience working in a Health & Safety role.
• Experience working in environments with higher risk activities.
• A valid UK driving licence, as travel between sites may be required.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Communicating and influencing - CSBC3
• Core Behaviour 2: Delivering at Pace - CSBC3
• Technical Competence 1: Audit and Assurance (OHSEP) - Practitioner level
• Technical Competence 2: Emergency Response - Practitioner level

Offered benefits

• 25 days' annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King's birthday
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Disability confident

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section 'Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.'

Personal data protection

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.