NBCC Chief of Staff & Change Manager

Job summary

His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde (HMNB Clyde) is home to the United Kingdom’s Strategic Nuclear Deterrent, Astute Class Attack Submarines, Mine Hunting and Diving Threat Exploitation Groups and 43 Cdo Royal Marines. It is an operational support and maintenance base, within Navy Command and comprises of Faslane and Coulport sites and the Dockyard Port. HMNB Clyde’s primary purpose is to provide engineering, logistical and Strategic Weapon support to the Royal Navy in maintaining Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD). This is achieved by ensuring at least one Vanguard Class submarine is on patrol at sea every day of the year.

The Chief of Staff works directly for the Naval Base Commander Clyde (NBCC), driving strategic objectives, ensuring coherent planning, and enabling effective site integration to support delivery of CASD operations and integration of future defence capabilities.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Due to the role and the nature of the business the opportunities for flexible, modern ways of working are limited.

Job description

As NBCC Chief of Staff, you will have the opportunity to lead in a thriving operational environment that is benefitting from significant investment to transform the site and to ensure the naval base is equipped to accept two new classes of submarines and future military capabilities into service.

You will oversee the delivery of routine and priority tasks for the Naval Base Commander and promote effective collaboration between a diverse set of Stakeholders. You will directly support NBCC in the the management of HMNB Clyde’s Baseline Capability and Capacity and the integration of transformation and change across the naval base. You will oversee Performance Management Information for senior governance forums and coordinate strategic input into future Business Plans and strategy. You will facilitate escalation routes for the prioritisation of outputs, mitigation of risks, and resolution of potential issues. As the lead for strategic external engagement functions, you will ensure strategic coherence across internal and external partners, provide policy advice and secretariat support, and oversee strategic communications. You will have functional authority over NBCC’s Outer Office for all outputs, VIP Visits, Strategic Engagement and integrated planning with stakeholders.

As a member of NBC’s Senior Leadership Team, you will provide NBC with independent advice in relation to the activities conducted on naval base.

Overall, you will have the opportunity to work across public and private sectors and a wide range of functions to support the organisation and the wider Clyde community.

Person specification

This is a fantastic opportunity for a people focused leader, who thinks strategically and understands how Royal Navy, Defence Nuclear and Scottish Government work. You should thrive in a challenging nuclear and operational environment and have strong analytical and communication skills. You will need to encourage psychological safety to rapidly get to the heart of issues and then drive results or change through to its conclusion. You must be able to deliver against multiple priorities.

You will need to demonstrate:

• Ability to resolve complex issues outside direct experience through initiative and work through issues to enable effective decision-making by seniors.

• The ability to inspire and motivate multi-disciplinary teams across MoD and Industry partners.

• Persuasive communication skills, able to develop trusting relationships and win the confidence of peer and senior stakeholders.

• Experience of using data and evidence to make decisions and influence.

Ideally you will already:

• Have Association of Project Management (APM) and Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Foundation qualifications or be working towards them. The MoD will financially support two professional memberships per year and support individual development of these, should you not already hold membership.

You must be a single UK National, have a flexible work ethos and undertake occasional travel inside the UK.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

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

Technical skills

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

• P3M 18 - Governance Arrangements
• P3M 19 - 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, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects, and a job that makes a difference.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

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 & professional development
• 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
• On-site Facilities (gymnasium, recreational shopping mall, café, messing facilities etc)
• Assisted Travel Scheme

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

First Appointment Expenses may be payable, subject to eligibility

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, Experience and Technical skills.

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; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Personal Statement:

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (250 Word Max)

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• P3M 18 - Governance Arrangements
• P3M 19 - Stakeholder and Communications Management

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• P3M 18 - Governance Arrangements
• P3M 19 - Stakeholder and Communications Management

Sifting is likely to take place within 5 working days of the advert closing date.

Interviews are likely to take place within 15 working days of the advert closing date.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies in the Civil Service requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without the need for a new competition.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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 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 : Kate Pridham
• Email : kate.pridham100@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

Candidate Information 2025 Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)20250110- CS Applicant Pack Booklet - O Opens in new window (pdf, 1607kB)Defence Civil Servant Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Portfolio, Programme and Project Management (P3M) Professional Competence Framework Opens in new window (pdf, 867kB)