Head of P3M Profession, Defence Nuclear Enterprise

Job summary

The UK’s nuclear deterrence strategy is founded on maintaining a minimum credible, independent nuclear capability assigned to NATO’s defence, delivered continuously at sea by the Royal Navy for over 50 years. This mission remains critical to national security.

The Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) achieves this through the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) and Royal Navy, supported by the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Sheffield Forgemasters, and key suppliers such as BAE Systems, Babcock, and Rolls Royce. The DNE encompasses the full lifecycle of nuclear deterrence capabilities, involving highly complex projects that require collective scientific, technical, and delivery excellence.

Operating as an integrated team, the DNE portfolio includes submarines at various stages—operational, in production, and conceptual—alongside supporting systems like nuclear propulsion, the Trident missile and warhead, and submarine combat systems. This requires the safe stewardship and through-life delivery of complex programmes and support operations at pace.

The Head of Portfolio, Programme and Project Management (P3M) Profession is a senior leadership role within the Submarine Delivery Group of the DNO. This role is responsible for establishing and sustaining a coherent, enterprise-wide P3M capability across Defence, industry, and partners. It ensures consistent, effective systems—people, standards, processes, and tools—are in place to manage the portfolio’s scale and complexity.

Key responsibilities include securing the right skilled personnel, embedding robust standards and processes, and providing tools and information for sound decision-making. The role oversees performance, delivers second-line assurance, and drives professional standards, ensuring the P3M workforce is compliant, adaptable, innovative, and capable of meeting evolving demands.

Success requires visible, credible leadership that exemplifies excellence, simplifies delivery, and promotes continuous improvement. The leader must operate confidently at senior levels, influence across organisational boundaries, and inspire the P3M Profession. They must attract, develop, and retain a diverse, capable workforce while fostering a unified culture across MOD, government, and industry.

Credibility as a P3M professional is essential, alongside the ability to define and embed standards consistently, build strong relationships, and align enterprise efforts. Ultimately, the role demands a decisive leader who takes accountability, translates strategy into sustained delivery, and cultivates an inclusive, high-performing environment.

Job description

Overall Purpose of the Job

The role reports to the DNO’s Enterprise Portfolio Director and is responsible for:

• Leading the P3M (Portfolio, Programme and Project) Profession across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) to ensure confidence, consistency and capability in delivery.
• Setting, owning and assuring enterprise-wide P3M standards, aligned to MOD and wider Government policy.
• Driving simplification and standardisation of ways of working, ensuring a coherent and proportionate delivery system across the portfolio.
• Leading the enterprise assurance rhythm, including second line of defence, to enable consistent, risk‑based oversight and strengthen confidence in delivery.
• Leading enterprise workforce strategy for the P3M Profession, ensuring the right capability, capacity and skills are in place to meet DNE priorities.
• Building a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative enterprise culture, enabling effective delivery across Defence, industry and partners.

The post holder will also support the development of the P3M profession across the Ministry of Defence (MOD), supporting MOD’s Head of Profession to help shape the approach to Project Delivery in defence; they are also the main responsible for applying PD policy from Defence and the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) into the DNO.

Key Responsibilities

As Head of the P3M Profession, you are accountable for the leadership, development and continuous evolution of the profession across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). This includes:

• Setting and delivering the strategy for the P3M Profession, ensuring capability development aligns with organisational priorities and wider Defence objectives.
• Shaping and delivering the enterprise work plan, including setting standards, defining governance, and contributing to Defence-wide P3M professional frameworks.
• Providing visible, credible leadership to the P3M community, building confidence through clear communication, engagement and professional identity.
• Role modelling professional excellence, driving high standards, simplifying how we deliver, and enabling innovation in the development and application of P3M capability.
• Building strong relationships across professions, policy, assurance and delivery communities, ensuring alignment and consistent, proportionate application of P3M standards across the enterprise.
• Leading enterprise workforce planning and strategy for the P3M Profession, including capability assessment, supply and demand analysis, talent pipelines, and informed resource allocation aligned to DNE priorities.
• Strengthening specialist capability and developing the talent pipeline, including project management and project controls expertise, early-career pathways, mentoring, and accreditation.
• Acting as an ambassador for the P3M Profession, promoting a strong, inclusive community and attracting, developing and retaining diverse talent.

Person specification

Please provide evidence of the following criteria in your Supporting Statement:

Essential Criteria:

• Extensive experience delivering complex P3M leadership across the full delivery lifecycle, including the ability to identify, manage and rationalise interdependencies in highly complex environments.
• Proven ability to define, lead and implement strategy that improves P3 performance and builds sustainable capability across individuals and teams to meet organisational and Defence priorities.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder leadership skills, with a track record of working across organisational boundaries and with senior leaders to shape decisions and resolve delivery challenges.
• Demonstrable success in leading large-scale business change, managing ambiguity and driving improved outcomes across complex delivery organisations.
• Experience of building and leading inclusive, high-performing cultures, with a clear commitment to Diversity and Inclusion and its role in enabling effective delivery.
• Recognised professional credibility as a P3M leader.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience as a NISTA project reviewer (or equivalent)

Memberships/Qualifications:

• Chartered Project Professional qualification from the Association for Project Management

Evidence of the Qualification/Licence/Membership will be required at interview. All qualifications/licences/memberships declared must be held at point of application and be in date.

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

Qualifications

Chartered Project Professional qualification from the Association for Project Management

Memberships

Chartered Project Professional qualification from the Association for Project Management

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 (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%

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/

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

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 history, 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

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.

Candidates shortlisted will be invited to an interview with:
•Claire-Marie Simpson (Enterprise Portfolio Director)
•Ian Craddock (Chief Operating Officer, Submarine Delivery Group)
•Jayne Stone (DNE HRBP Hd)

This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

London locations may attract an allowance of £3,300 per annum.

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.

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

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.

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.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (DV).

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 organisation is currently reviewing its structure and operating model. Consequently, the successful candidate should be aware that the role may be subject to change before commencement or during the initial months of employment. Such changes may include amendments to responsibilities, reporting lines, team composition or other terms and conditions, in accordance with organisational requirements and relevant employment policies. Any such changes will be discussed with affected candidates and employees in accordance with organisational policies and applicable employment legislation.

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.

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

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

This is a Permanent or Fixed-term Appointment (optional) as a Project Delivery Head in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. Your responsibilities will be as described in this job advert. If you chose to accept a Fixed-term Appointment this post will therefore begin on your appointment and end 4years after that date. You should be aware that when your Fixed-term Appointment at MOD comes to an end, arrangements will be made in line with the FTA policy.

If you are transferring to MOD from another government department (OGD) you should join the MoD on an inward loan. At the end of the loan, you will return to your home (OGD) department. If a loan cannot be agreed between all parties, then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA policy for further information.

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 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.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 : SDA-HR-Workforceresourcingplanning@mod.gov.uk
• Email : SDA-HR-Workforceresourcingplanning@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Please see further information

Attachments

20260703-DNE Head of P3M Profession Candidate Pack-Final Opens in new window (pdf, 1776kB)20241009 - Further Information - External (1) (1) Opens in new window (docx, 38kB)Terms and Conditions (TACOS 2014) Opens in new window (docx, 55kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)