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Job summary

The infrastructure programmes and projects delivered by this role directly support the Continuous At Sea Deterrence (CASD) and submarine operations, including establishing a Submarine Centre of Specialisation at HMNB Clyde. This includes the core infrastructure work for Programme Euston, the Integrated Weapons Complex, the Clyde Infrastructure Programme, future berthing and docking capability, and site-wide utilities. Current annual spend is approximately £350m and is expected to rise to £600m–£750m in future years.

The role provides functional leadership for infrastructure delivery and P3M assurance, leading blended civil service and contractor teams. It requires managing complex stakeholder relationships, including political and devolved considerations, to optimise performance.
The role will lead the development of the Nuclear Baseline Organisational work for DIO work at Clyde, driving consistency in programme and project management and championing continuous improvement, ensuring delivery to cost, schedule, performance, safety and compliance standards. This sits within the overall HMNB Clyde nuclear arrangements and the Royal Navy Commodore’s responsibilities as site authorisee.
Operating within a highly regulated, safety-critical environment, the role is focussed primarily on the HMB Clyde sites at Faslane and Coulport but will also include potential future sites associated with the CTP, all of which have significant interdependencies across MOD, industry and government.
While governance, commercial frameworks and nuclear regulatory requirements must be met, the role offers flexibility in decision-making and relies heavily on strong communication, influencing and leadership.

The DIO Programme Director will lead the delivery of major infrastructure programmes and projects across the Clyde Naval Base estate, providing strategic leadership across programme delivery, commercial management, stakeholder engagement, and organisational development. The role is responsible for ensuring programmes and projects are delivered safely, compliantly, and within agreed cost, schedule, and performance targets, while driving continuous improvement and building a collaborative, high-performing delivery organisation.

Job description

• Provide strategic leadership for the successful delivery of a complex portfolio of nuclear capital infrastructure programmes across HMNB Clyde, with a current annual spend of C£350M. Ensure alignment with Defence Nuclear Enterprise priorities and operational requirements through the full project lifecycle, from development and governance through to execution, commissioning, and operational handover.
• Direct multidisciplinary programme, engineering, commercial, project controls, and delivery teams, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing delivery culture (presently 9 direct reports, 35 Civil Service staff and over 100 industry embedded staff).
• Oversee programme governance, assurance, risk management, reporting, and performance activities to support effective decision-making and delivery confidence. Act as the senior DIO delivery lead for Clyde Nuclear infrastructure activity, ensuring alignment with Defence Nuclear Enterprise priorities and operational requirements.
• Lead the financial and commercial management of a multi-billion-pound infrastructure portfolio, including programme budgets, supplier and contract management, commercial approvals, and ensuring delivery within agreed cost, schedule, and governance requirements
• Build and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders including defence customers, regulators, government bodies, contractors, industry partners, the designated SRO, and Naval Base Commander, managing complex political and operational interfaces, ensuring alignment with wider MoD programmes, and de-conflicting competing priorities.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant nuclear, safety, security, assurance and regulatory requirements associated with nuclear defence infrastructure delivery.
• Drive organisational capability development, workforce planning, and continuous improvement across programme delivery and client-side maturity, implementing a robust performance management regime across DIO and its supply chain partners.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Successful track record leading large-scale (>£500m), complex construction and infrastructure programmes and projects within regulated, safety-critical environments.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver major projects and programmes within strict cost, schedule, and performance parameters, ensuring high-quality outcomes.
• Experience operating at senior level within organisations of significant scale, providing visible leadership and contributing to strategic outcomes.
• Strong track record of working with and driving performance across complex supply chains and delivery partners to achieve programme objectives.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop large, multidisciplinary teams, fostering high performance, engagement, and a diverse and inclusive culture.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, including influencing senior stakeholders, working across organisational boundaries to shape direction and outcomes.
• Construction or property qualifications: to L5 HNC / HND or higher or a Chartered Engineer, Construction or Property Professional (CEng, RBIA, RICS, CIOB or equivalent)

Desirable:

• The requisite knowledge and experience to build the capacity and capability required within the nuclear baseline organisation at Clyde.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £115,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £33,315 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%

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 post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the Gatenby Sanderson website at the following link: www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe133594 This should be completed no later than 23:55 on 17th August 2026 and will involve providing the two documents which are weighted equally:

• A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) providing tangible examples that clearly evidence how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

External candidates who join the MOD and are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

For further information about the role and full application process, please refer to the candidate pack attached below. If you wish to receive any material in a different format for accessibility, then please contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 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 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 : Gatenby Sanderson
• Email : Russell.brandon@gatenbySanderson.com

Recruitment team

• Email : Russell.brandon@gatenbySanderson.com

Attachments

Programme Director Clyde Nuclear Candidate Pack DIO.pptx Opens in new window (pdf, 250kB)