Navy Command- Directorate Navy Acquisition - Programme Director Mine Hunting Capability

Job summary

Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) in Whale Island, Portsmouth, is the nerve centre of the Naval Service. It upholds operations around the globe and provides the ships, people, aircraft, and equipment to deliver the UK’s defence policy. Civil servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and challenging jobs in areas ranging from finance; legal services; personnel and HR; project planning and managing contracts, to media and communications.

Director Navy Acquisition (DNA) was created to manage and optimise the current resources and expertise in the Navy’s acquisition programmes to professionalise the delivery of complex programmes in Navy Command. It is the Navy’s centre of expertise for leading the delivery of major acquisition programmes. Programmes in our Portfolio are grouped into Programme Management Offices according to the capability being delivered: Ships Acquisition, Support Shipping Acquisition, Maritime Lethality Group, Maritime Systems Group, Future Support Acquisition, Commando Force and Defence Maritime Services (Next Generation). As a Programme Director within the Maritime Systems Group, you’ll be responsible for leading and coordinating the MHC Programme.

In Navy Command, our civil servants collaborate with their military colleagues in jobs that matter; jobs which often have a direct impact on the quality of the operational capabilities we deliver. Roles can offer great job satisfaction and there are many opportunities to develop and progress both within the Department and across the wider Civil Service.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The MHC Programme Director is responsible for leading, coordinating and assuring the successful delivery of a major acquisition programme within Navy Command. The post holder is accountable for delivering agreed programme outcomes and benefits, establishing robust governance and assurance arrangements, and ensuring the organisation is prepared for and able to realise business change.

The role operates within the Director Navy Acquisition (DNA) portfolio, the Navy’s centre of expertise for delivering complex acquisition programmes. While initially aligned to a specific programme, the post holder may be deployed across the wider acquisition portfolio in line with business priorities.

The Programme Director is accountable to the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) and to the Deputy Director Maritime Systems Group and will deputise when required.

• Lead the MHC Programme Team in support of the SRO to deliver the approved Business Case and realise intended benefits.
• Establish and maintain robust governance and assurance arrangements in line with Navy Command and MOD frameworks.
• Take accountability for programme reporting, approvals, scrutiny, and assurance activity.
• Lead the management of programme risks, issues and opportunities, ensuring timely escalation and dependency management.
• Ensure benefits are clearly defined, measured, tracked and realised through an effective Benefits Realisation Strategy.
• Oversee programme financial management, including forecasting, budget control, external assistance and delivery cost models.
• Lead stakeholder engagement and communications across DLODs and internal and external partners.
• Direct transition and programme close‑out activity, ensuring controlled handover to in‑service teams.
• Provide visible leadership and line management for the programme team, ensuring delivery, capability development and adherence to Civil Service values.

Please see terms of reference for further information.

Person specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate evidence of personal delivery in the following areas:

• Complex programme management and delivery
• Business Case delivery
• Senior Programme Management & Leadership
• Risk, Issue & Opportunity management within a programme management role
• Senior stakeholder management and influence within a complex and high-profile programme management role
• Management and handling of sensitive and/or classified information

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• P3M12 Risk, opportunity, and issue management
• P3M19 Stakeholder and communications management

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.

As a civil servant in Navy Command, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects, and a job that makes a difference. This job role is suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in Navy Command Headquarters (Portsmouth) and working from home as a personal choice.

Other benefits for Navy Command civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• A very competitive pension scheme with 28.97% pension contribution
• 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 will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role. An apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through an apprenticeship you will gain professional knowledge, practical experience, and the broader skills required to upskill you in your current role and pave the way for your future career. Most of the training will be ‘on-the-job,’ with the remaining ‘off-the-job’ training often delivered by a training provider. This means minimal disruption and maximum impact. Professional qualifications can be achieved through an apprenticeship and range from Level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSEs), Level 3 (equivalent to 2 A Levels), and Levels 4 -7, which can give you a foundation degree, a full bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree. Apprenticeships normally last between 12 months - 3 years, depending on the level of the apprenticeship.

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.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

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

At sift, you will be assessed against CV and Statement of suitability (750 words) and the following:

Behaviour:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

Individuals are advised to tailor their Statement of Suitability to provide clear evidence of personal delivery against the following areas. Examples should focus on what you personally did, the impact of your actions, and the outcomes achieved.

• Programme Leadership and Delivery
• Governance, Assurance and Decision‑Making
• Risk, Issue and Dependency Management
• Financial and Resource Management
• Senior Stakeholder Engagement and Influencing
• Leading People and Teams
• Working with Ambiguity and Change

The sift will take place within two weeks of the advert closing date, and interviews will follow in person at NCHQ Portsmouth as soon as practicable after.

During the panel interview you will be asked experience, technical and behaviour-based questions.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviour:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skill:

• P3M12 Risk, opportunity, and issue management
• P3M19 Stakeholder and communications management

Further information:

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

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.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 : Ryan Sharp
• Email : Ryan.Sharp110@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

CS Applicant Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1554kB)Portfolio_Programme_Project_Management_Optimised Opens in new window (pdf, 2267B)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information updated_ Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)