Army - Senior Education Officer

at  Ministry of Defence

JOB SUMMARY

An exciting opportunity offered within the Education Department of the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC). The Senior Education Officer role is both varied and gratifying. Responsible for the MCTC Education Centre, Fresh Starts Farm and education across the wider Military Provost Staff Regiment. You will be joining a fun and friendly team of dedicated military and civilian support staff. We look forward to welcoming you!
The Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) is the Ministry of Defence’s single central custodial facility. It differs from other forms of detention in some important respects. The staff and detainees are service personnel, although civilians subject to service discipline can also be held. Many of those detained will resume their careers in the Armed Forces when they complete their sentence, the rest are discharged from the services and return to civilian life when they are released. Although under Army command, it is a tri-service establishment, with staff from the Civil Service, Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
The main focus of the role is to provide a strategic focus on the learning, skills and qualifications in all areas of educational activity, with an emphasis on employability, education and training. Ensuring that the Education regime meets the needs of learners, provides opportunity for achievement of qualifications/training to support their resettlement, strengthening successful future civilian employment prospects and contributes to reducing the risk of re-offending.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Duties and responsibilities of the Senior Education Officer can be varied, and this requires a positive approach! Flexibility and willingness to prioritise tasks in a methodical order. The department promotes a positive, professional, and friendly image to all our customers and visitors and therefore candidates should maintain an appropriate and professional standard to reflect their position at all times.
The nature of the job ensures variety, MCTC is a Tri-Service establishment that requires Civil Service support to deliver key objectives, Education being a main valued goal. We receive individuals who have been awarded a detention period from 14 days to 2 years. We are here to support those individuals throughout their sentence within a custodial and educational environment. MCTC is an establishment that provides corrective training for service personnel sentenced to periods of detention; it is not a prison. The Education Department predominantly provides resettlement opportunities including trade training and civilian life preparation for those of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force who are to be discharged after their sentence.

Main responsibilities:

• Develop the Education Centre and Unit Farm in line with MCTC policy, the Commandant’s direction, relevant legislation, statutory requirements of best practice as provided by relevant external agencies and governing bodies.
• Be responsible for managing, promoting, developing and coordinating all learning and skills activity, (including education, vocational training, skills development, Fresh Start Farm and library provision) in order to provide a comprehensive and coherent learning and skills programme for all detainees.
• Manage resources to deliver educational activities within the defined work areas and manage the Education budget in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation.
• Assess, assure, and internally validate all Education Centre courses in conjunction with the Basic Skills Development Manager (BSDM), adjusting course content and delivery as required.
• Conduct annual self-assessments and quality improvement programmes to drive forward strategic development of the Education Centre and Fresh Starts Farm.
• Chair Education related meetings and contribute to regimental meetings as required.
• Ensure that all due procedures pertaining to farm management are adhered to.
• Engage with external Agencies to obtain advice and funding.
• Deliver civilian engagement, projects and brief on education department visits as required.
• Line manager for all Education Centre staff (civilian and military) less BSDM and their subordinates. This includes staff performance, development and annual appraisal through to sickness absence management.
• The internal management of Civil Service Recruiting processes, identifying shortfalls where such exist and engaging with HQ Provost Marshal (Army) to conduct recruitment as required.
• Ensuring quality and compliance of delivery in line with legislation, standard process and external agency inspection regimes such as Army Inspector, Army Training Inspectorate, Director Army Education, Director Army Veterinary Services, Environmental Health, OFSTED and HMIP.
• Ensure all education activities comply with Health and Safety legislation. Ensure all risk assessments are undertaken and staff are made aware of their personal responsibility towards ensuring Health and Safety compliance.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the Grade as required by the Commandant on an ad hoc basis.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Person Specification:

• Ability to apply intelligence to identify, analyse and solve problems, both practical and intellectual.
• The ability to articulate verbal and written communication, on all aspects of the educational environment to the Chain of Command and external organisations, including HQ Provost Marshal (Army). Produce logical, proficient, convincing and accurate written work and able to brief team members.
• Adapt to new circumstances, bringing to bear both common sense and innovation. Anticipate problems and grasp opportunities for improvement.
• Effective Intelligence - Demonstrates mental agility to assimilate sophisticated or multiple pieces of information, applying informed judgement to provide a considered output.
• Able to work autonomously. Accountability - Takes ownership for work activities and achieves agreed commitments to a high standard for themselves.
• Achieving Results - Persevere to achieve objectives competently, allocating and amending priorities to meet aims and objectives.

Essential:

• Significant previous leadership experience and skills.
• Successfully delivered high quality outcomes that met customers’ needs and give good value.
• Passionate about supporting others, both by developing your own knowledge and continuously seeking new ways to improve and support colleagues to build confidence and competence.
• Experience of analysing data, producing statistics, and pulling together reports.
• Be able to seeking out and share experiences to develop knowledge of the team’s business area.
• Identifying capability gaps for self and/or others.
• Ensuring colleagues and/or stakeholders have a clear understanding of objectives, activities, and time frames.
• Involving a diverse range of colleagues and/or delivery partners (within and/or external to your immediate team/area of work) in developing suggestions for improvements.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and engagement skills with the ability to negotiate and influence colleagues at a range of levels.
• A self-starter who can generate new insights and approaches of delivery.
• Exhibit personal qualities and behaviours which are a role model for others – being open to receive challenge and feedback; value diversity and difference; and to work as part of a team to get the job done.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications and a good level of IT literacy
• Be a team player, ready to jump into the role and not be afraid to ask questions. We all work closely together, so collaboration is key.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in an educational environment or practice of supporting others.
• An understanding of the purpose of resettlement, education and training to support those leaving the Military Services.
• Low level budgetary experience.
• International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) level of Level 2 IT skills or equivalent.

BEHAVIOURS

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

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service

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

• Leadership
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know

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)

Main responsibilities:

• Develop the Education Centre and Unit Farm in line with MCTC policy, the Commandant’s direction, relevant legislation, statutory requirements of best practice as provided by relevant external agencies and governing bodies.
• Be responsible for managing, promoting, developing and coordinating all learning and skills activity, (including education, vocational training, skills development, Fresh Start Farm and library provision) in order to provide a comprehensive and coherent learning and skills programme for all detainees.
• Manage resources to deliver educational activities within the defined work areas and manage the Education budget in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation.
• Assess, assure, and internally validate all Education Centre courses in conjunction with the Basic Skills Development Manager (BSDM), adjusting course content and delivery as required.
• Conduct annual self-assessments and quality improvement programmes to drive forward strategic development of the Education Centre and Fresh Starts Farm.
• Chair Education related meetings and contribute to regimental meetings as required.
• Ensure that all due procedures pertaining to farm management are adhered to.
• Engage with external Agencies to obtain advice and funding.
• Deliver civilian engagement, projects and brief on education department visits as required.
• Line manager for all Education Centre staff (civilian and military) less BSDM and their subordinates. This includes staff performance, development and annual appraisal through to sickness absence management.
• The internal management of Civil Service Recruiting processes, identifying shortfalls where such exist and engaging with HQ Provost Marshal (Army) to conduct recruitment as required.
• Ensuring quality and compliance of delivery in line with legislation, standard process and external agency inspection regimes such as Army Inspector, Army Training Inspectorate, Director Army Education, Director Army Veterinary Services, Environmental Health, OFSTED and HMIP.
• Ensure all education activities comply with Health and Safety legislation. Ensure all risk assessments are undertaken and staff are made aware of their personal responsibility towards ensuring Health and Safety compliance.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the Grade as required by the Commandant on an ad hoc basis