Head of Commercial – Attack Submarines

Job summary

The DNO was established in April 2016 to oversee all aspects of nuclear business within the MOD and across the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). The DNE comprises the people that design, produce and maintain the submarines and nuclear warheads, and provide the necessary infrastructure and support. It includes the DNO as well as the Submarine Delivery Group (SDG), Royal Navy, UK Strategic Command, and Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). We also work with industry partners such as BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Babcock. DNE Commercial Functions provides commercial advice, guidance and operational support across the whole spectrum of DNE acquisition and commercial strategy, sourcing and contract management from the most senior levels down and across the Enterprise.

This role will see you work across the MOD/DNE and Industry Parties who are responsible for the design and build of new attack submarines for the Royal Navy. This role is focused on the Astute and SSNA Programmes and in addition, you will be responsible for the commercial aspects of Submarine Build Modernisation, a multi-billion pound programme to which is a combination of infrastructure development and industrial transformation to recapitalise and digitally enable the main sites of our principal industrial partners (BAE Systems and Rolls Royce) and their supply chains.

Our programmes are the largest, most complex programmes currently being undertaken in the UK. From a career perspective, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring your experience to bear in an environment where you can make a real difference.

We are looking for a driven, resourceful and professional Deputy Director, interested in taking on a challenging and scalable role and prepared to work at pace in a complex environment. The candidate will need strong internal and external stakeholder management skills, demonstrable strong negotiation skills and be capable of motivating an agile team of commercial professionals focused on both commercial acquisition and contract management activities. Successful candidates will get to explore the opportunities for commercial development within the DNE.

Role will be based in DNE SDG Offices in Abbeywood Bristol or Barrow, at least 3 days/week. The post will require travel between the sites (Bristol, London and Barrow) on a regular basis.

This position will require individuals to hold SC clearance or be willing to undergo the process of obtaining it before an appointment is made.

Job description

• Become part of DNE Commercial Senior Leadership Team reporting to the Commercial Director for Submarine Build
• Become part of the senior management teams that support the production of the SSN-AUKUS and Astute design and build programmes, and the Submarine Build Modernisation programme - providing commercial advice, guidance and contract management direction into the 2* Programme Directors and 1* Deputy Director business areas.

• Developing the commercial strategies and negotiating the bilateral contracts for new contractual commitments, in line with programme strategies and commercial policy (this will include collaborative working with wider SDG Teams to ensure coherence with extant commercial arrangements.

• The post will be commercially responsible for procurement of three floating docks to deliver an out of water engineering capability at His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde which is set to be an exciting £2Bn+ competition combining the delivery of an essential military capability at pace and delivery of UK social value outcomes (this activity will be confirmed within 6 months)
• Be responsible for the programme's commercial relationship with industry, Allies, and public sector bodies.

• Contract manage the SSN-AUKUS Design and Long Lead Contracts, Astute Build Contracts, and the Submarine Build Modernisation Contracts worth billions of pounds to deliver programme outcomes and value for money.

• Set direction, drive culture, and provide leadership to the commercial teams based in Bristol and Barrow (circa 40) ensuring the delivery of a very high quality, professional and agile commercial service; and contribute to the leadership and capability development of the wider DNE commercial function.
• Act as the link between the programmes and the wider DNE/SDG thinking on its industrial strategy and relationship with industry.

Locations:
The successful candidate(s) 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

• A highly resilient leader: Defence Nuclear and Submarine Build activities are a national endeavor and a high-pressure environment which requires resilient leaders that can deliver some of the nation’s highest security priorities.
• A demonstrated ability to define and implement an industrial and commercial strategy for delivering a range of complex programmes.
• A substantial track record of leading complex, high value private sector or government commercial transactions to demanding timescales, managing interdisciplinary teams of civil servants and external advisors to deliver programme outcomes.
• Experience working in multi-party alliance/collaborative arrangements including international parties with and sovereign governments and familiarity with relevant wider national security issues relevant to the programme.
• Strong communication skills and credibility in engaging at Board and Ministerial level, with an ability to manage a varied and complex stakeholder landscape to drive decisions and approvals.
• Strong leadership skills and an ability to build and lead a several geographically disparate capable, resilient, and high-performing commercial teams by setting direction and defining culture.
• A track record of working in technically complex industries and to work with technical subject-matter areas including single source contracting regulations, security and safety regulations, and environmental regulations.
• This role is reserved for British nationals and requires SC Clearance and further additional security clearances may be required in the future alongside additional read-ons with classified communities.
• Ability to attend the Bristol/Barrow-in-Furness office at least 3 days a week with regular travel to Barrow/Bristol, and London + travel to work with suppliers and visit manufacturing sites.
• Be amongst the most senior members of the Government Commercial Function and play a role in the broader commercial reform programme led by the Government Chief Commercial Officer;
• Play a key leadership and change management role in developing a strong commercial function for the MOD and across government.

PLEASE NOTE: Those with existing SC may join whilst DV is achieved but this will be on a case-by-case basis. Those without existing clearance will need to achieve DV before they start.

Technical skills

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

• Clearly identify & articulate key strategic commercial goals for the programme. Drive delivery by ensuring buy-in from the programme team and senior departmental stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes.
• Maintains commercial view when challenged by high-level stakeholders. Works at pace, briefing demanding stakeholders in person. Navigates complex SDG/Sub Production/Enablement programs with adaptability & positive risk mindset.
• Able to build strong, constructive relationships at senior levels, gaining credibility with external stakeholders inc. industry/public bodies & internal stakeholders inc. Gov’t depts, to deliver programme outcomes.
• Builds a resilient, high-calibre commercial team by setting direction & culture. Manages diverse groups of civil servants & external advisers to deliver and effectively manage complex commercial transactions.
• Skilled in defining acquisition/commercial strategies. Successfully lead multiple complex, high-value commercial negotiations to demanding timescales. Adept at bespoke procurement/corporate finance solutions.
• Skilled in managing complex commercial arrangements that underpin multi-party and bi-lateral delivery requirements; clear risk mindset to enable pragmatic delivery of programme outputs/outcomes.

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 1st of July 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/

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 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 (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.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 : Lynsey Munro
• 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)_20260520 OFFSEN 462991 - Head of Commercial – Attack Submarines - Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 433kB)