DE&S Type Airworthiness Authority Project Leader

Job content

Location

MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol, BS34 8JH

Summary

About the job

Join an integral part of the UK’s Defence and play your part in the procurement and in-service support of all our armed forces’ equipment, from fighter jets, armoured vehicles and aircraft carriers, to clothing, food, and ammunition. If you have the pride, passion and commitment to be part of an exciting organisation at the forefront of supporting our country’s armed forces to deliver on operations at home and abroad, then apply online now!

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

You will be based out of the location listed above in the advert, however, DE&S supports Smarter working, which empowers you to make decisions about when, where and how you work.

Job Description

DE&S are seeking a Type Airworthiness Authority (TAA) Project Leader (PL) to join the Chinook Delivery Team, supporting the Team Leader in the delivery of a complex acquisition procurement via Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of 14 additional H-47(ER) Chinook Helicopters, known as the Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme (CSP).

The Chinook Delivery Team (ChDT) is part of the Helicopters Operating Centre within DE&S. The DT supports a fleet size of 60 aircraft, support helicopter training simulators and a variety of operations with a global footprint.

The Delivery Team supports this portfolio through airworthiness and safety management, as well as engineering and logistics support including the procurement and management of spares and contractor-managed output-based services. They also provide operational management of Support Helicopter training simulators and project management for the acquisition of new aircraft and capability upgrades.

The strategic importance of the H-47(ER) procurement makes this role diverse, challenging and interesting.

Your demonstrable, effective leadership skills and experience with management of significant, complex projects and budgets will be key to ensuring success in this role, highlighting your credibility and competence across the certification, safety and type airworthiness responsibilities and Project Management disciplines. The role will necessitate significant international travel, primarily to the USA, which could constitute up to 12 weeks per year.

Please note that for candidates that are invited for interview, there will be an extended period between being informed, and interviews taking place in order for you to submit evidence to the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regarding your competency to hold Type Airworthiness Authority responsibilities, which will need to be assured in advance of interviews taking place.

Due to the nature of the role involved, we can accept applications from Sole UK nationals only.

Responsibilities

As the Type Airworthiness Authority (TAA) and Project Leader (PL) for Chinook CSP you will:

• Be the lead for certification, safety and airworthiness, as well as holding responsibility for all aspects of the acquisition and support (including financial management) of the new aircraft fleet, supported by a cross functional team
• You will operate in accordance with a personal Letter of Airworthiness Authority (LOAA), Military Aviation Authority (MAA) Letter of endorsement (LOE) and MAA Regulatory Publications
• You will be the Senior Safety Responsible (SSR) Engineer for the H-47(ER) aircraft and will ensure the Type Airworthiness of the aircraft system is delivered and maintained throughout the platform’s full lifecycle, whilst also delivering maximum operational availability of the in-service platform and providing leadership and direction to the CSP Engineering team
• You will have accountability for all aspects of Project Delivery of the Cat A procurement, including project management, setting the performance management baseline, quality management, financial management and commercial delivery
• You will be a part of the senior leadership of the Helicopter Operating Centre and, as such, will be expected to contribute effectively and collegiately to collective learning, governance, leadership and reputation management
• You will work effectively across a range of senior civilian and military stakeholders (UK and international), within Government organisations and industry, operating collaboratively with the US-Government for procurement of equipment through Foreign Military Sales
• You will lead an effective integrated logistics support solution for a new aircraft into service
  

What You Will Be Assessed Against

To be successful with your application, you must demonstrate that you meet the following essential criteria:

• You will be a Chartered Engineer or hold an equivalent Engineering accreditation/qualification and will also hold an APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ), APM Project Professional Qualification (PPQ) or have the equivalent demonstrable experience and approach to professional Project Management development
• You will have previously held a Letter of Airworthiness Authority and have the ability to be awarded a Letter of endorsement (LOE) from the Military Aviation Authority within 3 months of arrival
• You will have significant experience of leading and managing a project management team delivering a highly complex portfolio of projects or a programme across the aviation environment
• You will demonstrate the ability to lead airworthiness, safety and certification activity for initial type certification of a complex aviation platform
• Experience of leading the introduction to service and sustainment of a new aircraft type in accordance with the Military Aviation Authority’s Regulatory Publications
  

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

• Technical decision making - Expert
• Technical risk management - Expert
• Leadership
• Changing and improving
  

What’s in it for you?

You will receive a generous benefits package including market leading employer pension contributions of around 21% of your salary (not including any personal contribution), annual bonuses, a flexible working pattern to fit you where possible, 25 days holiday +1 additional day every year you work up to 30 days with opportunity for movement and promotion. Some of our sites include an onsite gym, onsite restaurants, cafes and much more.

Find out more about what we offer by clicking here

Applicants should be aware that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

About Your Team

Cutting-edge engineering and science is a critical component in delivering modern, battle-winning technologies to all branches of the armed forces. Engineering is the largest business area within DE&S – and it’s one of the most fulfilling too. From managing technical risks, engineering resources and services, to defining and assuring best practice, our engineers are exemplars both within DE&S and our industry partners and professional bodies.

Benefits

To view the ’Little Book of Big Benefits’, please click here

This post is not eligible for relocation allowances.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting .

See our vetting charter .

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

Your Application Will Go Through Several Stages Of Assessment Which Are Outlined Below

Simply click on the apply button to create an account and upload your CV.

• Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the responsibilities section of this advert.
• Sift - Applicants’ CVs are assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system:
• Key Achievements
• Relevant Experience
• Applied Knowledge and Skills
  

For additional guidance on writing a CV for DE&S, please click here

• Interview - Applicants will be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the technical competencies and behaviours listed in the responsibilities section of this advert. More details about our DE&S Behaviours which can be found attached at the bottom of the page.
  

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

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles .

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.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :Name : Nick Wills - DE&S Talent Acquisition SpecialistEmail : Nicholas.Wills@gattacaplc.comRecruitment team :Email : Nicholas.Wills@gattacaplc.com

Further information

For more details on DE&S, please see attached ’DE&S Further Information’ PDF. This document also explains how you can make a complaint.

Follow link to apply

Please click here to apply

Reference number

134611

Salary

64,600 - 76,000

per annum (plus benefits). Salary listed is pro rata. Internal candidates/existing Civil Servants should refer to the Further Information Leaflet for salary details.

Grade

Other

Senior Professional

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

MOD - Defence Equipment & Support - Engineering

Type of role

Engineering

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of posts

1