Army - Joint Personnel Administration Manager

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army.
This post is located within the Army Aviation Centre (AACen) at Middle Wallop. The AACen is responsible for the training pipeline for, and delivers, Aviation Training, both Aircrew and Ground crew for the Army Air Corps (AAC), as such the organisation is hugely influential in the development of Aviation war-fighting capability.
This post sits within the Regimental Accounts Office (RAO), providing Pay functions for all AAC personnel at Middle Wallop.
We actively seek to provide an inclusive working environment which gets the best from every member of our team. We recognise team members for their dedication and integrity. We seek and encourage diversity of thought, background, experience, and approach.
The post is being advertised at 37 hours per week in office (but a flexible approach to these can be considered)., The Regimental Accounts Office consists of nine personnel covering Personnel and Administration functions, including remuneration allowances. The successful candidate will manage a team of three Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) Posts, dealing with personnel related enquiries either face to face, by telephone or email. They will be responsible for providing advice and administration on soldiers’ pay, travel arrangements and the receipt and dispatch of personal documents.
Key Areas of Responsibility include:
+ Undertake Admin Branch and Staff and Person Support (SPS) management checks on personal data for all staff within Middle Wallop station
+ To act as Assistant Auditor, maintaining and updating the audit tracker on a regular basis. Update Authorisation Requirement List monthly
+ Control of unit termination procedures and termination register
+ Control and account for the Electronic Purchasing Card (ePC) which is used for Passports and Hotel costs
+ Assist and advise unit personnel with the MOD iExpenses package
+ During periods of absence of the Financial Systems Administrator (FSA) take over and run the Unit Public Funds account
+ Line manager to three AO’s
+ Ensure all documentation for group travel is accurately acquired, correctly booked and itineraries distributed
+ Control of the accountable documents ensuring stock checks are complete
+ Provide guidance to personnel on Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) applications, We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Leadership
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Making Effective Decisions, + Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
+ Enhanced parental and adoption leave
+ 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
+ Learning and Development
We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.
A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
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 Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights., At application you will be asked to provide a CV including your job history and previous skills and experience. You’ll also need to provide a personal statement of no more than 500 words demonstrating your suitable for the role against the person specification and job description. These will also be tested at interview.
At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:
+ Making effective decisions
At interview you will be assessed on your experience and the following behaviours:
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Leadership
Application sifting is scheduled to take place within 7 working days of the closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed. A minimum of 2 full working days notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

We are looking for someone who has outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to manage their own workload, prioritising and reassessing as tasks are received. You will be expected to provide an excellent level of service and administrative support, with the highest level of accuracy. You must be prepared to work flexibly in order to ensure that all military personnel receive an outstanding service.
Although experience is desirable, we will provide on the job training in the use of the JPA system as well as the central MOD travel application.

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,198 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other benefits for Army civil servants include:
+ 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
+ Highly competitive pension scheme
+ Personal and professional development of skills