SO2 DAO Qualification Development Manager

at  Ministry of Defence

JOB SUMMARY

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding role within the Defence? The Defence Awarding Organisation (DAO) are currently seeking a dynamic individual to join our team as an SO2 DAO Qualification Development Manager.
The Defence Awarding Organisation (DAO) develops and awards Ofqual accredited vocational qualifications for use by armed forces personnel (regular and reserve) and MOD Civil Servants, in recognition of defence training.
The SO2 DAO Qualification Development Manager plays a critical role in ensuring the currency and quality of DAO’s accredited qualifications. This position supports the delivery of registered qualifications across all services (Army, RN, RAF) and Defence (STRATCOM).

JOB DESCRIPTION

The successful candidate will have responsibility for, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Undertake line management, mentoring and countersigning tasks as required by the role. This role has 1 direct reportees SO3 DAO Business Support 1 and will deputise in absence of SO1 DAO Responsible Officer (RO) (as required).
• Undertake learning and development and upskilling as required.
• Responsible for the efficient mapping, review process, development, delivery, and award of allocated DAO qualifications in support of Defence accreditation policy and Ofqual regulations.
• Write, update and implement DAO policy to ensure compliance with Defence, Ofqual and RQF policies.
• Manage Fee Earner Qualification Developers by Identifying, supporting selection, and maintain log of currency ensuring contracts documents and HR Form 382s are processed.
• Generate new business for the DAO, offering support and guidance to potential new Centres in maximising all accreditation opportunities and ensuring that they meet the DAO Centre and Ofqual requirements.
• Manage & update Qualification section on QMS with new qualifications and update ongoing risk-based findings from Awarding Centre visits.
• Act as point of contact to appointed DAO Centres for DAO Qualifications, ensuring that issues are dealt with effectively and coordinating the return of EQA and visit reports from a qualification perspective.
• Liaise with key personnel and outside agencies on all matters relevant to DAO qualifications to ensure currency and best practice for all DAO procedures.
• Act as a consultant on Defence accreditation issues in relation to DAO qualifications.
• Any other ad-hoc requests directed by line management chain.

BEHAVIOURS

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

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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

• Leadership
• 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

SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
This recruitment process will consist of 2 parts:
A written application containing your experience (a CV and a Statement of Suitability (Personal Statement) and 2 Behaviours drawn from the Civil Service Success Profiles.
If your written application is successful, you will be invited to a face-to-face or virtual via MS Teams interview where you will be tested against 4 Behaviours from your application.
If a large number of applications are received, they will be assessed initially against the Leadership behaviour and your CV and Statement of Suitability (Personal Statement). You will then be assessed against the other criteria if you have met the minimum scores.
Behaviours are assessed individually with a 250-word statement. The application form will indicate which behaviour is being assessed. We are looking for evidence using the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) methodology.

At sift you will be assessed against the following :

• CV
• Personal Statement ( 500 word count)
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

At interview you will be assessed against :

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating & Influencing
• Working Together

It is highly recommended you focus by providing one example for each behaviour. We would also advise you to use examples that best meet the criteria, even if they are a few years old, using the STAR methodology.
Situation: Briefly describe the background of the situation in which you found yourself.
Task: What you were required to do/chose to do.
Action: What actions you undertook to achieve the tasks. Make sure to use “I”, not “we” to explain how your actions led to results.
Result: Use facts and evidence to demonstrate the results that your actions produced. Explain whether it was a successful outcome, and if not, what you learned from the experience.
Please make sure you have consulted the HM Government ‘Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours’ document Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) available on Gov.uk to ensure you have understood the relevant Behaviours at Level Higher Executive Officer for the appropriate grade.

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)

TYPE OF ROLE

Business Management and Improvement
Education and Training

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, review, and register DAO accredited qualifications.
• Ensure the design and development of qualifications meet Defence and Ofqual policies.
• Manage an efficient assurance and audit framework for over 20+ DAO Awarding Centres.
• Undertake line management, mentoring, and countersigning tasks.
• Provide support and guidance to potential new Awarding Centres, ensuring they meet DAO Centre and Ofqual requirements.
• Update DAO policy to ensure compliance with Defence, Ofqual, and The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).
• Act as a point of contact for DAO Qualifications, addressing issues and coordinating the registration of qualifications with Ofqual.
• Liaise with key personnel and external agencies to ensure best practices with qualification delivery.
• Act as a consultant on Defence accreditation issues related to DAO qualifications.
  Working in a regulated environment, the successful candidate should be organised, detail orientated and have excellent communication skills.
  A background in education is desirable but not essential, and there are opportunities to gain Level 3 and 4 qualifications to support the role.
  If you are passionate about education, qualifications, and making a difference, we would love to hear from you.
  This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.