Job Description

Details

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Reference number

417389

Salary

81,000 - 130,000
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

SCS Pay Band 1

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

MOD - Submarine Delivery Agency

Type of role

Project Delivery

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time, Compressed hours

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol, Avon BS34 8JH

About the job

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Job summary

The Executive Nuclear Propulsion Head will be the Deputy Team Leader and will work alongside Director Nuclear Propulsion (DNP) to deliver the portfolio of work; and will hold specific delegated accountabilities. As part of this it may include programme director responsibility for a Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). The role leads the internal enabling arrangement and has line management of a team of Senior Professionals. It will also own Information Asset Ownership, infrastructure capability and be responsible for helping to shape and deliver improvement strategies. The role requires relevant and extensive leadership capability, portfolio management and project delivery experience, commercial acumen and is trusted to deliver a fast paced challenging portfolio, requiring infrastructure upgrades.

Job description

The role requires strong leadership, portfolio management, project delivery experience, and commercial expertise to manage a fast-paced, challenging portfolio involving infrastructure upgrades. Key responsibilities include:

Team Leadership

: Lead the Enabling Team of 10 direct reports, ensuring delivery of outputs across commercial, finance, manufacturing, supply chain assurance, infrastructure, strategy, approvals, special projects, information asset ownership, and business operations. Oversee reporting, performance management, recruitment, welfare, coaching, and career development. Act as Deputy Team Leader for Nuclear Propulsion (NP) when required.

Wider Team Oversight

: Support the NP Team Leader, who manages a team of 250 staff, including civil servants, military personnel, and contractors, based in Bristol, Vulcan, and Derby.

Financial Management

: Work with the NP Team Leader and Senior Finance Controller to manage budgets, ensure affordability, identify savings, and align financial plans with UK Defence budgetary processes.

Commercial Management

: Collaborate with the central commercial team to manage the Unity contract with Rolls-Royce and other contracts, including preparing follow-on agreements.

Manufacturing and Supply Chain Assurance

: Collaborate with Rolls-Royce to monitor quality, performance, and supply chain risks, working with the Submarine Delivery Agency to align risks and issues with overall delivery performance.

Strategy, Approvals & Special Projects

: Manage changes to approvals, secure new approvals, and align scope with finance through the Submarine Acquisition Support Plan. Support special projects as delegated by the Nuclear Propulsion Team Leader.

Business Operations

: Oversee secretariat support, resource management, and security, ensuring the team has the right people, tools, and environment to succeed. Promote team culture, manage change, and align with Submarine Delivery Agency goals and Defence Nuclear Enterprise behaviours.

Information Asset Management

: Ensure proper handling of nuclear information across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, including suppliers and other departments, to maintain governance, compliance, and protect international relationships (e.g., with the USA and Australia).

Stakeholder Management

: Work with senior stakeholders (Defence Nuclear Organisation, Navy Command, industry, and international partners) to provide leadership within the Agency, across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, and internationally.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

Proven expertise in managing complex programmes and projects, including equipment and facility delivery, with a track record of innovative approaches to develop and implement long-term strategies. Skilled in navigating challenging delivery phases while maintaining a focus on performance and achieving effective outcomes. A collaborative and inclusive leader with experience operating at or near Board level, successfully delivering business unit or directorate outputs and strategies. Strong ability to engage with senior stakeholders and build collaborative partnerships across government, the armed forces, and commercial sectors in support of national objectives. Demonstrated values-based leadership, with a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and experience in developing and coaching high-performing teams. Skilled in fostering a psychologically safe, positive, and inclusive environment. Proven experience managing significant financial and budgetary responsibilities in both industry and government contexts. Qualified in programme and project management.

Desirable Criteria:

Nuclear sector experience.

Qualifications:

Chartered Professional in either Engineering or Project /Programme Management Completion of the Major Project Leadership Academy programme, equivalent programme, or willingness to complete early in tenure.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 81,000, Ministry of Defence contributes 23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and evidence. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.


A separate

Supporting Statement

of no more than 2 pages in a PDF document providing clear evidence of how you meet the

essential Criteria, qualifications and if applicable desirable criteria laid out in the Person Specification.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 4 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.




As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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 developed vetting .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Natasha Senior Email : Natasha.Senior111@mod.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

* Email : Natasha.Senior111@mod.gov.uk