Head of Nuclear Department

Job summary

Are you looking for a change that is stimulating and rewarding! The Nuclear Department within, Navy Command, has a key role in providing education and training ranging from introductory to postgraduate level to Service and MOD Civilian personnel, in support of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme as well as bespoke courses for the wider nuclear enterprise.

The Head of Nuclear department is responsible for a multidisciplinary team consisting of specialists in materials, physics, chemistry and thermal hydraulics related to nuclear power applications.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Head of the Nuclear Department (HND) directs the provision of education and training in nuclear propulsion technology, radiological protection and nuclear emergency response.

The HND ensures excellence in teaching and research by driving innovation and by academic and industry engagement. The role ensures that nuclear education and training aligns with Defence requirements, maintains appropriate standards, and integrates coherently with the wider training system operated through Training Management Group (TMG) governance mechanisms.

The Head of the Nuclear Department must have understanding of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme and of nuclear training and education within the MOD and a broad understanding of the UK and global civilian nuclear sectors.

Responsibilities

• Provide confident, inspiring and empowering leadership to build and develop a high impact teaching department, supporting colleagues across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise
• Lead a team of military, civil service and contractor staff, engendering a strong nuclear safety and security culture.
• Lead modernisation of nuclear education and training delivery.
• Ensure academic course content and delivery standards are being maintained.
• Provide academic governance and uphold standards across all programmes.
• Maintain alignment with national and international academic benchmarks.
• Deliver the Nuclear Department training against the Statement of Training Requirement (SOTR) within the departmental resource allocation.
• Planning and monitoring annual budget and forecast the long-term budget for the Nuclear Department
• Resource, Risk and Performance Management
• Identify and manage academic, operational and reputational risks.
• Member of 2* Executive Committee and Education Committee
• Represent the MOD on the UK Nuclear Standards Advisory Group and the Higher-Level Skills and SME Working Group of the National Nuclear Skills Strategy Group
• Develop strong links with academia to build UK nuclear teaching and research capability.
• Develop strategic relationships within the Defence Nuclear Enterprise including Dstl, DE&S, industry and Heads of Profession to ensure Nuclear T&E is high quality, innovative and relevant to future operations.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience operationally delivering programmes and training - proven track record of end-to-end successful delivery.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to evaluate learning impact, derive insights, and drive continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate awareness of the bigger picture and its impact on the workforce.

Desirable Criteria

• NIC (Nuclear Introductory Course) or equivalent experience.
• Understanding of the MOD Nuclear Industries Regulatory Framework.
• Understanding of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme

Behaviours

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

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

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.

• 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%

This post is on the MOD Civilian Nuclear Post Control List (PCL) and may attract the Nuclear Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA). This is a discretionary allowance. The post being listed on the PCL does not mean that the post holder will have an automatic entitlement to receive the RRA. The NSQEP RRA is not a contractual allowance and can be amended or withdrawn without notice in line with MOD Main and Submarine Delivery Agency policy.

The department is in HMS Sultan, Gosport, Hampshire which is the primary engineering training establishment for the Royal Navy. HMS Sultan's on-site facilities include secure parking, gymnasium, Wardroom membership and an onsite shop. Stokes Bay beach is close by and Gosport is a short ferry ride to Portsmouth, which offers excellent facilities such as access to travel networks, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf Quays outlet shopping.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

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 sift, you will be assessed against your CV and statement of suitability.

Candidates will be required to provide a CV ensuring it includes job history, qualification details and previous skills and experience clearly demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability in no more than 1000 words.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others

Experience

Candidates will be asked to demonstrate their previous experience, key achievements and how their skills align with the role.

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: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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 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 : Jane Carter
• Email : jane.carter242@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

Navy Command Applicant guide Opens in new window (pdf, 2922kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)