General Workshop Technician

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

This is an excellent opportunity available within the 71 (Inspection and Repair) Squadron Workshops. It is diverse, rewarding, and fascinating. Do you have the ability to innovate and develop new solutions to meet the needs of the Royal Air Force?

Are you a self-motivated, hard-working person? One who will play an engaging, intriguing, and critical role in our support of Air Command’s readiness to fly and battle with an agile operational mindset.

To provide its outputs, 71 (Inspection & Repair) Squadron relies on a flexible team with a thorough awareness of the needs of its customers; the selected candidate will be urged to demonstrate an ability to fit in and work as part of this team during the interview.

The 71 (Inspection and Repair) Squadron is based at Royal Air Force Wittering, and in addition to manufacturing capabilities, the Squadron also has Repair Design Authority, Aircraft Repair, and Non-Destructive Testing specialisms, as well as supporting activities. The Squadron is also leading the way in developing additive manufacturing in the aerospace area for the Royal Air Force.

Workshops provide direct support to Aircraft Repair crews when needed. They not only assist the air system, but also build and repair station assets.

Air Command provides an open, flexible, and supportive work environment in which Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel collaborate on a wide range of interesting and challenging jobs in a variety of disciplines, including finance, legal services, personnel and human resources, project planning and contract management, and media and communications.

This position is listed for 37 hours per week.

Job Description

As a Skill Zone 3 General Workshops Technician, you will report to the Officer Commanding Support Flight, via the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Workshops. You’ll be liable for:

• Components are manufactured and repaired in line with specified drawings/patterns/repair schemes.
• Vehicle welds are performed in accordance with the repair schemes provided.
• General technical support is provided to the off-site Additive Manufacturing plant as needed.
• Contributing to the effective organisation, trade practices, security, and cleanliness of workplace facilities.
• Always monitor and ensure compliance with Health and Safety instructions. This includes adhering to and aiding with occupational health and safety rules, recognising hazards, and developing risk mitigation strategies.
• Using proper tool control measures when conducting production and training operations.
• Ensure that all personal protective equipment and respiratory protective equipment required for any task are in good working order.
• Providing all training related to the role and working environment.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will have at least two years of experience working in a workshop manufacturing setting, including MIG and TIG welding, as well as an NVQ Level 3 / City & Guilds (or similar) qualification in Fabrication and Welding. The candidate must also have basic IT abilities and the ability to utilise Microsoft Office, particularly the Work and Excel products.

A driver’s license is also required, as travel may be required for training that includes attendance at residential courses, and detached duty (work away from home base) may be required but will be compensated accordingly.

Desirable skills:

• Experience with manual turning and milling, or a Machining certificate, would be desirable, but not required, as this can be obtained through professional development once in position.
• Working understanding of 2.5 and 3D Feature-Cam drawing software for Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machines is preferred but not required, and can be acquired later.

Qualifications

Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 / City & Guilds (or equivalent) in Fabrication and Welding, as well as basic IT skills (e.g., Microsoft Word and Excel).

Behaviours

During the selection process, we will evaluate you based on the following behaviours:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing.
• Managing A Quality Service

Technical skills.

During the selection process, we will evaluate you on the following technical skills:

• Technical knowledge questions and a practical test on welding

Benefits

Along with your £23,310 pay, the Ministry of Defence contributes £6,752 towards your membership in the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Discover what perks a Civil Service Pension gives.

• Learning and growth based on your role
• An setting that offers flexible working opportunities
• A culture that promotes inclusiveness and diversity.
• A civil service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• In addition to public holidays, annual leave entitlement will be 25 days, increasing by one day per year to a maximum of 30 days after five years of service.
• Personal & Professional Development
• Access to a confidential and competent support service
• Discount schemes
• On-site parking.
• Bicycle/season ticket loans
• Increased paternity and adoption leave
• Special paid leave for volunteering up to 6 days per year.
• Fully equipped gym – membership requirements apply.
• Onsite restaurant offers Pay as you Dine dishes.

