Royal Air Force Wyton Station
Job Summary
Do you want to support the Royal Air Force (RAF) – the air and space force of the Ministry of Defence? The RAF’s success depends on their people – the Whole Force – regular and reservist military, civil servants, and contractors, all working as one, working together seamlessly. Civil servants are a central part of this Whole Force, undertaking essential work and contributing to the RAF’s mission and values. The role of civil servants in Defence is more vital than ever – now and for the future.
This is an exciting opportunity for a talented and highly motivated musician, with strong organisational skills and proven experience, to lead the RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band as the Band Instructor. The Voluntary Band consists of amateur musicians, including brass, woodwind, and percussion players, of varying ability, drawn from serving military, civil servants and members of the public from across the Cambridgeshire region. It’s a wonderful way of spending spare time, enjoying the company of like-minded enthusiasts and improving musical skills.
Well-known and respected locally, the RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band has a very high profile, providing music to support parades and a variety of functions at RAF Wyton, neighbouring Stations and the local community. It performs to enthusiastic audiences at several annual events supporting Service charities including Remembrance Parades & Events. The Band Instructor is integral to the band’s function, undertaking conducting duties, music delivery and full-time administration of the Band. More information on the RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band can be found on their website: https://wytonband.co.uk/.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week, and will require attendance at evening and weekend commitments.
Job Description
On a day-to-day basis, the Band Instructor will undertake administration, planning, and musical training and rehearsals, building on the Band’s accomplishments and leading a group of talented and highly motivated volunteers in delivering further success.
The Successful Candidate Will Undertake a Variety Of Tasks That Contribute To Smooth-running And Continued Success Of The RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band, Including, But Not Limited To:
* Administration for the Band, ensuring coherence to the relevant regulatory requirements.
* Conducting tutorials and weekly evening rehearsals to train the Band for ceremonial, formal and informal engagements, including marching.
* Preparation for rehearsals and performances, including music arrangement, instrument and music library management, site visits to assess location suitability, and preparation of health, safety and security procedures.
* Conducting evening and weekend engagements, with the requirement to appear in uniform for ceremonial and public events.
* Recruitment of musicians.
* Representation at the RAF Voluntary Band Association meetings, organised concerts and inspections.
* Financial management for the Band’s budget.
View more about Civil Service careers at the Ministry of Defence:
On a day-to-day basis, the Band Instructor will undertake administration, planning, and musical training and rehearsals, building on the Band’s accomplishments and leading a group of talented and highly motivated volunteers in delivering further success.
The Successful Candidate Will Undertake a Variety Of Tasks That Contribute To Smooth-running And Continued Success Of The RAF Wyton Area Voluntary Band, Including, But Not Limited To:
* Administration for the Band, ensuring coherence to the relevant regulatory requirements.
* Conducting tutorials and weekly evening rehearsals to train the Band for ceremonial, formal and informal engagements, including marching.
* Preparation for rehearsals and performances, including music arrangement, instrument and music library management, site visits to assess location suitability, and preparation of health, safety and security procedures.
* Conducting evening and weekend engagements, with the requirement to appear in uniform for ceremonial and public events.
* Recruitment of musicians.
* Representation at the RAF Voluntary Band Association meetings, organised concerts and inspections.
* Financial management for the Band’s budget.
View more about Civil Service careers at the Ministry of Defence:
Person specification
A key role within the Band, the successful candidate will be a skilled musician with experience of working in a musical leadership capacity. They will be comfortable working alongside and communicating with a range of internal and external stakeholders whilst representing the organisation. They will be able to teach, march, motivate and lead voluntary band persons of varying skills and backgrounds, building the confidence and effectiveness of the Band.
This role is suited to someone who has a passion for music, with proven conducting and music arrangement abilities. They will have clear planning abilities, effectively managing personal workload and maintaining high levels of organisation whilst working under pressure.
Essential Criteria:
* Experience of working or volunteering within a military band, in a musical, administrative and leadership capacity.
* Conducting ability/experience and theoretical knowledge.
* Ability to arrange and transcribe musical compositions.
* Digital skills including use of Microsoft Office applications.
* Full UK Driving License.
Desirable Criteria:
* An understanding of MOD polices and administrative procedures in relation to musical/band practices and use of MOD funds.
* Military service within an MOD music capacity, for example Director of Music and/or Bandmaster in a Reserve or Voluntary Band capacity.
* Accreditation to an awarding body in Conducting or Wind Band Directing.
* Applicants without a formal diploma / qualification, but who can demonstrate requisite experience and ability, may be considered.
Licences
Full UK Driving License.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Managing a Quality Service
* Developing Self and Others
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Successful applicants will have to conduct a set piece and conduct a sight-reading piece at specialist interview.
Alongside your salary of £29,580, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,569 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* The department is currently reviewing all allowances across the MOD and the outcome of this review may impact the allowances of which the post currently attracts.
* The role may attract allowances eligible for non-standard working hours.
* Excellent leave – 25 days’ annual leave on entry, rising to 30 days after completion of 5 years’ service on an annual increment basis. Public, Bank and Privilege Holidays.
* A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
* Learning and development tailored to your role.
* An environment with flexible working options.
* A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
A sift is expected to be held during within a month of the closing date, with specialist interviews and conducting / performance auditions taking place at RAF Cranwell on a date to be confirmed.
Candidates will also be required to demonstrate their conducting and rehearsal skills in front of an established Royal Air Force Band. Candidates will conduct a 25-minute rehearsal of a prepared piece of music of their own choice, followed by a performance of the same piece; the prepared piece of music must demonstrate the candidate’s technical conducting ability, understanding of all wind band instruments, and ability to communicate both verbally and non-verbally. The performance will be followed by a sight-reading piece and then specialist interview.
At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of suitability and the following:
Behaviour:
* Leadership
* Managing a Quality Service
* Developing Self and Others
* Communicating and Influencing
Experience:
* Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (500 Word count).
* Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.
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.
Behaviour:
At interview, you will be assessed against the following:
* Leadership
* Managing a Quality Service
* Developing Self and Others
Technical:
* Successful applicants will have to conduct a set piece and conduct a sight-reading piece at specialist interview.
You will also be assessed against strengths.
Further details of the Success Profile for the role can be found in the "Further Details" attachment to this advert.
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.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
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.
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).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
* Name : Marc Bartholomew
* Email : marc.bartholomew888@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk. #J-18808-Ljbffr