VALOUR Field Officer - East of England (West)

Overview

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) under the Ministry of Defence is leading the UK's first government-wide veteran support programme called VALOUR, funded with £50 million to improve services in health, housing, and employment for ex-Service people. This role is based in Colchester covering Norfolk, Suffolk, and Greater Essex, with extensive travel within these and other UK locations. Travel costs are reimbursed per departmental guidelines.

Role Summary

As a VALOUR Field Officer, you will build strong partnerships and maintain stakeholder relationships across governmental and voluntary sectors to connect and enhance veteran services at local, regional, and national levels. You will act as a subject matter expert linking Defence and community stakeholders, influencing policy, and facilitating coordination to improve the delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant and services for veterans.

Key Responsibilities

• Forge and nurture effective relationships with local and regional stakeholders supporting the Armed Forces community.
• Organise and lead sub-regional forums and networks ensuring effective communication channels.
• Identify opportunities for strategic collaborative actions across local government partnerships.
• Support system improvements by increasing visibility and sharing best practices within the veteran support ecosystem regionally and locally.
• Promote awareness of statutory services and influence local strategies to benefit the Armed Forces community.

Personal Specification

• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking and collaborative stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to work independently with strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Experience with complex environments, problem-solving, and stakeholder management.
• Knowledge of the Armed Forces Covenant, challenges faced by veterans, and transition to civilian life.
• Willingness to travel frequently mainly locally and regionally, with some UK-wide travel.
• Desirable: UK driving licence, experience within Armed Forces community support, understanding of local government, and knowledge of local veteran services.

Additional Information

This full-time role requires 37 hours weekly with flexibility as the role evolves. The position is supported by a Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme with a salary of £37,720 plus a pension contribution of £10,927. Flexible working options exist, including hybrid working with a minimum 60% office presence. The post does not include relocation expenses and new civil service entrants undergo a six-month probationary period.

The Ministry of Defence enforces a comprehensive smoke-free working environment. Applicants must provide truthful, original statements in accordance with recruitment policies. The selection process includes behavioural and experience assessments following the Success Profiles framework.