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Defence Nuclear Organisation - Enterprise Portfolio Team - Enterprise Portfolio Office Definition and Design Lead

Defence Nuclear Organisation - Enterprise Portfolio Team - Enterprise Portfolio Office Definition and Design Lead

Ministry of Defence
remoteHybrid
ExpiresExpires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks
Full time
£61,630 per year

Job summary

This role sits at the heart of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE), responsible for delivering and sustaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent and submarine programmes - one of the Government’s highest national security priorities. The DNE brings together a unique partnership of organisations across Defence and industry, including the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), Royal Navy, Strategic Command, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Submarine Delivery Group (SDG), and key civil partners.

With an annual budget exceeding £10bn (c.20% of the MOD’s total spend), the DNE is undertaking a once-in-a-generation transformation. Delivering this mission requires multiple complex programmes to be executed in parallel, at unprecedented scale and pace.

As covered in the 2026 DNE Area Plan, the Enterprise is driving significant reform to improve integration, pace and coherence across delivery. Central to this is the creation of a new 2* Enterprise Portfolio Directorate, responsible for overseeing the full DNE portfolio—strengthening grip on interdependencies, improving decision-making through better management information, and embedding a more professional, enterprise-wide approach to programme delivery.

The Enterprise Portfolio Team (EPT) plays a pivotal role within this transformation. It ensures that decisions are taken on a “best for enterprise” basis—optimising across the six DNE Portfolios to manage risk, maximise value, and translate strategic intent into delivery outcomes.

The EPT delivers this through four core capabilities:

  • Enterprise Portfolio Office – integrating planning, prioritisation and performance across the portfolio
  • Enterprise Analytics and Insight – providing data-driven decision support and forward-looking insight
  • Project Delivery Function – strengthening delivery frameworks and standards
  • Project Delivery Profession – building capability and professionalism across the workforce.

Together, these capabilities define how the Enterprise plans, delivers and adapts—ensuring focus on what matters, when it matters, and why it matters.

This is an opportunity to be at the forefront of one of the UK’s most complex and nationally significant portfolios—working across organisational boundaries to shape delivery at scale.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourage applications from all backgrounds.

This post is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Enterprise Portfolio Team (EPT) at the centre of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). As Definition and Design Lead, you will play a critical role in shaping how the Enterprise defines, prioritises and manages its portfolio—ensuring delivery remains aligned to strategic objectives and national priorities.

You will work across organisational boundaries, building strong relationships with senior stakeholders and delivery teams to enable a coherent, enterprise-wide approach. With a collaborative and people-centred leadership style, you will help drive alignment across a highly complex environment—bringing clarity to priorities, strengthening oversight of interdependencies, and ensuring the Enterprise operates with a consistent and effective delivery rhythm.

This role is central to ensuring the DNE’s portfolio remains strategically balanced, responsive to change, and positioned to deliver at scale.

Key responsibilities:

  • Lead engagement with senior stakeholders to define, prioritise and maintain the Enterprise Portfolio of Record (PoR) and Portfolio of Intent (PoI), ensuring alignment with strategic objectives
  • Manage the pipeline of new programmes, supporting entry decisions and providing clear, evidence-based updates to senior governance boards
  • Establish and operate a robust change control framework, maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the enterprise portfolio
  • Support the definition and communication of enterprise priorities, ensuring clarity and alignment across portfolios
  • Work closely with portfolios to maintain consistency of approach and strengthen coherence across the Enterprise
  • Identify and manage interdependencies across organisational boundaries, working with wider government where required to enable alignment and delivery efficiency
  • Act as custodian of enterprise assumptions, ensuring they are clearly defined, understood and regularly reviewed
  • Develop frameworks to continuously refine enterprise assumptions in response to emerging risks and opportunities
  • Collaborate across the EPT to ensure alignment of activity and delivery against strategic objectives
  • Contribute to the delivery of the EPT strategy and wider transformation agenda
  • Champion Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) and foster an inclusive, collaborative working environment

This role requires regular engagement in a highly secure environment. Hybrid and flexible working is supported where possible, but regular on-site attendance will be required.

