DIO – Deputy Head Housing Construction

Job summary

Do you want to work for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and play a key role in keeping our country safe through caring for the Defence estate and those that depend on it?

DIO manages the Defence estate, one of the UK’s largest and most diverse property portfolios, enabling the armed forces and Defence civilians to live, work, train and deploy. From net carbon-zero accommodation to runways for the F35 fighter jets, our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe! DIO , What we deliver every day

DIO recognises that a diverse workforce is at the heart of different insights, ideas and innovation. A workforce diverse in background and life experience produces trusted public services and better decisions. We want our people to be curious and continuously strive for improvement, collaborative in an inclusive culture, ambitious and resilient and committed to Defence, empowered and able to challenge so you can play a key part in shaping the direction of our organisation.

About the Defence Housing Service

The Defence Housing Service (DHS) is being created through the Armed Forces Bill to deliver a step-change in housing for the UK’s Armed Forces and their families following the publication of the Defence Housing Strategy on 3 November 2025, which marked the most significant change to Armed Forces housing in over 50 years. DHS will bring a dedicated focus to improving the homes, communities and lived experience of Service personnel, placing families firmly at the heart of everything it does.

This is one of the most ambitious housing transformation programmes in the UK today. Backed by a £9 billion investment, DHS will modernise tens of thousands of homes, introduce a more proactive and customer-focused approach to maintenance, and unlock new opportunities to develop housing on Defence land.

DHS will have the focus and agility to deliver change at pace, combining public service values with greater flexibility to build the skills, systems and partnerships needed for the future.

This is a rare opportunity to be part of shaping its culture, influencing how it works, and helping deliver lasting improvements for Service families across the UK.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As Deputy Head Housing Construction, you will lead one of the most ambitious housing programmes in the UK, building and shaping the teams responsible for delivering the Defence Housing Service (DHS) Capital Build Programme. This transformational programme will provide around 10,000 new sustainable homes for Service families across the UK over the next decade, supporting the Defence Housing Strategy, the Future Homes Standard 2026 and the Government's commitment to Net Zero Carbon.

Working at the heart of the Defence Housing transformation agenda, you will provide expert leadership and strategic advice to senior leaders across Defence, government and industry. You will help shape the future of Service family accommodation through complex estate regeneration programmes that combine new-build development, acquisitions, refurbishment and disposal activities, all within the wider context of Defence land release and housing market delivery.

If you are an experienced leader with a track record of delivering major housing, construction, infrastructure or regeneration programmes, and are motivated by the opportunity to create a lasting legacy for Service families, we would love to hear from you. Join us and help transform Defence housing for the next generation.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead the delivery of the Defence Housing Service (DHS) Capital Construction and Purchase Programme, one of Defence's largest and most ambitious housing investment programmes.
• Set the strategic direction for a complex, multi-year portfolio, ensuring alignment with Defence priorities, the Defence Housing Strategy and government objectives.
• Oversee the delivery of a large-scale capital construction programme, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards.
• Develop long-term delivery plans, investment strategies and programme roadmaps to support the future accommodation needs of Service families.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across commercial, technical, financial, assurance and programme management functions.
• Secure programme funding through the development of robust business cases, investment proposals and strategic submissions.
• Manage significant budgets and financial forecasts, ensuring value for money and compliance with public expenditure requirements.
• Provide strategic oversight of procurement, commercial activities, contract negotiations and supplier performance management.
• Build and maintain influential relationships with senior leaders across Defence, government, industry, developers and delivery partners.
• Represent DHS at senior governance boards, stakeholder forums and external engagements, providing expert advice and strategic leadership.
• Work with local authorities, regulators and planning partners to unlock housing development opportunities and overcome delivery challenges.
• Lead programme governance, assurance and decision-making arrangements, ensuring confidence in delivery and effective risk management.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle from concept to completion, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory and Defence requirements.
• Drive innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement to support modern, high-quality and environmentally sustainable housing delivery.
• Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of inclusion, collaboration, accountability and professional excellence.

The future delivery model for this team is currently under review and may change as part of potential organisational developments. This could include the team or function transferring to a different employer or organisational structure in the future. Should activities transfer out of the Ministry of Defence existing employees transferring with those activities will maintain the same or substantially the same terms and conditions of employment.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

The post holder should have experience, knowledge and demonstratable skills in the following areas:

• Significant experience working in largecomplex programmes or portfolios within infrastructure, estates, or construction environments.
• Experience in house building at scale
• Demonstrated leadership of multi-disciplinary teams and large-scale project portfolios.
• Expertise in programme assurance, investment appraisals, risk management, and financial stewardship.
• The ability to deliver at pace taking responsibility for timeous delivery of outcomes with focus and drive
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to present data and information clearly to a variety of audiences
• Experience of managing complex networks of stakeholders, able to influence senior decision-making and resolve strategic issues.
• Strong understanding of programme and project planning delivery and governance in large estates or infrastructure programmes.

Desirable criteria

• GPP Core Accreditation at Chartered, Certified or Fellow grade (RICS, IWFM, CIOB, CEng, CEnv, RTPI, RIBA)
• Project Management Qualification: MSP, PRINCE, PRINCE 2, APM equivalent (i.e. APMP)
• Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) or Project Leadership Programme (PLP)

Licences

The role involves regular travel to various locations, some of which are not easily accessible by public transport; therefore, applicants must hold a full, valid UK driving licence.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £72,840, Ministry of Defence contributes £21,101 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%

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 and Experience.

At application candidates will be required to provide;

• A CV detailing your job history and full qualification details.

Please use your CV to showcase how you meet the essential criteria above and evidence with relevant job history. Please make sure this is clear throughout your CV as without this your application is likely to be rejected.

• A personal statement (no more than 1000 words).

Please use this section to provide evidence that you meet the essential criteria of the role and demonstrate your specific skills, knowledge or transferable experience. This will allow you to provide evidence to show a more rounded picture of your suitability for the role.

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, a sift will be conducted on your Personal Statement Only.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Interviews will be conducted virtually via Teams.

Near Miss Clause

We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn't always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months. It is also possible that we may offer similar lower graded role/s to reserve candidates or, if no reserves are appointed, candidates that meet the lower grade criteria in merit order.

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 basic (or equivalent) 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.

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 :

• Name : James Senior
• Email : james.senior630@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.

Attachments

DIO Candidate Information Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 1963kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)