Warehouse Manager

Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support 
Salary: £36,000 per annum (plus generous benefits)
Grade: Senior Technical Specialist I
Working Pattern: Full time, Part time, Job Share, Flexible Working
Contract Type: Permanent

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

DE&S has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies.  This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence. For further information about the NAD Group, please visit: National Armaments Director Group - GOV.UK.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job description

As a Warehouse Manager within Defence Munitions, you will lead the safe, secure and efficient management of weapons, explosives and associated equipment that support UK Defence operations across the globe. You will be accountable for the end-to-end management of warehouse activities, including the receipt, inspection, storage, maintenance, accounting, distribution and disposal of high-value and highly regulated inventory. This includes ensuring that mechanical handling equipment and munitions are available, serviceable and ready to meet operational demands while maintaining strict compliance with safety, security, environmental and transport regulations. 

You will lead teams of warehouse operatives, providing clear direction, coaching and performance management to deliver operational outputs safely and effectively. The role carries responsibility for planning of weapon selection and transportation, balancing customer requirements, workforce capacity, storage constraints and operational priorities to ensure delivery against demanding timescales. You will have direct responsibility for the safe operation of warehouse, explosives storage facilities, acting as a custodian for infrastructure and equipment.

A key aspect of the role is maintaining the physical and financial accountability of Defence inventory. You will ensure stock records are accurate, audit requirements are met, logistics information systems are maintained correctly, and inventory movements are processed in a timely manner. You will lead investigations into stock discrepancies, losses and anomalies, identify root causes and implement corrective actions to maintain confidence in inventory integrity. 

Working within a highly regulated environment, you will be responsible for ensuring all activities are conducted in accordance with explosives safety regulations, dangerous goods legislation, quality management requirements, health and safety standards and security policies. This includes assessing operational risks, developing and implementing safe systems of work, assuring workforce competence, investigating incidents and accidents, and embedding lessons learned to drive continual improvement. The role requires sound judgement and the ability to make operational decisions that balance safety, compliance, customer requirements and business performance. 

You will collaborate extensively with delivery teams, engineers, supply chain specialists, customers, suppliers and senior leaders across Defence, providing authoritative advice on munitions management, logistics operations, ammunition safety and inventory governance. You may represent Defence Munitions at safety panels, project reviews and stakeholder forums, contributing specialist expertise to support future capability, operational readiness and risk management activities.

On appointment into this role, you must be willing to undertake the National Occupational Standards (NOS) qualification. 

Please note that this is a 37 hour a week full-time role and carried out fully on-site 5 days a week.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead and develop teams delivering receipt, storage, maintenance and issue activities for Weapons Ordnance Munitions and Explosives (WOME).

• Manage complex warehouse operations, ensuring delivery against operational priorities and customer requirements.

• Act as the focal point for safety, security and compliance within your area of responsibility.

• Lead risk assessments and implement safe systems of work in highly regulated environments.

• Manage operational facilities, ensuring compliance with explosives, health and safety, environmental and security regulations.

• Provide expert advice to customers, stakeholders and senior managers on WOME logistics and operational activities.

• Drive continuous improvement through effective planning, problem solving and performance management.

• Lead investigations into incidents, inventory discrepancies and operational issues, ensuring lessons are identified and embedded.

• Support major operational activities, including those involving the Front-Line Commands (FLCs) and large scale complex-weapons.

Person specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Leadership and management of a team in a regulated environment (Lead Criterion)
• Experience of working with stakeholders to deliver high-quality operational outcomes 
• Demonstrable IT skills, including the use of the MS Office Suite 
• Background in warehousing, transport and material accounting

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Communicating and Influencing 

• Core Behaviour 2: Delivering at Pace

• Technical Competence 1: Making Evidence Based Decisions – Practitioner

• Technical Competence 2: Distribution and Warehousing – Practitioner

Offered benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission 

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-candidate-information-pack

• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions

• Civil Service Code: The Code - Civil Service Commission 

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Disability Confident:

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Conflicts of Interest:

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Selection Process Details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check your application to ensure that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.

2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• CV Review

• Core Behaviour 1

• Core Behaviour 2

• Technical Competencies

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:  

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1 
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2 
• 3rd: Technical Competencies 
• 4th: CV Review 

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criteria, and/or an additional assessment. Please note for this specific assessment, the Lead Criteria will be:

•           Leadership and management of a team in a regulated environment 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.  

If you feel that 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 department via email (NAD-Recruitment-Complaints@mod.gov.uk.) If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission

Offering at a lower level

If you’re not successful at interview, we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.

Join an integral part of the UK's Defence and play your part in the procurement and in-service support of all our armed forces’ equipment, from fighter jets, armoured vehicles and aircraft carriers, to clothing, food, and ammunition. If you have the pride, passion and commitment to be part of an exciting organisation at the forefront of supporting our country's armed forces to deliver on operations at home and abroad, then apply online now! Critical upkeep. Essential supplies. World-class service and first-class support. Our Operational Delivery function is responsible for the management and delivery of in-service support for the equipment used by the UK military – from the first day of launch to the day it’s retired from service. From munitions handling experts and hands-on support at the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) to critical in-office operations that keep everything moving – this function is a professional home for talented civilian and military staff who are dedicated to delivering the best.

Please see the MOD Privacy notice which informs how we will use your personal data, explains your rights and gives you information you are entitled to under Data Protection legislation.

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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Please click here to find out more.

DE&S/SDA and MOD Main internal applicants will need to apply through MyHR Internal Career Portal via the DE&S/SDA jobs tile. This can be found on the MyHR home page.

Please ensure you check your junk mail for email notifications from the DE&S/SDA Talent Acquisition Team.  To stop notifications being sent to your junk mail please add the following email address (emvz.fa.sender@workflow.g1mail.em1.ukg.oraclecloud.com) to the Safe Senders list in your email account.