AIRFIELD AERODROME SERVICES CHANGE PRACTITIONER

A vacancy has arisen for a Flight Lieutenant (Eng(AS)), Flying Officer(Eng(AS)) or Warrant Officer (TG 5, 6 or 7) to serve as an Airfield/Aerodrome Services Change Practitioner, within the RAF SSP Aerodrome Operations & Airfield Services Project Team at RAF Cranwell on Full Time Reserve Service (Limited Commitment) Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS), with an initial proposed start date of 1 April 2022 (or earlier). 

SSP Team

The SSP Team is led by a 1* RAF Officer and comprises a core programme team at RAF High Wycombe which includes the Transformation Discovery Project Team, and 5 Project Delivery Teams – 1 based at RAF High Wycombe, 4 based at RAFC Cranwell. The delivery teams are transforming functional delivery at Station and Unit level in the areas of Human Resources, Logistics, Aerodrome Operations & Airfield Services, Comms/C4I and Air Engineering Services over the next 2 years. Concurrently, discovery work and analysis will continue to identify further areas for improvements to organisational and management processes within the operating core of the RAF, as well as larger strategic change potential in the areas of people, platforms and infrastructure.

Programme Background

Defence has been set a number of significant delivery challenges as a result of SDSR15. For Air Cmd this means delivering against a number of capability uplifts, modernising the RAF to improve business effectiveness and enable better mission effectiveness, and ensuring the RAF remains at the forefront of airpower. This will require re-balancing of RAF personnel to provide a sustainable workforce with the skills required to meet its outputs, delivering financial efficiencies and improving the lived experience of our people to create greater levels of workforce satisfaction (aiding both recruitment and retention). To support these objectives the RAF SSP was initiated to fundamentally review how generated outputs are provided at RAF locations across the UK. The scope is wide ranging; SSP is investigating ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery by identifying opportunities for business improvement, including standardisation, simplification, automation and digitisation. SSP is working closely with other transformation programmes in the Air TLB, with other TLBs, and the pan-Defence initiatives to ensure our work remains coherent across Defence. The programme currently sits under Chief of Staff (Support) as the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO).

Aerodrome/Airfield Services Change Practitioner

Responsible to the Aerodrome Operations & Airfield Services (AOAS) Project Manager (OF-5) through the Deputy AOAS Project Manager (OF-4) for undertaking project management activities, as directed by the Project Manager, to investigate and determine a range of options and to deliver the Project outcomes and benefits as defined in the AOAS Project Mandate. The position, whilst based at RAFC Cranwell, includes the requirement for travel to other RAF Stations and MOD locations. The successful candidate must be prepared to work flexibly across locations including overnight stays. Mobile IT will be provided to enable remote working, and individuals will be required to comply with any national or local Coronavirus restrictions.

Responsibilities

Support AOAS Project activity in order to:

• Identify business improvement, innovation and automation opportunities across the full range of RAF AOAS activities as defined in the Project Mandate.
• Assist with the development of the Project collaboratively, working with the SSP team, specialist External Assistance (EA) and working in conjunction with Air Cmd and Gp staffs.
• Work with the Project Team through the AOAS Project Implementation Phase to continue to deliver solutions which will realise personnel productivity gains, fiscal and headcount savings and enhanced workforce engagement, commitment and retention.
• Where relevant, assist with the identification of AOAS functions that may be suitable for further transformation or outsourcing for consideration by the SSP Discovery Team.

Provide SME knowledge relevant to your background and experience and Change/Lean methodology to assist with the AOAS Project design, implementation planning, benefits realisation assessment and impact assessment.

Contribute to the production of AOAS Project solution/delivery artefacts.

Actively engage with the EA support assigned to the AOAS Project Team.

Assist with the implementation of the AOAS solution approved by the SSP governing body.

Produce regular and ad-hoc reports as required to support SSP governance activities.

Must either have been or currently be a Flight Lieutenant (Eng(AS)), a Flying Officer (Eng(AS)) a Warrant Officer (TG 5, 6 or 7) or, a Flight Sergeant (TG 5, 6 or 7) who is eligible for promotion in accordance with AP 3392 Vol 2 Leaflet 560 and AP 3376 Vol 1. Promotion will be ratified by means of a Promotion Board.

• Command/management experience of Front-Line Ground Engineering services or Workshops.
• Knowledge and/or experience of Change/Lean/Transformation methodologies.
• P3M qualifications (APMP and/or Prince2, MSP, Agile).

Training. Training in P3M, Change and Transformation will be provided for a successful candidate if required.

A Selection Board will carry out a rigorous selection process for this post, based principally on an applicant’s last 3 appraisal reports (for airmen) or last 4 appraisal reports (for officers). Enquiries concerning this vacancy should be made to: 

Gp Capt Gordon McNair
Email: gordon.mcnair865@mod.gov.uk
Tel: 0300 162 5685

 

Applications. Candidate applications, with a maximum 2 page CV (to include copies of last 3 or 4 appraisal reports as required) should be sent by email to gordon.mcnair865@mod.gov.uk but can also be sent by post to:

Gp Capt Gordon McNair
AOAS Project Manager (SSP)
Second Floor
Trenchard Hall
Royal Air Force
CRANWELL
Lincolnshire
NG34 8HB

The closing date for applications is 15 October 2021.

Unless already commissioned/enlisted in the Reserve Air Forces the successful applicant will be required to be commissioned/enlisted in the RAFR with a liability for call-out for permanent service. 

The appointment is on Full Time Reserve Service (Limited Commitment) TCoS in accordance with AP 3392 Vol 7 Part 1 Chapter 16 and AP3392 Vol 7 Part 3 Chapter 2 until 31 March 2023. 

Confirmation of appointment will depend on successful completion of a RAF Medical Board. Personnel who do not meet the Age/Permanent Joint Medical Employment Standard (PJMES) may apply for the appointment but will only be considered subject to an executive waiver process on a case by case basis. 

Candidates who have been out of regular or reserve service for more than 5 years may be considered for this appointment. Prior approval must be sought from the relevant Branch & Trade Advisor to confirm current and past experience prior to being invited to interview. 

Regular Service Applicants. Personnel currently serving in the Regular Royal Air Force should be mindful of the current Early Termination Minimum Waiting Time (MWT) for their respective Rank, Branch/Trade and ensure this MWT is compatible with the post sponsor’s proposed start date, prior to applying. 

Pension Issues.  Personnel who qualify for a service pension should take financial advice from Defence Business Services (DBS) Pensions Department on the effect that undertaking reserve service has on their pension (details can be found on the JPA splash screen). Additional guidance can also be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans. Of particular note is reference to the ‘Effect of Re-employment on Commutation’.

Flexible Working Arrangements. In accordance with the Flexible Working (FW) Policy, Reserves personnel are able to request FW arrangements with their line manager. Any immediate FW requirements should be agreed with the line management at the interview stage.

Individual Reinforcement Training (IRT) (Module 1) and RAF Fitness Test (RAFFT). Reserve personnel are required to maintain currency in IRT and the RAFFT iaw the relevant TCoS. The successful applicant will be expected to undertake IRT and the RAFFT within 6 months of commencing employment (if required). 

Annual Salary and Leave. Pay will be in accordance with the pay scales published for the reserve air forces. Leave entitlement is detailed in JSP 760.

Accommodation. Personnel serving on FTRS(LC) TCoS are eligible to Single Living Accommodation (SLA) if available, at entitled rates, if serving within the Air Command TLB. However, due to a severe shortage, it is unlikely that accommodation will be available at RAF Cranwell.