FS Apprentice Liaison WAD Lead

Subject to formal establishment, a vacancy will arise for a Flight Sergeant (any profession) to serve as Apprentice Liaison (AL) WAD Lead at RAF Waddington on Full Time Reserve Service (Limited Commitment) Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS), with an initial proposed start date of 26 October 2026, (or earlier/later, subject to candidate status).

The RAF has approximately 2000 Aeronautical Engineering Apprentices at any one time and this number is due to increase over the next 5 years (WF Balance 2030). To better support apprentices and their Line Managers, RAF Apprenticeships will establish Sgt AL posts on front-line Sqns, FS AL Lead posts on front-line units and one WO AL Team Leader at RAF Cosford. These posts will provide a critical interface between Sqn Line Managers, Apprentices and Military Apprenticeship Co-ordinators with the aim of improving the apprenticeship experience and encouraging successful and timely apprenticeship completion. 

1.    The AL WAD Lead is responsible to Aircraft Engineering Apprenticeships (AEA) for the Command, leadership, reporting, data protection, discipline, welfare and pastoral care of the Squadron Liaison staff within their AoR.

2.    The AL WAD Lead is responsible for ensuring ALs across their AoR are carrying out their role IAW AL responsibilities 

3.    Ensuring communication between Engineering Organisations, MACs, apprentices and AEA HQ is maintained.

4.    Ensuring that all staff are fully trained and in date to carry out their responsibilities:

a.    Mandatory training has been completed and documented accordingly.

b.    KPIs

c.    JOB relevant Qualifications.

5.    Support to ALs:

a.    To ensure parenting agreements are being adhered to including:

(1)    Suitable office space allocated or are available to be utilised. Manage resources required to carry out their duties including office equipment and IT provisions.

6.    Ensure all AL policy documents are relevant and managed:

a.    Up To date Responsibilities

b.    Work instructions.

c.    Orders.

d.    Leaflets or other information provided to the apprentices, e.g. PREVENT, BV, RAF course etc.

7.    The AL WAD Lead is responsible for standardisation across their AoR and facilitate standardisation across all MOBs.

a.    Carry out standardisation meetings across their AoR monthly.

b.    Attend Area Standardisation Meetings Quarterly, each FS AL will run an Area Standardisation meeting on rotation.
c.    Carrying out face to face visits to stations and Engineering Organisations with in their AoR.

d.    Ensuring assurance programmes are actioned in-consultation with AEA QMS.

8.    Engage with AL work areas in their AoR ensuring that:

a.    AL SNCO are attending the workplace, supporting apprentices and their line manager, e.g. aligning start/end times and shift patterns.

b.    Ensure ALs are not being tasked outside of their responsibilities.

c.    Gather feedback from work areas on AL performance. For trending, standardisation and reporting purposes.

9.    Acting as POC to assist ACIT with visits to Engineering Organisation within their AoR, ensuring that:

a.    The AL and Engineering Organisations to be visited are given notice of ACIT visits, and make sure that station visits procedures have been actioned.

b.    Provide assistance to ACIT as required during visit.

c.    Any relevant information relating to visit is up to date.

d.    Any previous actions or issues found on ACIT visits have been captured and either actioned or allocated accordingly.

10.    Acting as POC for Ofsted visits within their AoR, to assist with the any requirements and supporting their ALs and wider apprenticeship team.

11.    Monitor interactions between MACs and AL.

12.    Managing the AL allocation to station and Engineering Organisation within AoR ensuring that:

a.    Vacant AL positions within AoR are being managed and AEA HQ are informed.
b.    Manage AL workload to ensure adequate support to apprentices and Engineering Organisation staff within their AoR. 

13.    Deputise for OC AL as required.

14.    Deputise for other FS AL’s in their absence.

Must either have been, or currently be, a Flight Sergeant (any Profession) or a Sgt (any Profession except TG1), CT (TG1) eligible for promotion in accordance with AP 3392 Vol 2 Leaflet 560 and AP 3376 Vol 1. All Promotions will be ratified by means of a Promotion Board.

• Experience of Defence Systems Approach Training
• Supervisory management experience
• Knowledge of RAF Apprenticeships programme
• Knowledge of OFSTED
• Knowledge of PREVENT & British Values

A Selection Board will carry out a rigorous selection process for this post, based principally on an applicant’s last 3 appraisal reports and other evidence as appropriate. 

Enquiries concerning this vacancy should be made to:

WO Dave Ross David.Ross808@mod.gov.uk

or

FS Noel Dilnot noel.dilnot879@mod.gov.uk

Applications.  Candidate applications should as a minimum, comprise of a maximum 2-page CV, and copies of last 3 appraisal reports (as required). Where candidates have been out of military service and / or have additional civilian SQEP relevant for the role, they should include evidence including qualifications, references, civilian appraisals as deemed appropriate, for use by the Selection Board, and should be sent to:

22gp-apprenticeships-recruitment@mod.gov.uk  

The closing date for applications is 24 June 2026.

Interviews will take place week commencing 13 July 2026.

Unless already enlisted in the Reserve Air Forces the successful applicant will be required to be enlisted in the Royal Air Force Reserves 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 and AP3392 Vol 7 Part 3 Chapter 2 for an initial period of 5 years.

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 must be attested before their 61st birthday. However, suitably qualified personnel may be considered but a waiver must be sought from SO1 Res Spt prior to interview.

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 Professions 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, Profession and ensure this MWT is compatible with the post sponsor’s proposed start date, prior to applying.

Joint Medical Employment Standards. The post is non deployable, non-safety critical, does not involve operational support activity and is sedentary in nature. IBN 94/24 applies.

Admin Discharge.  Ex-service candidates who have been administratively discharged through the KR1027 process will have their applications rejected as they are not eligible to join the RAF Reserves in accordance with AP 3391.

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 and MMP116 - Re-employment. Of particular note is reference to the ‘Effect of Re-employment’ on Commutation and, for those leaving on a ‘preserved’ pension, the Resettlement Grant.

Transition between TCoS.  Personnel taking this appointment from other TCoS should consider the impact on any accrued entitlements, such as leave, resettlement etc and should seek specialist guidance where required as certain entitlements are TCoS specific and may not be retained or transferred on transition between TCoS. 

Flexible Working Arrangements.  In accordance with the Flexible Working (FW) Policy, Reserve personnel can 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/HC)/ADC TCoS are eligible to occupy 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 Waddington.