Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) - Project Controls Manager

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 Devonport , Plymouth.

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

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 via the Help link.

Job description

Are you a Project Controls Manager interested in working with industry partners, providing through-life support for the UK’s fleet of submarines? The programme level schedules for each Major Submarines Disposal Projects containing key milestones and deliverables. The schedules are baselined as part of business case approvals and are reviewed monthly to understand the variances, review the forecasts, and discuss risks and opportunities against critical path activities. The outputs from these reviews inform monthly progress meetings and Project Boards.

The Project Controls Manager’s role is integral to enabling the successful delivery of these Submarine Disposal Projects.

You will be working as part of the Programme Management Office undertaking the following tasks:

• Acting as the key contact for project controls and to integrate and co-ordinate all project controls activities within the project/programme.
• Ensuring the quality and accuracy of all project controls data and artefacts is in-line with SDA policy, as well as ensure that these are utilised by the project team.
• Develop the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB), incorporating at an appropriate level both OPEX and CAPEX to aid effective performance analysis and project management. Analyse performance of projects against the PMB, and communicate it to the project teams to ensure effective delivery.
• Work with the Project Manager and commercial teams to ensure that contractor and supplier data is received in a timely manner, in an appropriate format and to the required quality.
• Work with and advise internal stakeholders (PM’s, CAM’s and OM’s) to ensure coherent, effective communication of project performance analysis (single version of the truth) and forecasted taskings and activities
• Manage resource planning in line with the project schedule, ensuring resource demand is underpinned by robust BOE (driven by schedule activities)
• Communicate complex project controls data to key stakeholders of the project, programme and SDDI Leadership Team, in a clear and audience appropriate manner.
• To communicate and influence colleagues and Leadership Team within the SRRC project and supply chain on all aspects of project controls (drawing on sub-disciplines as required).
• Establishing and maintaining the Submarine Disposal Programme drumbeat of PC processes whilst working across all project control functions to ensure consistency in project data.
• Facilitate and manage changes to the Programme.
• Working with Project Controls corporate function to implement PC processes (PC tailoring guide) within the Submarine disposal programme/projects
• Facilitate the management of 4th order operating assumptions (4OA’s) and dependencies

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post. Successful candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before starting the role.

As the post holder will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process. Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

Person specification

For this role, we are seeking the following:

• Hold APMP or prepare to qualify within the 12mths of starting role
• Experience of leading and delivering Programme and Project Controls within a relevant, heavily-regulated environment (e.g. defence, rail, aero, construction, energy)
• Interpersonal, communication and relationship building skills, with demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with teams, across functions and with senior stakeholders
• An understanding of Project Management and Project controls methodologies
• Capacity to travel between Devonport and Rosyth sites

It would be beneficial if you have the following desirable experience/qualifications:

• Experience using Primavera P6
• Defence/Navy background
• Have undertaken line management duties, basic leadership skills

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Stakeholder Management - Practitioner
• Making evidence-based support decisions - Supervised Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,800, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,557 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

At Sift, you will be assessed on your;

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. Candidates will be required to provide job history and qualification details.

Behaviours:

• Delivering at pace - CSBC 3
• Managing a quality Service - CSBC 3
• Communicating and influencing - CSBC 3

Technical Competencies:

• Stakeholder Management - Practitioner
• Making evidence-based support decisions - Supervised Practitioner

At Interview, you will be assessed on;

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

Behaviours:

• Delivering at pace - CSBC 3
• Managing a quality Service - CSBC 3

Technical Competencies:

• Stakeholder Management - Practitioner
• Making evidence-based support decisions - Supervised Practitioner

Please refer to the Civil Service Behaviours here and the Technical Skills Framework and Success Profile documents attached.

In the event of a high volume of applications, an initial sift will be based on the lead behaviour which is Managing a quality Service.

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.

This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contactDBSFPCP-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.

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 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 : SDA HR Recruitment Team
• Email : SDA-HR-WorkforceResourcePlanning@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Please see Further information

Attachments

20240927-PCM_PII_SDA_Success_Profiles-FINAL-O Opens in new window (pdf, 140kB)20250611-PD Technical Competence Framework-O Opens in new window (pdf, 204kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB)Further Information - External Opens in new window (docx, 38kB)