Location

Aldershot, South East, GU11 2HH

About the job 

Do you have excellent communication skills and a real passion for providing quality customer service?

Are you a solid administrator who is well-organised, methodical and has an eye for detail?

Would you like to work in a high profile organisation, working with some of the world’s leading experts in air accident investigation?

If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) as an Operations Officer, and we’d love to hear from you.

Job description

The AAIB is part of the Department for Transport (DfT), where our purpose is to improve aviation safety by determining the circumstances and causes of aircraft accidents and serious incidents (without apportioning blame or liability) and promoting safety action to prevent reoccurrence. We investigate accidents and serious incidents to civil aircraft in the UK (including UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) and overseas where there is a UK interest.

Our team is responsible for handling notifications of aircraft accidents and incidents as well as providing administrative support to AAIB Senior Management throughout the investigation process and activities in the international safety community.

Due to the nature of our operations, you will be exposed to information and material including imagery (video and photographs) which may be distressing. You will also be required to speak with potentially traumatised accident victims, bereaved family members and witnesses, and it is essential that you take these requirements into consideration before applying for the role.
 

Responsibilities

Within your role you will:

• Ensure accident notifications are processed in a timely and effective manner, provide assistance to AAIB Duty Co-ordinators and liaise with external stakeholders;
• Ensure the 24 hours Reporting Line is manned during office hours, be flexible and occasionally work outside the standard Operations Centre hours of 0830 hrs – 1700 hrs (1630 hrs Fri);
• Ensure that all information on the AAIB’s in-house case management system is entered accurately and in line with procedures, as well as validating information provided or entered;
• Liaise with key stakeholders including the aviation industry, regulators and international safety investigation authorities to support ongoing investigation activity;
• Proactively monitor the team’s inboxes, actioning as appropriate, and maintaining a high level of awareness of on-going investigations and other factors relating to the role;
• Work closely with Principal Inspectors to assist with the preparation of documentation and material, sending out reports at consultation and publication stages. Monitoring deadlines and key deliverables as well as prompting internal and external parties for responses;
• Booking hotel and travel arrangements, dealing with enquiries from various external parties and carrying out ad hoc tasks as required.

Special features of the role

To support the AAIB’s response to a major aircraft accident, you will be required to join an on-call rota to provide administrative support in the field or from the AAIB’s offices. In addition to the basic salary, an on-call and out-of-hours Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) will be paid once fully trained.

Additionally, as part of the AAIB Administration team, the post holder will be required to cover reception and switchboard (including the 24 hrs Reporting Line) between 1700-1730 hrs Mon-Thu and 1630-1730 hrs on Fri, on a rota basis, in support of the wider Administration team.

Also, the AAIB site is in a semi-rural area and is not served by public transport, however there is secure parking on site.

About you

You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt your delivery to suit a wide variety of audiences, maximising both impact and understanding. You will have an excellent telephone manner, with the ability to show empathy and understanding in difficult situations, and be very clear in the messages you’ll need to relay.

You will have a good understanding of Microsoft Office packages and a strong attention to detail, as the notes you take, the data you record, and the communications you release are pivotal in supporting our team to make sure that we are as efficient and effective as possible.

About us

For further information about the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), please visit our website at www.aaib.gov.uk

The AAIB is part of the Department for Transport (DfT) and the DfT is
a great place to work, and our ‘one team’ approach really makes a difference. We value our staff and that’s why we’re committed to nurturing an inclusive environment across the Department.

You’ll be part of an innovative organisation that invests in all our people, ensuring we have the diverse skills to deliver transport that moves Britain ahead now and into the future.


Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.

DfT’s inclusion is recognition of our commitment to make the Department a great place to work through our culture of equality and inclusivity and the great strides we’ve made to raise the number of women in senior positions.

Licences

A full UK driving license is required

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Benefits 

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Things you need to know

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

How to apply

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

When considering your experience, please tailor your CV/Personal Statement to provide evidence of when you have:

• Working within administrative role(s) including data entry and use of the Microsoft suite.
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Working with internal and external teams/contacts at all levels.
• Reviewing documents and / or data to identify issues.

The sift is due to take place 22/10/19.

Interview/assessment will be held between 04/11/19 and 08/11/19.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Applicants successful at the sift stage will be required to complete an online wellbeing and traumatic stress questionnaire and a telephone review in advance of the interview day. Potential applicants are welcome to contact the AAIB for further information (contact point below)

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment could include:

• an interview with one or more exercises

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. For further information on Success Profiles please click here

Your interview may consist of a range of question types. These may include questions about:

• what energises and motivates you
• how you would manage situations relevant to the role
• your previous experience
• your professional skills and knowledge

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

Further Information

We have adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel.

We may hold a merit list for up to twelve months. During this time, if a similar role is identified and you have been placed on the merit list you may be considered for the post. Within the merit list period, your application form and selection information may be shared across the department and its agencies.

Reasonable adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Any move to the Department for Transport will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

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

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

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 :   Ian Bass Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected] Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission