Ship Submersible Nuclear AUKUS Programme Director

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Group (SDG) 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 SDG, 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, our team will find a community to belong to. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

This position is advertised 37 hours per week.

This primary delivery location for this position is Bristol OR Barrow in Furness

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

Job description

The SSNA Programme Director provides senior leadership for the SSNA Programme they are accountable for the delivery of £8.4BN in contracts and responsible for driving delivery of the integrated SSNA Programme on behalf of the Alliance Managing Director. The SSNA Programme Director will be responsible for the day-to-day activities of the SSNA Programme. Responsible for building a strong relationship with and between BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Babcock and the SDG to ensure seamless coordination and communication. The successful post holder will be responsible for the delivery of the performance of the Programme for cost, risk, schedule and scope.

As Programme Director, you will shape programme strategy, support the development of integrated investment plans, and oversee the delivery of complex, multi‑billion‑pound activities that determine future production readiness. You will ensure alignment with wider SDG programmes, working closely with the Defence Nuclear Organisation and Industry Parties to integrate requirements, schedules and resources.

You will have a strong track record of leading complex, high risk programmes or portfolios, delivering in environments characterised by scale and external scrutiny. You will maintain and continuously improve programme governance, assurance and reporting arrangements ensuring clear oversight of risk, affordability and deliverability.

Building and managing relationships at senior levels across government and industry is central to the role. You will work closely with the Programme Directors of BAE Systems Submarines, Rolls‑Royce Submarines and Babcock International, ensuring that commercial and industrial decisions support MOD objectives. You will represent the programme in all forums as required and provide timely, evidence based advice to senior leaders including SPA MD, Director Generals and engage with His Majesty’s Treasury and other stakeholders as part of approvals and assurance processes.

The SSNA Programme Director leads a developing programme team of around 23 posts across Abbey Wood, Barrow-in-Furness and Derby. You will provide clear direction, build capability, and ensure cohesive delivery across infrastructure, commercial, workforce and supply‑chain workstreams.

This is a pivotal leadership role, requiring exceptional leadership, judgement and the ability to balance risk, cost and delivery pressures across a programme of national strategic importance. The successful candidate will play a defining part in delivering the future submarine programme successfully.

Overview: SSNA Programme Director

Accountable for the delivery of £8.4BN contract, responsible for driving delivery of the integrated SSNA Programme on behalf of the Alliance Managing Director. The SSNA Programme Director will be responsible for the day-to-day activities of the SSNA programme. Responsible for building a strong relationship with and between BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Babcock and the SDG to ensure seamless coordination and communication. Responsible for the Delivery of the performance of the Programme for cost, risk, schedule and scope.

Monitoring Performance of the Programme

• Assuring the system of day-to-day scrutiny of SSNA programme performance, across all four partners (SDG, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Babcock)
• Designing policies and procedures for the assurance of the Programme, including reporting requirements and risk management
• Providing a strategic programme overview across the areas of greatest uncertainty and risk and make programmatic decisions on recommendations made by the IPs and SDG teams
• Supporting the Annual Budgeting Process to enable forecasting of how the SSNA programme is performing
• Working with the Alliance Programme Controls Director and SSNA Financial Controller to ensure that quality information and advice is available to support programmatic decision-making
• Building strong relationships with the SSNA programme teams in each of the Parties, to ensure that issues are escalated and resolved rapidly.

Proactive Risk and Opportunity Management

• Promote a culture of proactive risk management and innovation. Challenge the Industry Partners (IPs) to actively identify risk and opportunity in their areas of scope
• Ensure that continuous improvement and learning from experience in SSNA across other programmes is captured with the Programme Team, and applied to de-risk future delivery

