Graduate Acoustician

The Noise and Vibration Division (NVD) of the RAF Centre of Aerospace Medicine (CAM) provides specialist scientific support on noise and vibration related issues to the RAF and wider MOD. Graduate Acousticians play a key role in fulfilling this aim by conducting occupational and environmental noise and vibration surveys (including in-flight on various military aircraft), analysing data and writing technical reports. Other aspects of the role include providing/assisting with Subject Matter Expert (SME) support to operations, presenting on MOD courses, administration management and eventually, project management.
Benefits of the role include flexible working, 25 days paid annual leave and a highly competitive pension scheme. The post also currently attracts additional pay allowances including a Market Skills Allowance (15% additional payment on top of your salary, currently equating to £4245), a Civilian Flight Observers Allowance and a Night Duty Allowance (all of which are reviewed annually and cannot be guaranteed).
Please note: RAF CAM and hence, NVD is due to relocate to RAF Cranwell, Lincolnshire at the earliest in 2029 following the closure of RAF Henlow. However, this date is subject to change and may be delayed.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week., Our primary aim is to provide specialist scientific support on noise and vibration related issues to the RAF, MOD and occasionally other sectors within defence.
NVD are a small team that currently performs 2 primary streams of work; occupational noise/Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) assessments and environmental noise modelling, Military Aviation Noise Contour (MANC) mapping. The occupational stream involves surveying aircrew in-flight noise and WBV exposure, as well as groundcrew noise to test for and mitigate against Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) and other potential health problems. The environmental stream involves using specialist computer software to produce arrays of noise contour maps surrounding military airfields, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990. NVD also provides extensive SME support and training to other MOD departments involved in assessing building acoustics, workshop noise and weapons noise to name a few areas.
As a Graduate Acoustician, you will provide direct support to the department’s core functions by conducting noise and vibration surveys (including in-flight on a variety of military aircraft) at various military bases around the country (and sometimes internationally), analysing measured datasets using specialist software and writing technical reports. In addition, Executive Officers are required to provide/assist with SME support to operations, as well as presenting on noise/vibration related MOD courses and generally contributing to the department’s educational responsibilities by giving training to MOD personnel where necessary.
NVD endeavour to treat all members of staff equally, providing support and development opportunities for all. We strive to train new members of staff to the point of project management as promptly as possible. In addition to making measurements, analysing data and writing reports, project management in NVD involves survey planning, equipment calibration, leading survey teams and distributing analysis work across the department.
It should be noted that, when surveying, it is sometimes necessary for teams to spend periods of weeks away from home, potentially including abroad., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Leadership
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Applying scientific and technical knowledge
+ Securing, maintaining, and developing relevant technical expertise, + 6 days special leave per year to be used for volunteering activities
+ Free on-site parking
+ Access to excellent on-site gym facilities
+ Enhanced parental and adoption leave
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 sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours.
+ Leadership
+ Making effective decisions
+ Delivering at pace
+ Managing a quality service
+ Seeing the big picture
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours.
+ Making effective decisions
+ Delivering at pace
+ Managing a quality service
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
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 into 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.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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).

The Graduate Acoustician role requires specialist scientific knowledge and numerate ability, a proportion of which will be learned on the job. A Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) related degree is mandatory, as is a full UK driving licence. An active interest in acoustics is preferable and Institute of Acoustics (IOA) membership and the IOA Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control is desirable.

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,641 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service, 8 bank holidays and 1 Civil Service privilege day per year
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity