Army Officer Commanding Armed Forces Compulsory Drug Testing Team Lead

About the Role

The Ministry of Defence is seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to fill the exciting opportunity as Officer Commanding / Team Leader of the Armed Forces Compulsory Drug Testing (CDT) Team.

As a key member of the Army Personnel Services Group (APSG), the CDT Team plays a crucial role in implementing Army policy to deter substance misuse by delivering the Armed Forces CDT programme testing for 75,500 service personnel within the army a year. The team also supports the development of Tri Service substance misuse policy, and the Chain of Command when preparing casework to deal with the outcomes of CDT. The team routinely provides substance misuse data to Ministerial level, the Executive Committee of the Army Board and the Chain of Command to track and identify trends, and supports the development of substance misuse policy and education. The role has routine stakeholder engagement with Industry, across the Army and across the other services (Navy and RAF).

The CDT Team is based in Upavon, disparately located from the wider Army Personal Services Group and at reach from the SO1 line manager; it is led by the HEO with a central HQ team consisting of 3 Administrative Officer grade civil servants and 3 Warrant Officer (WO)/Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCO). Delivery of the Army testing is conducted across the UK and overseas by 5 teams, each consisting of 1 Warrant Officer Class 2/Staff Sergeant and 1 SNCO.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Key Responsibilities

The individual will be the Officer Commanding/Team Leader of the Armed Forces Compulsory Drugs Testing (CDT) Team.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Deter substance misuse in the Army through implementation of the policy of prevention, deterrence, and regulation
• Deliver the annual CDT programme, ensuring it remains within allocated resources. Advise on allocation of resource across TLBs for AF CDT delivery
• Provide guidance in the delivery of CDT across all levels of the Army, including liaison with other Top Level Budgets CDT teams such as the Navy and RAF
• Provide Leadership and line management, including Appraisal Reporting responsibilities, for the Army CDT Team of 13 Army WO / SNCOs and 3 civilian staff
• Oversight, control and management of a cost centre including CDT commercial contracts. Regularly liaising with Finance and Commercial teams within Army Headquarters
• Develop and submit Statements of Requirement and Business Cases for drug testing commercial contracts
• Act as the focal point for statutory data enquiries relating to the AFCDT programme
• Assist with the change management review of the AF CDT future programme
• Offer advice and input into the development of Defence substance misuse policy and education
• Manage the Army Drug Testing Teams, as satellite detachment (HQ AFCDT Upavon)
• Deliver briefs to Commanders, Commanding Officers and their staff on the appropriate response to Substance Misuse in accordance with the tri-Service and Army policy
• Preparation of CDT yearly budgetary forecasts in order to support the requirements of the Armed Forces Substance Misuse policies

Person Specification

We are looking for the following in the successful candidate:

• Absolute discretion, as you will routinely handle confidential personal information of a highly sensitive nature as in accordance with UK GDPR regulations
• Calm under pressure, as the nature of substance misuse at unit level means the team is often reactive, which requires a flexible approach
• Attention to detail and the requirement for accuracy in your work, as mistakes can have a disproportionate effect elsewhere in the CDT process
• Emotional intelligence with an empathetic understanding of the pressure on those working within your team, and those at unit level who you will advise on a daily basis
• A personable, tactful, and genuine leader, who will set an example to the team and for the wider Army
• A confident and outgoing individual who can engage with people of all levels
• You will possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal) to advise and influence a variety of key customers and stakeholders
• Strong staff work skills and basic finance/contract knowledge you will need to competently write business cases/papers and forecast budgets

Main Responsibilities and Desirables

Desirable experience and skills:

The successful candidate will need to:

• Be an effective, patient and empathetic leader/manager of a small team of 13 highly motivated Warrant Officers and SNCOs and 3 Civil Servants, operating from Upavon but routinely deployed across the country and overseas delivering CDT
• Have an eye for detail and adopt a customer focused approach whilst delivering the CDT programme at pace
• Good interpersonal skills, quickly developing sound working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders from unit level to policy owners in Army HQ and the MOD and with Industry
• Correctly handle confidential and sensitive information
• Manage competing priorities in a busy high tempo work environment
• Adopt an innovative and flexible approach to identifying risks, issues and mitigation options
• Have experience working with the military, a good understanding of the Armys structure, Chain of Command and ways of working

Essential:

• Effective and proven leadership skills
• Good communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Calm under pressure and a flexible approach
• Good analytical skills, with the confidence to challenge and hold stakeholders and contractors to account
• Basic finance and/or contract management knowledge and experience in order to manage the AF CDT programme

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of 35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes 10,223 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career.

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

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

At application you will need to provide a CV and a personal statement of no more than 500 words to include details of your qualifications and examples of KSEB against the essential and desirable criteria. Please include the following in your personal statement:

• Experience working collaboratively within a mixed team
• Examples where you have led teams
• Experience with basic finance and/or contract management.

At application you will also be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Leadership
• Personal Statement
• CV

At interview you will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Changing and Improving

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 10 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 in to 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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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 : Verity Crompton
• Email : verity.crompton578@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: , Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email:
info@csc.gov.uk.

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