SDA - Transition Into Service Readiness Lead

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent (CASD), and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence. At least one of four nuclear-armed submarines, supported by smaller attack submarines, is on patrol at all times: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

At the SDA, we strive to Support, Deliver and Aspire and put our values at the heart of our recruitment process. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable to be themselves and be supported to do their best work. As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, there are many communities that you can belong to. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.

The primary delivery location for this position is HMNB Clyde.

Flexible and condensed working patterns can be considered for this post but due to security constraints the role is not suitable for hybrid working. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.

Please note, due to the level of security, this role is reserved for UK nationals only.

Job description

Key Aspects:

The Submarine Supply and Support Team (SSST) is responsible for defining and delivering all Support, Training, Information Knowledge Management (IKM), Infrastructure and Post Exit (Sea Trials activities into the Dreadnought and SSNA Programmes. Additionally, the team is responsible for the provision of all Government Furnished Assets, Equipment and Information (GF*) to the programme to enable design, build and Transition into Service (TiS).

The Transition into Service team within SSST is split into two areas, Support and Readiness but collectively they are responsible for designing and delivering the support solution and ensuring the transition to operations of the Dreadnought and SSNA Class.

The successful candidate will become a member of the SSST Management Board and lead the Readiness area which focuses on cohering all activities and outputs required to ensure the enterprise is ready to support first operations for both classes and provide a focal point at HMNB Clyde. This role is critical to ensuring enterprise preparedness to ensure entry into Service and through-life support for the UK's most complex and highest-value defence programmes, underpinning the delivery of our Continuous At-Sea Deterrence (CASD).

The successful candidate will be responsible for three key areas of delivery (below), however there is the potential for some changes to the role to align with the recommendations from the ongoing SSST organisational design review:

1. Naval Base Readiness and Maintenance Strategy for Dreadnought/SSNA
• Ensure enterprise readiness across UK Naval Bases (e.g. HMNB Clyde, HMNB Devonport / Devonport Royal Dockyard) by working closely with the Naval Base Commanders’ teams and associated stakeholders.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Dreadnought/SSNA Class Maintenance Upkeep and Operating Cycle (MUOC) ensuring improved platform availability to enable CASD.

2. Post Exit (Including Sea Trials)
• Direct the planning and subsequent execution of Post Exit activities for each Dreadnought and SSNA Class submarine, including Sea Trials, Demonstration and Shakedown Operations (DASO), and BMPs.
• Work with the Submarine Production Alliance (SPA) and Support Organisations to ensure the safe and effective transition from Build to Operational Readiness.
• Maintain the oversight of all Readiness activities to enable formal entry into service.

3. Platform and Equipment Authority Transition
• Coordinate the handover of Platform System and Equipment design, support, and safety responsibilities from delivery teams to In-Service authorities to enable In-Service teams to discharge their duties effectively.

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 atcandidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

For this role, we are seeking a highly capable individual with experience in complex Programme Management and a deep knowledge of the submarine domain to operate confidently across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). The postholder will be responsible for managing conflicting priorities across a diverse multi-stakeholder landscape, maintaining strong relationships with MOD and Industry partners, both nationally and internationally. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience in the following areas throughout their application:

• Submarine Environment: Recent experience working in the Submarine environment.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Extensive experience working within a complex stakeholder environment consisting of internal and external stakeholders, including MOD, industry partners, and international collaborators.
• Programme Delivery Expertise: Proven track record of delivering large-scale complex programmes or portfolios, ideally within defence, nuclear, or similarly regulated sectors.
• Support Management: Experience of supporting Nuclear Submarines ideally including management of responsibilities, assets, and support arrangements.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders across technical and non-technical domains.
• Team Leadership: Strong leadership with experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and managing significant budgets.
• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across organisational boundaries, fostering a culture of shared ownership and delivery.

To be successful with your application you must demonstrate that you meet the following Essential Criteria:

• Level 7 qualification in relevant subject, or equivalent knowledge, skills or experience.
• Significant Experience in senior management in delivery environment in an Project role or associated discipline (Operational Management, Engineering, Through Life Support).
• Experience of working in the Maritime domain.
• Experience of stakeholder and relationship management.
• Experience in leading a large team.
• Experience of continuous improvement and leading a team through change.
• Experience in managing budgets, including managing approvals, monitoring actual spend and updating forecasts.

Behaviours

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

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

Technical skills

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

• Stakeholder Management - Expert
• Setting the Project / Programme Context - Expert
• Managing Support, Supplier & Customer Networks - Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £72,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £20,945 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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/

This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

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.

At the Sift Stage, Applications will be assessed against the following.

Experience:

• Please outline your career history within the Desirable Past Experience/Skills section of your application form.
• Personal Statement - This should be a maximum of 1000 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable requirements for the role.

Behaviours:

• Working Together - CSBC4
• Delivering at Pace - CSBC4
• Communicating and Influencing - CSBC4
• Making Effective Decisions - CSBC4
• Seeing the Big Picture - CSBC4
• Leadership - CSBC4

Technical Competencies:

• Stakeholder Management - Expert
• Setting the Project / Programme Context - Expert
• Managing Support, Supplier & Customer Networks - Practitioner

At the Interview Stage,Candidates will be assessed against the following.

Experience:

• Personal Statement and Experience - The panel will ask questions about your personal statement. Exploring your Past Experiences, Key Achievements or Qualifications.

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing - CSBC4
• Making Effective Decisions - CSBC4
• Leadership - CSBC4

Technical Competencies:

• Stakeholder Management - Expert
• Setting the Project / Programme Context - Expert

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

Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.

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.

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

To be considered for this role, qualifications detailed must be held in full, prior to submitting your application.

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 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 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 contactDBSFPCP-SRMResourcingSDA@mod.gov.uk

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.

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

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 : Mike Cushen
• Email : michael.cushen800@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Please see Further Information document

Attachments

Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)20241009 - Further Information - External (1) Opens in new window (docx, 34kB)20200110-PD_PJM_G-Project Manager_SP_V1.0 Opens in new window (pdf, 156kB)20250611-PD Technical Competence Framework-O Opens in new window (pdf, 204kB)