Navy Command - Contractor Safety Assistant Management

Job summary

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

You will be based at HMNB Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe and a powerhouse of Royal Navy capability. It is home to amphibious ships, survey squadrons, submarines, and two-thirds of the frigate force. With its unique nuclear refitting facility, Devonport ensures the Fleet remains ready to support operations worldwide.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Ready to bring a fresh perspective to safety and help keep a naval base shipshape? Join as our Contractor Safety Assistant Manager, where you’ll turn safety requirements into practical action. From working with contractors and visiting workers to supporting inspections, delivering briefings and leading a small team, you’ll help put safe working at the heart of life at HM Naval Base Devonport. If you enjoy connecting with people, solving problems and making a tangible difference, this could be your next port of call!

What you will do:

• Implement and maintain the 4C’s management system for contractors and visiting workers, ensuring arrangements align with statutory requirements and Ministry of Defence policy.
• Monitor the health, safety and environmental protection performance of contractors and business partners, carrying out inspections, audits and compliance visits and recording findings.
• Lead the Naval Base’s safety induction arrangements and oversee the issue of “T” cards and associated briefings.
• Maintain the Establishment Hazard Register, ensuring relevant hazard information, controls and emergency arrangements are shared with contractors, visiting workers and other stakeholders.
• Oversee the appointment of Building Controllers, providing advice, training and support and ensuring building logs are available and used.
• Provide timely, practical health, safety and environmental protection advice to managers and stakeholders across the Naval Base.
• Support accident and incident reporting and investigations, helping ensure incidents involving contractors and visiting workers receive an appropriate level of investigation.
• Review contractor safety procedures at least annually, check company assessment returns and provide feedback to quality assurance and commercial colleagues.
• Build effective relationships with internal teams, contractors, safety professionals and regulators, representing the safety team at relevant meetings.
• Ensure memoranda of understanding with lodger organisations are kept up to date and signed.
• Fulfill a Line Management and Reporting Officer role for a specialist officer (4C), who shall assist in the delivery of these processes.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• NEBOSH General Certificate - or willing to work towards.
• A basic understanding of health, safety and environmental protection principles, including relevant legislation, policies and guidance, and the ability to apply these to workplace activities.
• An understanding of hazard identification, risk assessment and control measures, including the importance of sharing accurate safety information with contractors and visiting workers.
• The ability to monitor compliance, review evidence and identify areas for improvement, with an understanding of inspection, audit and assurance processes.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain safety requirements, provide practical advice and deliver briefings to a range of audiences.
• The ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, contractors and external stakeholders, influencing others to support safe working practices.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate records, manage competing priorities and review procedures systematically.
• The ability to make evidence-based decisions, recognise when issues require escalation and challenge unsafe practices appropriately.
• The ability to lead and support a small team, encourage professional development and contribute to a positive safety culture.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Personal & professional development
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to a confidential, professional support service
• Discount schemes
• Bicycle / season-ticket loans
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.

You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training, which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements 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