Navy Develop Directorate – Assistant Head Navy Capability Planning

Job summary

The Develop Directorate is a high profile, exciting and fast paced area that is responsible for delivering an adaptable military capability and creating a first-class project control and management functions across a diverse and complex military capability portfolio to support our operational commitments. It leads the development of the Royal Navy’s future warfighting capability and acts as the platform to deliver a modern, global and ready Royal Navy. It acts as the thought leaders for the Royal Navy (RN), leading the development of the RN’s future warfighting capability and acting as the Design Authority for RN capabilities of the future to achieve the optimum mix of present and future warfighting technologies for a modern, global and ready RN.

The successful candidate will be working in a fast paced, agile environment and will need to have a flexible approach to enable rapid delivery to respond to priorities as they emerge. This role offers opportunities for the right person to make a real difference to the front line of the RN.

The Develop Navy Capability Planning Team is responsible for:

• Development and oversight of the 30 Year Capability Plan, including the Development of a balanced shipbuilding pipeline portfolio and the transition to the Hybrid Navy.
• Overall coherence and affordability of the forward Capability Plan with focus on transition from current to future force including taskers issued by Strat Plans/Strat Fin during Strategic Planning rounds, Balance of Investment activities and in year savings measures.
• Management of the 10yr costed profile for the Develop Portfolio, with prioritisation of funding, including future workforce planning.
• Key point of contact with the wider stakeholder community to ensure alignment and the identification of potential issues to future capability delivery, in particular, the Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ), National Armaments Director Group (NADG) and Delivery Agents.
• Governance and secretariat of key Capability Boards; commissioning and coherence of reporting both internally across the command and wider MSHQ, to enable key decisions and forward planning.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This is a key strategic role in the development and management of RN future capability delivery, from concept development through to development and initiation, associated robust RN 30-year Capability Plan aligning the future capability requirements with RN and Defence Strategic Priorities and transition to the Hybrid Navy.

Supporting the necessary financial and strategic planning activities (Annual, IY and Strategic Planning Reviews) to ensure we are directing investment which supports RN strategy and ambition.

Responsibilities

• Manage the development and delivery of the Royal Navy 30-year Capability Plan, including the Shipbuilding Pipeline linking to the Strategic Plan for transition to the Hybrid Navy.
• Development and ongoing management of Change Control activities to ensure that the 30yr plan is maintained and amended to reflect changes in priorities and deliverables.
• Development, implementation, and management of Capability Governance and Reporting requirements, to effectively manage the delivery of the Hybrid Navy, to provide a common cohered understanding ensuring that all key dependencies and external risks are understood, managed and escalated as required.
• Coherence of Communications and Engagement activities, drafting briefs, reports, MinSubs and responding to queries eg: Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests.
• Coherence of key activities to transition to the Hybrid Navy including inputs and dependencies with Defence Lines of Development (DLODs), wider Navy Command Operating Model (NCOM) enabling functions and Delivery Partners to deliver the Hybrid Navy.
• Strategic and Financial Planning to support the annual financial bidding cycles eg: ABC/ Strategic Planning Review, strategic re-baselining and wider financial taskers. Support the coherence of cross Directorate input to StratFin/Strat Plans/MSHQ taskers.
• Lead Capability Prioritisation as part of wider Directorate prioritisation and workforce planning activities. In addition, manage DEV DE&S prioritisation activities working closely with the Directorate of Strategic Planning (DSP).
• Lead for RN Research, Development and Experimentation Plan: Coherence and prioritisation of DEVs R&D funding pipeline, delivering an annual programme and managing IY movements to ensure we are directing investment which supports RN strategy and ambition.
• Product Owner for the Naval Design Partnership (NDP), including the bidding process in collaboration with DE&S.
• Ad-hoc requests as required by Head Navy Cap Plans in support of wider Cap Plans/Develop Directorate activities.
• When required to provide a surge capacity in support of Agile methodologies, in order to accelerate a Develop priority.

Person specification

Strengths

• Ability to manage team dynamics and drive forward to a shared goal/vision for the future.
• Ability to work without supervision, exercise judgement and good organisational skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with an ability to give clear direction and brief Senior Management concisely and effectively.
• Ability analyse data from a wide range of sources using various methods – both quantitative and qualitative.
• Ability to adapt to change and variations in work or environment, demonstrating flexibility and versatility.
• Ability to proactively create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people across multiple civilian, military, government and coalition areas within and outside the organisation.
• Attention to detail whilst also keeping an overview on the wider perspective.
• Competent in using MS Office tools; Microsoft Excel, MS Project, PowerPoint, Word, Skype and SharePoint.

Desirable skills

• Strategy, Policy and process development.
• Experience in delivering support with a team in a fast-paced challenging environment.
• Agile Scrum experience/understanding would be an advantage.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,630, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,854 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. Navy Command prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

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
• Personal and 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 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 apprenticeship.

Anyone can undertake an Apprenticeship and everyone, regardless of age, can benefit from developing their skills in an accredited way.

Successful candidates can discuss their development options with their manager when in post.

Our headquarters in Portsmouth also offer an impressive range of on-site facilities including a gymnasium, tennis courts and other sporting facilities, a children’s nursery, a bistro restaurant, a shop and plenty of car parking spaces.

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.

Things you need to know

Security

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

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and experience

Candidates will be required to complete a Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words. Please provide experience relevant to the role

Candidates will be required to provide Statements against the Behaviours of no more than 250 words per behaviour.

At sift, you will be assessed against your Statement of suitability and the following:

• Seeing The Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
  

Application online, sift of application & interview if successful through sift.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Seeing The Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace

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 : Develop Recruitment Team
• Email : navydev-recruitment@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

Civil Servant Applicant Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 3959kB)Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Navy Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 2922kB)