Deputy Head of Commercial – Warhead and Nuclear Skills

Job summary

This is an exciting time to join the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) within the Ministry of Defence (MOD). You will be at the heart of real defence issues, delivering against one of the Department’s top three priorities, in a high-profile area which is rarely out of the news. An opportunity to work in DNO Commercial has arisen because we have expanded our commercial portfolio. The team has an incredibly interesting portfolio and a positive outlook with recent People Survey Scores placing it at the top of the Department with positive scores.

The DNO was established in April 2016 to oversee all aspects of nuclear business within the MOD and across the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise. The Enterprise comprises the people that design, produce and maintain the submarines and nuclear warheads, and provide the necessary infrastructure and support. It includes organisations such as the DNO, Submarine Delivery Agency, Royal Navy, UK Strategic Command, and Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). We also work with industry partners such as BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce and Babcock.

Our purpose is to deliver nuclear capability to deter the threat and protect our nation.

DNO Commercial has undergone a period of transformation and growth to ensure it is positioned to support the growing commercial demands at the head of the strategic programmes across the DNE. This includes the development of capabilities and services from providing commercial solutions and policy advice on strategic investments and supplier management, through to supply chain vulnerability and market intelligence.

We are looking for a driven, resourceful and professional senior professional, interested in taking on a challenging and scalable role, prepared to work at pace in a complex environment, with strong internal and external stakeholder skills and capable of motivating and developing a team of commercial officers. Successful candidates will get to explore the opportunities for commercial development within the Defence Nuclear space.

Job description

• Become an active member of DNO Commercial’s Senior Leadership Team leading and managing a team of 5 commercial professionals.
• Deputy Head of Commercial for the Test, Trials and Evaluation Programme (TT&E) and Nuclear Skills. All high profile, cross-government teams working closely with industry partners, in support of our nuclear deterrent.
• Understand and effectively articulate the requirements, the markets and potential solutions for the warhead programme, nuclear skills task force and ensure DNO is compliant with external assistance requirements.
• Provide advice and guidance on sectors and suppliers as required and manage senior stakeholder expectations.
• Lead the development of complex commercial strategies with nuclear sector organisations.
• Develop novel commercial models and contracting approaches to ensure that public spending is providing value for money.
• Provide expert advice on commercial risk management and deliver mitigation plans / strategies to manage identified risks at corporate level.
• Manage and empower commercial team members through the commercial life cycle
• Hold a deep commercial understanding of Design and Build or Engineer, Procure & Construct contracting.
• Hold working knowledge of the SSCR and IPR.

Locations:
The successful candidate will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.

Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.

This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

Person specification

• Exceptional resilience, operating effectively in a high‑pressure national security environment and delivering against some of the UK’s most critical priorities.
• Proven capability to develop and execute industrial and commercial strategies, including non‑traditional approaches such as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and equity-based models.
• A strong track record leading complex, high‑value commercial transactions, delivering to demanding timescales through the effective leadership of interdisciplinary teams.
• Significant experience of large‑scale construction and infrastructure programmes, with the ability to identify issues early, take corrective action, and engage effectively with stakeholders across all tiers of the supply chain to ensure value for money and on‑time delivery. Experience developing, placing, and managing contracts using industry best practice, including both bespoke and standard formats (e.g. NEC and PA23 and amended Standard Contracts), is essential.
• An experienced and credible negotiator, with a demonstrable record of securing outstanding outcomes while maintaining strong senior‑level customer and supplier relationships.
• Experience and/or a strong understanding of the defence sector, including relevant national security considerations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments to drive decisions and approvals.
• Strong leadership capability, with a clear record of building, motivating, and sustaining high‑performing, resilient programme teams through clear direction and a defined culture.

Eligibility and requirements:

• All applicants must be eligible to apply for DV and secure DV in order to be appointed to the role. Additional MOD security clearances are required, including engagement with classified communities. Start dates will not be agreed until DV clearance for this role is confirmed. N.B. This is a Reserved role for British nationals.
• Ability to attend the London or Bristol office at least three to four days per week to work on classified programmes.
• Willingness to travel internationally to engage with suppliers and visit industrial sites.

Technical skills

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

• Ability to analyse commercial risks in contract management and contract change and ensure delivery and commercial risks are balanced. Resulting in balancing risk complexity with supply chain markets and industrial partners.
• Ability to manage a complex contractual portfolio comprising a wide range of contracts in terms of value, scope and technical complexity.
• Strong commercial focus and the ability to lead and execute complex contractual change and negotiation to demanding deadlines.
• Ability to maintain your commercial point of view when challenged by senior stakeholders, including Director Generals and Military Chiefs or similar level stakeholders. Work at pace and brief demanding stakeholders face-to-face.
• The ability to build excellent commercial relationships with senior stakeholders both civilian and military based in the UK and abroad; the ability to find common ground and develop mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Able to take on leadership of an established, high performing team and maintain morale and outputs while simultaneously coaching and developing a talented cohort.

Benefits

As a valued employee of the Government Commercial Organisation (GCO), you will have access to all the benefits the centre has to offer; including flexible working, generous benefits, Career Coaches, Mentors, L&D, a Commercial College, active talent management and, most importantly, access to commercial projects that will far exceed the scale and complexity on offer elsewhere in the UK.

For existing Civil Servants: For full details of the impact on any move across the civil service on your existing terms and conditions, please read the candidate pack. Please note that any move across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to continue to claim childcare vouchers.

Kindly refer to the following link for the GCF Rewards and benefits page.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/gcf-benefits/

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 Experience and Technical skills.

Your application will be reviewed by a panel and should you be successful at sift we will invite you to attend a Virtual commercial Assessment and Development Centre (VADC). The panel will review results of the VADC and determine which candidates will go through to a subsequent final panel interview. Please note: Only candidates that achieve an A grade at ADC will be invited to interview for this role.

Please be advised that the Virtual ADC is taking place on the 25th of November 2026 and will require a full day's attendance.

If you are invited to attend a virtual ADC, but for any reason are unable to meet the date outlined then please get in touch with the team on commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. The ADC is booked and paid for in advance by departments, therefore it is only in certain circumstances we are able to accommodate alternative dates.

For full details of our process, and a likely timeline, please read the attached candidate pack.

Throughout our selection process, we will make decisions about your capability to do the job, based on evidence you provide against the Technical Skills (essential criteria) and your Job History (CV) that you will be asked to provide during the application process. Further help and advice on our application and selection process can be found at this web address https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/gcf-how-to-apply/

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-and-re…
IMPORTANT: If you do not receive an acknowledgement of your application within 2 working days please contact: commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Ashlene Doherty
• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should direct this to the Head of Commercial Resourcing Hub at the following email commercialresourcinghub@cabinetoffice.gov.uk quoting the vacancy reference number (if applicable) and the details of your complaint. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission via the following web page: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

Attachments

Guaranteed Interview Schemes (GIS) Opens in new window (pdf, 70kB)20261102 OFFSEN 488692 - Deputy Head of Commercial – Warhead and Nuclear Skills - MOD DNO - Candidate Pack.docx Opens in new window (pdf, 457kB)