The post does not cover relocation costs.

External recruits who join the MOD and are new to the Civil Service will serve a six-month probation period.

Please be aware that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be aware that the Department is conducting a review of all pay-related allowances, which may have an influence on the allowances offered for the position currently advertised.

If you transfer to MOD from another company, you will lose access to childcare benefits. This involves transfers between government departments. You may be qualified for other government schemes, such as Tax-Free Childcare. Check your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for its employees, which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, safeguarding them from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, and assisting those who wish to quit smoking. The Smoke-Free Working Environment policy states that smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) are not permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment; however, some exemptions exist; please refer to local instructions. The policy applies to all defence personnel, contractors, tourists, and non-MOD people. All candidates seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be informed of this policy, which is already in effect at some Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment happiness Survey – We may contact you to discuss your experience and how we can enhance customer happiness. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may be offered the option to provide extra information to help us improve our service, which may include the collecting of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice explains how we will utilise your personal information and your rights.

Things you should know

Details about the selection process.

This job posting will use Success Profiles (opens in a new window) to evaluate your behaviours, experience, and technical skills.

When choosing Behaviour examples, please choose real-life circumstances that are relevant to your personal experiences. While technology can help improve your written submission, introducing other people’s or technology-generated ideas may result in your application being denied.

Candidates must give a CV that includes their career history, qualifications, and previous skills and experience.

At sift, you will be evaluated against the following Success Profile Behaviours:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing A Quality Service
• CV

During the interview, you will be tested against the following Success Profiles Behaviours/Technical Skills:

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing A Quality Service
• Technical Skill – Knowledge questions and practical tests on welding.
• CV

Sifts and interviews will take place on a date to be determined.

A practical welding task will be part of the selection process during the interview, in addition to questions about your CV, job habits, and technical skills.

The successful candidate will be required to undertake a medical examination to determine their baseline respiratory, skin sensitivity, hearing, and hand arm vibration.

The Civil Service values diversity and encourages equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimal selection requirements. If you require further assistance or reasonable adaptations to the recruiting process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk.

As a result of changes to UK immigration regulations that took effect on January 1, 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only sponsor a skilled worker visa under the points-based system if the employment is deemed commercially important.

The position currently posted has not been deemed commercially vital, and hence is NOT open to applications from people who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. If you apply for this position and are discovered to require sponsorship, your application will be denied, and any temporary offer of employment will be rescinded.

Feedback will only be supplied if you participate in an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must go through a criminal background check.

Successful candidates must complete security standards before being appointed. The required level of security is security check (opens in new window).

View our vetting charter (opens in a separate window).

People who work with government assets must pass baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be required to provide a medical.

Nationality requirements

This position is widely open to the following groups:

• UK citizens
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries have the right to work in the United Kingdom
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and family members of those nations, with established or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS). (Opens a new window)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and family members of those nations, who have made a legitimate application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
• Individuals having limited or indefinite right to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before December 31, 2020.
• Turkish nationals and certain family members of Turkish nationals have gained the right to work in the Civil Service.

More information about nationality criteria. (Opens a new window)

Working in Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) specifies the norms of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We hire on merit through fair and open competition, as defined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service values diversity and encourages equal opportunity. As a result, we provide a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) to candidates with impairments who meet the basic selection requirements.

The Civil Service also provides a Redeployment Interview Scheme for civil servants who are at risk of redundancy and meet the basic qualifications for the offered position.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining, and investing in talent wherever it exists. For more information, please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and get more information.

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

The job advertisement will be removed once this position has been filled. You may wish to keep a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants.

Job contact:

Name:

Rebekah Fox

Email:

rebekah.fox108@mod.gov.uk

Telephone:

03001623224

Recruitment team

Email:

dbscivpers-resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please read the accompanying candidate information document before 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 accordance with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, you may file 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 you are still dissatisfied after filing your complaint with DBS, you can file a complaint directly with the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ. Contact info@csc.gov.uk.