Controlling the baseline for delivery

• Set the Parties’ baseline for the Optimum programme, by challenging the bases of estimates, and assisting negotiation with Industry on pricing and the level of risk in contracts
• Hold the Parties (including the SDA) to account for delivery against their baseline through facilitating formal Alliance Management Reviews, scrutinising the performance of Programme Directors from each Party for delivery of dependencies into the Programme
• Producing analysis on the drivers of over/underperformance, and challenging any corrective plans submitted by the Programme Directors and challenging the parties on management of known risks/issues
• Endorse whether the Parties in delivery have achieved relevant milestones in the Programme, and provide authorisation to proceed across production phases where appropriate and facilitate ‘top down’ reviews of Programme cost/schedule reduction, and support planning for future tranches not yet under contract
• Managing the SSNA Programme Team Day-to-day management of the team
• Ensure the Alliance Programme Team’s effectiveness and efficiency in their role, through recruitment, provision of training, etc
• Resolve conflicts between recommendations / issues across more than one Programme Management’s scope of responsibility, to provide an integrated Programme-wide view
• Manage performance of the Alliance Programme Team, including setting personal performance objectives
• Managing the Interfaces and dependencies for the SSNA Programme Team Ensure that the Australia customer requirements are embedded into the Programme of Record
• Deliver customer briefings to 2 & 3* Australian customer representatives enabling improved stakeholder collaborations
• Manage the flow of information to SBM enabling coherence across the teams

Person specification

Please provide evidence of the following Essential Criteria in your Supporting Statement

Essential Criteria:

• Ability to design, lead, and integrate large‑scale, highly complex programmes.
• Proven track record of senior leadership in managing multidisciplinary teams across different locations, ensuring cohesive delivery across multiple workstreams.
• Strong senior stakeholder management experience, building and managing relationships across both Government and industry with the ability to influence at executive level.
• Budget management accountability for large scale spend
• Proven experiencing of promoting a culture of proactive risk management and innovation
• Ability to interpret and use complex data to inform strategic decisions
• Proven track record of delivering major complex programmes, supply chain investment programmes, and workforce development initiatives.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience within Defence, maritime, nuclear, or complex regulated industrial sectors.
• Knowledge of large‑scale facility expansion or modernisation in heavy engineering or manufacturing.
• Experience of working with government approvals, assurance frameworks, and business‑case processes for major programmes.
• Experience working with overseas government or industry partners on shared capability or production challenges.
• A Chartered Project Manager or have a willingness to complete early in tenure.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £24,914 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).

• 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/

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

To apply for this role please provide your CV and personal statement through the application steps on the CS jobs website.

All applications must include the following:

• A CV, please completethe sections provided on the CS jobs application page. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A separate Supporting Statement (1250 word limit) providing clear evidence of how you meet the Essential Criteria laid out in the Person Specification

Shortlisting

All applications will be reviewed by the selection panel who will consider the evidence provided by the candidates against the essential criteria to determine a shortlist.

Assessment

Candidates shortlisted will be invited to an interview which will include the requirement to prepare a presentation for which they will normally be given at least one week’s notice of the subject.

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Further Information:

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

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 Developed vetting (DV).

To be considered for this role, qualifications and/or memberships 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.

Please note the Civil Service Nationality Rules will also need to be met. The Civil Service Nationality Rules operate independently and in addition to the UK Immigration Rules and must be met before an individual can take up employment in the Civil Service. The Civil Service Nationality Rules do not apply to UK, Irish and Commonwealth nationals, or to those who are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme but do apply to all other nationalities- including EU/EEA nationals who are ineligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

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 post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

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.

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.

This is a Fixed-term Appointment .Your responsibilities will be as described in this job advert.

If you are on a Permanent Appointment your minimum term will be 4 years.

Fixed Term Appointment (FTA): Your minimum term will be 2 years, with the possibility of extension subject to Civil Service Commission approval in line with the Fixed Term Appointment Policy.

Secondment: Your minimum term will be 2 years, with the possibility of extension subject to Civil Service Commission approval in line with the Secondments Policy.

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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 4 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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 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 : Jonathan Hawkins
• Email : Jonathan.Hawkins529@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, 1563kB)Further Information - External Opens in new window (docx, 38kB)20260717-SDA SPA SSNA Prog Dir Candidate Pack-Final-O (002) Opens in new window (pdf, 2272kB)