About the job

Job summary

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of around 27%, to help work, work for you.

Nationality, visas, and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country.  We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 10 years and obtain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining DV security clearance can be a lengthy process. You’ll join us once Security Check (SC) clearance is obtained, and then the more enhanced DV checks will continue after you’ve started your employment. If SC clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months, we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made.

Job description

Are you excited by the prospect of working with industry leading subsea technology? If so, this could be the ideal opportunity for you.

We are seeking an Operations Manager to join our Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Team, a key component of the broader SALMO (Salvage and Marine Operations) department.

An AUV is a robot that navigates underwater without constant operator input. You’ll be at the helm of delivering a unique survey capability in support of both SALMO and wider Ministry of Defence (MOD) objectives.

You’ll spearhead the delivery and engineering maintenance of in-service support for the AUV capability, aligning with customer requirements and the in-service delivery plan and schedule. This includes overseeing the mobilisation and demobilisation activities of the capability.

Leveraging your expertise in supply and demand, contract management and project management, you’ll orchestrate a cross functional team and other stakeholders to deliver effective integrated and coordinated support throughout the life cycle of the project.

You’ll resolve problems and deliver a range of time-sensitive outputs. Building robust relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders will be crucial, all while ensuring your actions bolster military front-line operations. With a pro-active mindset and a dedication to continuous improvement, you’ll interpret management information to provide valuable insights that enhance our collective performance. By fostering a culture of learning from experience, encouraging imaginative thinking, and challenging the status quo, you’ll drive us towards improved quality.

Our SALMO team leads the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in providing marine salvage and emergency response. Our specialists including Master Mariners, Marine Engineers, Naval Architects, Environmental Scientists, Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Pilots and Divers, form a hub expertise for subsea activities and marine operations. Our operations are varied ranging from salvage assistance to damaged surface vessels, location of aircraft on the sea-bottom, surveying WWII wrecks, towing warships, and submarines, conducting emergency preparedness exercises and providing underwater engineering support to resolve defects on Navy platforms both domestically and abroad. We offer thrilling opportunities for global travel, recently sending our experienced team on deployments including Singapore, Japan, and Bahrain.

Please be advised that this post is based at a location within 10 miles of MOD Abbey Wood.

At DE&S, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration, normally 3 days per week, alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

What you’ll be doing

• Ensuring appropriate governance arrangement for the delivery of the capability is in place and aligned with DE&S, contract, and reporting requirements.
• Managing in-service support contracts and ensuring key performance indicators (KPIs) are met by suppliers
• Managing resource and finance, monitor spending against forecast and provide budget updates on a regular drumbeat, to ensure the capability is kept within budget. Assist with annual budgetary forecasts.
• Asset management and maintenance activities for the capability
• Ensuring the most cost-effective and efficient means of delivery, whilst leading and mitigating on risk management activities and leveraging opportunities.
• Leading the development of business cases, and manages assurance, endorsement, and approvals through the appropriate channels.
• Monitoring the delivery progress of multiple activities across the capability schedule.
• Line managing two Shore side Engineers.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following Essential criteria:

• Experience of undertaking Operations Management work or associated disciplines (Project Management, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business Management, Through Life Support).
• Background/knowledge of Engineering.
• Accomplished in stakeholder and relationship management, both internal and external and at all levels.
• Proficient in the skills of leading a team.
• Experience of managing contracts and budgets

Desirable Criteria:

• Demonstrable capability in supporting autonomous or complex systems. 

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Service Delivery Management – Practitioner Level
• Stakeholder Management – Practitioner Level
• Delivering at pace – CSBC3
• Making effective decisions – CSBC3

Benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 27%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills

Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

1. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. When two (or more) candidates are on equal interview scores, positions will be offered based on the scores assessed at interview, in this order – 1st) Technical competence, 2nd) CV Review, 3rd) Behaviour one, 4th) Behaviour two.

Security

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.