Head of Devonport Submarine Infrastructure

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent (CASD), and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence. At least one of four nuclear-armed submarines, supported by smaller attack submarines, is on patrol at all times: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At the SDA, we strive to Support, Deliver and Aspire and put our values at the heart of our recruitment process. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable to be themselves and be supported to do their best work. As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will find a community to belong to. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

The primary delivery location for this position is HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, PL2 2BG.

Please note, due to the level of security, this role is reserved for UK nationals only.

Job description

The Head of Devonport Submarine Infrastructure (DSI) leads a team of around 60 Civil Servants, Military personnel and contractors, reporting to the SDA’s Director Submarine Support. This role is based at Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth, with members of the team in Devonport and Abbey Wood in Bristol.

This role as Programme Director is accountable for leading the portfolio of Major Infrastructure programmes in Devonport, acting in the role of Intelligent Client to set and agree requirements and funding with our Customers, develop clear specifications, negotiate with Industry to obtain value for money solutions, seeking MOD approvals and then ensuring delivery to budget, schedule, and performance standards while maintaining safety and compliance. Key programmes include:

• Submarine Waterfront Infrastructure Future, to deliver a capability to carry out the maintenance of Astute Class submarines at Devonport. This is part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio.
• Submarine Refit Complex at Devonport, to deliver capability to defuel decommissioned Pressurised Water Reactor 1 submarines, and to deliver the capability to conduct submarine turnaround maintenance as rapidly as possible with a Staged Improvement Plan to sustain this capability until the end of operational life for Astute Class submarines.
• The development of new infrastructure projects supporting the future submarine programme at Devonport.

This is an exciting opportunity delivering capabilities critical to future operational availability of the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet, meeting growing demand and investment while leading SDA’s capacity and capability to deliver in a highly regulated environment at Devonport. It is one of the SDA’s most senior roles dedicated to infrastructure delivery. Alongside providing leadership for a newly established dedicated infrastructure team, the post holder will interact with the many Stakeholders over which they have no control, requiring considerable investment in communications, negotiations and influencing.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of the SDA’s Devonport Submarine Infrastructure portfolio, delivering the Programme in accordance with the agreed Performance, Cost and Time envelope to enable realisation of capability benefits for the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
• Manage the complex stakeholder map associated with this portfolio of work, to maintain alignment with Industry, wider stakeholders (Navy, Defence Nuclear Organisation and Defence Infrastructure Organisation) including Senior Responsible Owners and regulators (both Defence and Civil) ensuring linkage with other MOD projects and deconflicting competing priorities.
• Create a deliverable, resource balanced programme, balancing customer requirements and budgets by employing effective delivery solutions, with risk adjusted delivery schedules, to best support programme ambitions and aims.
  
• Develop and align with commercial strategies, working with colleagues in the Submarine Support Directorate Leadership team and SDA Commercial team to optimise supplier performance and contract delivery, ensuring that value for money is achieved.
• Develop and promote a positive safety and environmental culture, meeting nuclear safety, environmental, and security standards through rigorous assurance and governance.
• Lead and develop the Devonport Submarine Infrastructure team, managing staff performance, development, health and safety, and promoting a positive, collaborative working culture aligned with SDA leadership standards.
• Accountable for the management of budgets with delegated authority and within approved control totals.

Delivery capability

Whilst not exhaustive, the following capabilities and demonstrable competence will be required for successful execution of the role:

• Intellectual capacity to quickly understand complex infrastructure issues, with an ability to think strategically to shape a long-term vision for Devonport Infrastructure.
• Ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams and complex infrastructure programmes, ideally in a regulated environment.
• Ability to manage change and ambiguity and effectively drive successful business outcomes.
• Natural leader who can negotiate with Industrial Partners collaboratively whilst also being demanding in the interests of the UK Government.
• Risk and Opportunity Management including effective control and mitigation, in both business and technical domains.
• Performance Management to deliver an agile, responsive, empowered and capable business unit and to build a high performing team.
• Strong and effective stakeholder management and communications skills. Ability to operate in a complex environment and deal with uncertainty and ambiguity
• As a member of the Submarine Support Directorate and SDA Leadership Groups, contribute to our leadership of the Agency, promoting standards and displaying core values.
• Ability to bring agility and innovation to their work in a fast-paced, challenging environment which attracts public interest.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by the SDA Recruitment Team. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

1.Significant experience in delivering major construction and infrastructure programmes and projects, ideally within complex, regulated environments.

2.Proven ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams and manage performance, development, and engagement, developing talent across organisations.

3.Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management at senior levels across public sector departments and industry, with successful track record of engaging with and influencing a diverse range of stakeholders.

4.Track record of delivering programmes within cost, time, and performance parameters.

5.Outstanding organisational and leadership abilities as well as evidence of delivering strategic direction through an inclusive and adaptive approach.

6. A proven commitment to Diversity and Inclusion.

The successful candidate will hold the following qualifications/ memberships:

• Chartered Project Professional (ChPP), or other relevant Chartership status or willingness to complete early in tenure.

Desirable Criteria:

1.Experience of leading large-scale complex projects in the nuclear domain.

2.Demonstrable commercial capability and astuteness.

3.Major projects leadership academy (MPLA) (or willingness to attain within 24 months).

4.Qualifications or Accreditations applicable to major project delivery in infrastructure.

Benefits

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%

Discover My Benefits: Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD: https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

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

Application

To apply for this role please provide your CV and personal statement through the application steps on the CS Jobs website.

All applications must include the following:

• A CV setting out your Career/Job history, Full qualification details, Previous skills/experience, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A separate Supporting Statement (1250 word limit), providing clear evidence of how you meet the Essential Criteria laid out in the Person Specification.

As part of the application process, you are asked to complete a Diversity Monitoring questionnaire provided. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the characteristics, you have the option to select 'prefer not to say' but completion of the form is a mandatory part of the process, and your application will not be considered complete without it.

All applications will be reviewed by the selection panel with the strongest candidates being invited to the interview process in Abbey Wood, Bristol. Full details of the selection and assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Shortlisting

All applications will be reviewed by the selection panel who will consider the evidence provided by the candidates against the essential criteria to determine a shortlist.

Due to the volume of the applications we receive we will not provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at the shortlist stage.

Assessment

Candidates shortlisted will be invited to an interview which will include the requirement to prepare a presentation for which they will normally be given at least one week’s notice of the subject.

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

The sift will be completed within 10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

Requests to work flexibly will be considered, taking into account business needs.

All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

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 post does NOT offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non-Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.

This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans - GOV.UK

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact DBSFPCP-SRMResourcingSDA@mod.gov.uk

SDA Reward Offer - Working for SDA - Submarine Delivery Agency - GOV.UK

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.

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. 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.

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 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

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 :

• Name : Elaine Samuels
• Email : Elaine.Samuels449@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSFPCP-SRMResourcingSDA@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please see Further Information document.

Attachments

20260512-SDA Head Devonport Submarine Infra Candidate Pack-Final Opens in new window (pdf, 2140kB)Terms and Conditions (TACOS 2014) (1) Opens in new window (docx, 55kB)20241009 - Further Information - External (1) Opens in new window (docx, 38kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)