About the job

Job summary

Established in April 2016, the Defence Nuclear Organisation oversees all defence nuclear business (excluding operations) and is responsible for providing nuclear deterrence; sponsoring the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (all the organisations, programmes and people that sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent); and advising on UK nuclear policy, planning and international co-operation on nuclear matters. ​

Chief of Defence Nuclear (CDN) heads the DNO and has accountability for delivery of the warhead and submarine build and disposal programmes as well as aspects of deterrence policy. To deliver against that, the DNO sponsors both the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) and Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). As co-leaders of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, CDN works very closely with the First Sea Lord (who is responsible for submarines in-service and operations) and Navy Command. Together, this forms the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) with a clear mission: Deliver the capabilities, deter the threat, protect the nation. Chief of Defence Nuclear is responsible for delivering reform across the whole cross-Government DNE through the implementation of the DNE Strategic Plan.

As the Chief of Staff to the Chief of Defence Nuclear (CDN), you will be directly responsible for ensuring coherent and effective operations within the Defence Nuclear Organisation as part of, and working very closely with, the broader Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

Are you are a driven and confident leader? Then we would love to hear from you.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the CDN’s private office and all private offices within the DNO (c25 people), creating an inclusive and supportive environment.
• Drive delivery of CDN’s priorities, ensuring their outcomes are secured in a timely fashion, to the highest standards.
• Help to shape a coherent approach to governance and stakeholder management, recognising the high profile and criticality of the DNE’s mission.
• Support the CDN in her leadership of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, working closely with senior representatives across the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Defence Nuclear Organisation, Navy Command and Submarine Delivery Agency to ensure organisational alignment and one team working.
• Trouble shoot specific cross-organisational issues and challenges, solving problems when they arise and ensuring a best for enterprise approach is taken.
• Work with the secretariat for Defence Nuclear Board and Portfolio Sponsorship Group board, ensuring the right challenge and support to reflect the CDN priorities.
• Lead on the delivery of high-profile pieces of work that have an outward-facing angle or require engagement with Ministers or cross-Government leaders, in addition to day to day oversight of a discrete element of CDN’s portfolio.

Person specification

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria:

• Proven leadership skills and the ability to motivate and support a varied team, including subject matter experts, to provide high-quality work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively and win the trust and influence of senior stakeholders across Defence, wider Government and industry.
• Ability to clearly set direction across a complex and multi-organisational landscape, with a clear focus on delivering outcomes effectively and in a timely manner.
• Excellent analytical ability and able to anticipate emerging problems getting to the core of issues quickly, seeing the bigger picture, and identify pragmatic solutions.
• The organisational skills and judgement necessary to process and prioritise a very high and fast-moving workload.
• The ability to communicate clearly and effectively (even under pressure) and motivate people towards achieving stretching goals.

Benefits

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this role. This should be completed no later than 23:55 Sunday 2nd June 2024 and will involve providing the two documents outlined below via the Civil Service Jobs portal:

• 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) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role. 

Both documents are weighted equally in their scoring, so it's important to consider this when uploading your application. Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. 

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.

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.