As the post holder will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process. Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

Person specification

This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic leader with experience in project delivery and stakeholder engagement.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

Essential Qualifications:

  • Hold a recognised Project Delivery qualification such as Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), APM Project Fundamentals, Management of Portfolios and PRINCE2.

Essential Skills:

  • Previous experience of project and/or programme delivery, portfolio management or portfolio planning (e.g. experience working in a portfolio office).
  • Knowledge and application of portfolio, programme and project management methodologies (e.g. Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), PRINCE 2, Agile).
  • Experienced in using Microsoft Office IT and data analysis/project/visualisation/presentation tools (such as Excel, Project and PowerPoint).
  • Must be a team player with a proven track record of stakeholder management, collaborative working and engagement with senior leaders, with the ability to influence, change and impact decisions through those relationships to influence decision makers.
  • An articulate communicator with the ability to simplify and articulate technical language to influence and communicate across organisational boundaries and at all levels. Communicating insight clearly, through a variety of appropriate methods incl. data visualisation, with senior stakeholders.

Desirable Qualifications:

  • Advanced Microsoft 365.
  • Government Project Delivery Accreditation.

Desirable Skills:

  • Knowledge and experience of Defence.
  • Experience preferably aligned to Government Project Delivery Profession or Association of Project Management frameworks.
  • Experience working in a cross-government initiative.

Qualifications

Hold a recognised Project Delivery qualification such as Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), APM Project Fundamentals, Management of Portfolios and PRINCE2.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Leadership
  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,630, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,854 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
  • 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%
  • 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
  • On-site Gym
  • Cycle Loan (Advance on Salary)
  • Thank You Scheme
  • Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA)
  • Defence Discount Service
  • On-site Nursery (site dependent)

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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per the Civil Service Nationality Rules. For further information please see the attached document.

Candidates can apply online via the Civil Service Jobs website by completing the application form before the deadline shown. Apply using the Civil Service Jobs apply button, filling in all required details in all sections. Using the Success Profiles link for information on format and style, ensure you provide evidence for all Behaviours and Experience sections requested in the appropriate competency style.

*Please note that not following the appropriate format will mean that you may be unable to reach the required grades for sift or interview*

Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history/qualification details/previous skills and experience. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.

Candidates will be required to provide a Personal Statement of Suitability which should be a maximum of 500 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential/desirable requirements for the role.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Personal Statement and the following:

Behaviours:

  • Leadership
  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communicating and Influencing

Technical Skill:

  • Business Change and Implementation

6.7775_IPA_Project Delivery Capability Framework 2021 Refresh sample pages

If a large number of applications are received then the sift will be based on the CV, Personal Statement and the behaviour Leadership only. However, evidence should be provided against all behaviours requested.

The requirements for the role have been benchmarked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview.

At interview, you will be assessed against your Experience and the following:

Behaviours:

  • Leadership
  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communicating and Influencing

Technical Skills:

  • Planning
  • Business Change and Implementation
  • Change Control

Interviews will be conducted on MS Teams.

Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit.

You will also be expected to achieve Developed Vetting clearance.

The Defence Nuclear Organisation plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of the UK’s independent strategic nuclear deterrent. To help enhance security, staff working for the DNO are encouraged to always exercise a high level of discretion in sharing information or talking about their work. As part of the application process, we ask that you do not tell anyone other than your partner or close family member about your application to join the DNO. You should not mention your application on social media or discuss it with anyone else at this stage.

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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. 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.

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.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.



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 developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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 :

Recruitment team

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.

Attachments

EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)20230120-Nationality_Requirements-Candidates-O Opens in new window (pdf, 67kB)Terms and Conditions of Service Opens in new window (docx, 24kB)Candidate Information updated_ Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)

Salary range

  • £61,630 per year