Navy Command - Contract Transition & Transformation Manager

Job summary

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

You'll be based at HMNB Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe and a powerhouse of Royal Navy capability. It is home to amphibious ships, survey squadrons, submarines, and two-thirds of the frigate force. With its unique nuclear refitting facility, Devonport ensures the Fleet remains ready to support operations worldwide.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Are you an experienced contract management professional looking to play a pivotal role in the transformation of Naval Base services?

We are seeking a proactive and highly organised individual to support the delivery of the Contract (Gateway/Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP) at Devonport. Working closely with the NBC Devonport Contract Manager, you will lead the monitoring of contract performance, transformation and transition activities, manage contractual change and configuration control, and provide expert oversight of requirements and service delivery. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside key intelligent customers ensuring the industry partner delivers safe, compliant and high-quality services that support Defence operational priorities while driving continuous improvement across the Naval Base.

What you'll be doing:

• To be accountable to the NBC Devonport Contract Manager for the management and monitoring of the Industry Partner transformation programme and transition activities ensuring effective measures are in place for tracking and reporting.
• To be accountable to the NBC Devonport Contract Manager for the requirement, assisting the monitoring of Industry Partner performance and collating MI in support of delivery of the FMSP Devonport Contract Management function.
• To be accountable to the NBC Devonport Contract Manager as the technical lead for all contractual changes to requirements maintaining oversight and tracking.
• Provide a single point of contact for configuration control of contractual documentation and maintain a record of contract amendments for reflection in an annual up version of the contract.
• Act as the NBC Devonport Contract Management lead for the Intelligent Customer Network and associated training materials to support the development of the community to ensure effective wider contract management across the Devonport Site.
• Act as the NBC Devonport lead for monitoring and capturing the Authority dependencies and the Industry Partner’s obligations within the Contract understand the impact and ensure any issues impacting the performance of the contract are addressed.
• Provide a single point of contact for capturing and monitoring all future change which will impact the scope of the contract for the Naval Base.
• To support the NBC Devonport Contract Manager in the articulation of the requirement and priority for service delivery for the Devonport NB Services to the Industry Partner to ensure that NBC(D)’s operational priorities are delivered.
• To support the NBC Devonport Contract Manager in their role as Devonport Lead Intelligent Customer (IC) on behalf of the MoD as the contracting Authority, to set the requirements, understand the contract and assess whether the deliverables and activities of the Industry Provider meet the requirements of the contract.
• Support the NBC Devonport Contract Manager to deliver the Contract Management Function, and in doing so assure that the services delivered by the Industry Provider are compliant with the Devonport Contract and comply with the requirements of the Secretary of State’s Policy Statement and its amplification in any Defence Safety Authority (DSA) publication. To ensure the Industry Provider is held to account, and to raise any concerns to the Devonport Contract Manager. To be prepared to challenge the quality of the service provision to ensure the MoD as the customer receives the required level of service, which is compliant with legislation, MOD Policy and industry standards.
• To assist in building collaborative, positive relationships with Industry Provider in support of the safe, secure and efficient delivery of the full scope of Naval Base outputs. To maintain a clear understanding of what the Industry Provider should deliver as part of the contracted outputs.
• To inform the NBC Devonport Contract Manager where the Contract services being delivered by the Contractor do not meet the required level of outputs demanded by the Contract; this covers both ‘over’ and ‘under’ provision.
• To work collaboratively under the direction of the Devonport NBC Contract Manager to build positive and effective relations with the SDG and Surface Ships Contract Management Teams.
• To raise Contract requirement, technical safety and/or security concerns with the Devonport Contract Manager.
• Highlight to the Devonport Contract Manager where there is dispute about the requirement, provision of contracted services or service delivery matters.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

Technical/Post Functional Competences

Desirable:

• Experienced in the application of contract management principles including Programme and Project Management, Information Management, Commercial and Finance

Professional/External Qualifications

Desirable:

• Minimum UK Regulated Qualification Framework – Level 5 qualification, preferably in a related subject to the role or extensive relevant experience at the discretion of the Operations Directorate Head.

Learning and Development

Desirable:

• Recognised Programme Management or Contract Management qualification or equivalent management experience
• Extensive experience of Business or Defence sector management

Post-joining Essential:

• Recognised Contract Management qualification (CIPFA Contract Management Diploma)
• Recognised Project Management qualification (Managing Successful Programmes (MSP))
• Financial Awareness training
• Commercial Awareness training
• HMNB(D) Mandatory Training including Safety and Security Training appropriate to Grade.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 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).

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service

• Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%

• Personal & professional development

• Alternative working patterns for many roles

• Access to a confidential, professional support service

• Discount schemes

• Bicycle / season-ticket loans

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

• Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.

You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact.

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.

As part of Defence Reform, Navy Command continues to review and evolve its Target Operating Model to support more agile ways of working. In this context, the role and responsibilities of this role may develop over time to reflect changing business priorities and opportunities.

At Sift, you will be assessed against the following;

• Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and qualification details.

• Candidates will be required to provide a personal statement. This should be a maximum of 500 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential requirements for the role.

At Interview, you will be assessed against the following success profiles:

Behaviour

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Further information:

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.

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

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 : NavySM-DirWorkforceMgmnt@mod.gov.uk
• Email : NavySM-DirWorkforceMgmnt@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 Candidate Information Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 1513kB)Navy Candidate Attraction Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 7954kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)