Submarine Acquisition Capability Programme Director

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, 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 at 37 hours per week.

The primary delivery location for this position is Bristol Abbey Wood. However, please note there will be a requirement for regular travel to Barrow-in-Furness including regular overnight absences.

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

Job description

The Submarine Acquisition Capability (SAC) Programme Director provides senior leadership for two of the SDA’s most strategically important industrial programmes: the Submarine Build Modernisation (SBM) programme and the Submarine Build Capacity and Capability (SBCC) contract. These programmes are essential to ensuring the UK’s submarine enterprise has the capacity, capability and resilience needed to deliver the SSN‑AUKUS and Dreadnought programmes with confidence.

The role leads the development and delivery of major long‑term investment across the submarine industrial base, including infrastructure expansion at Barrow-in-Furness and Raynesway, strengthening a fragile national supply chain, and supporting workforce growth across BAE Systems Submarines, Rolls‑Royce Submarines and key suppliers. This is a significant modernisation effort that underpins the future viability of the UK’s submarine build capability.

As Programme Director, you will shape programme strategy, develop integrated investment plans, and oversee the delivery of complex, multi‑billion‑pound activities that determine future production readiness. You will ensure alignment with wider SDA programmes, working closely with the SSN‑AUKUS Programme Director, Submarine Production Alliance Managing Director, and Head of Nuclear Propulsion to integrate requirements, schedules and resources.

Building and managing relationships at senior levels across government and industry is central to the role. You will work closely with the Managing Directors of BAE Systems Submarines and Rolls‑Royce Submarines, ensuring that commercial and industrial decisions support MOD objectives. You will regularly brief the CEO SDA and engage with His Majesty’s Treasury, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority and other stakeholders as part of approvals and assurance processes. SBM supports key elements of the AUKUS partnership, the role also involves engagement with US and Australian counterparts.

The SAC Programme Director leads a developing programme team of around 45 posts across Abbey Wood, Barrow-in-Furness and Raynesway. 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 judgement and the ability to balance risk, cost and delivery pressures across programmes of national strategic importance. The successful candidate will play a defining part in modernising the UK’s submarine industrial base and securing the long‑term resilience needed to deliver future submarine programmes successfully.

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 at candidate@support.oleeo.com

Person specification

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

Membership:

1. Chartered Professional in either Engineering or Project /Programme Management or willingness to complete early in tenure.

Essential Criteria:

1. Proven track record of senior leadership in managing large, complex programmes with the ability to integrate large‑scale transformation programmes.

2. Proven ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across different locations, ensuring cohesive delivery across multiple workstreams such as infrastructure or engineering, commercial, workforce, and supply chain.

3. Demonstrable experience in shaping and delivering long-term, multi-billion-pound investment programmes, including strategy development, integrated planning, and delivery oversight.

4. Strong senior stakeholder management experience, building and managing relationships across government, industry, and international partners, including briefing senior executives and engaging with government departments and agencies.

5. Proven judgement in balancing risk, cost, and delivery pressures within programmes of national strategic importance.

Desirable Criteria:

1. Experience within Defence, nuclear, infrastructure, or complex regulated industrial sectors.

2. Familiarity with government approvals, assurance frameworks, and business‑case processes for major programmes.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £23,465 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

Shortlisting

All applications must include the following:

• A CV (1250 word limit) setting out your career history, full qualification details and previous skills/experience with key responsibilities and achievements. 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.

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

Please see the candidate pack attached for further details of the job role.

As part of the application process, you are asked to complete a Diversity Monitoring questionnaire provided. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the characteristics, you have the option to select 'prefer not to say' but completion of the form is a mandatory part of the process, and your application will not be considered complete without it.

Any data collected in this section will be reported in an anonymous and aggregate format and will not be seen by anyone assessing your application.

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, with the strongest candidates being invited to the interview process in Abbey Wood, Bristol. Full details of the selection and assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Due to the volume of the applications we receive we will not provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at the shortlist stage.

Fireside Chats

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a virtual fireside chat with the Director of Submarines Acquisition, Paul Carroll. This engagement will not form part of the assessment or influence the selection decision. Its purpose is to provide candidates with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the DNE.

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.

The sift will be completed within 10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Please see the attached candidate pack to review the campaign schedule.

SDA reserves the right to make any offer of appointment conditional upon references and satisfactory conclusion of security enquiries.

By applying for this role, SDA will also consider your application for other suitable roles within the organisation for a 12-month period from the closing date of the original campaign.

Requests to work flexibly will be considered, taking into account business needs.

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 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.

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 contact DBSFPCP-SRMResourcingSDA@mod.gov.uk

SDA Reward Offer - Working for SDA - Submarine Delivery Agency - 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 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 : Stan Boardman
• Email : andrew.boardman957@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Please see Further Information document.

Attachments

20260413-SDA SAC Prog Dir Candidate Pack-O Opens in new window (pdf, 1919kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)20241009 - Further Information - External Opens in new window (docx, 38kB)