About the job

Job summary

Do you want to be at the heart of real Defence issues and play a key role in the United Kingdom’s (UK) national security?

Established in April 2016, the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) delivers nuclear capability to deter threats and protect our nation.

The DNO 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.  The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, and that of our NATO Allies. 

Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We know that diverse teams bring a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and ideas, which lead to better decision-making, creativity, and innovation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated and our people feel supported, included, and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world. 

These roles will sponsor and enable the delivery of infrastructure and strategic materials outcomes through our delivery agents and/or industry. These outcomes will be required in the right place, in the right condition, at the right time to meet the needs of UK warhead programme to ensure the UK’s deterrent is effective and safe, now and in the future. These Assistant Head roles will be expected to own their specified outputs and be accountable for the outputs of their teams.

These posts are on the MOD Civilian Nuclear Post Control List (PCL) and may attract the Nuclear Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA). This is a discretionary allowance. The post being listed on the PCL does not mean that the post holder will have an automatic entitlement to receive the RRA. The NSQEP RRA is not a contractual allowance and can be amended or withdrawn without notice in line with MOD Main and Submarine Delivery Agency policy.

Posts based in London will attract the relevant London weighting.

These posts are advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The nuclear weapon production system is both complicated and complex. Many of the capabilities required have not been delivered for two generations and consequently there is a need to deliver modern fit for purpose infrastructure capabilities to support the target production system.

Equally, these weapons require numerous hazardous material feedstocks that are in limited supply and carry a high regulatory constraint. There is a need to manage and control our existing stockpile and develop new procurement, manufacturing, and machining capability, which ties into the infrastructure above.

There are 4 Assistant Head roles available across the Infrastructure and Materials (I&M) team focused across different projects/elements of the portfolio.

Post holders will be supported to become a subject matter expert on their area of responsibility and sponsor the delivery of capability in support of the nuclear weapon production system.

They will manage the full project/programme life cycle within their area of responsibility. From requirement capture, options analysis, approvals, sponsorship of delivery and ultimately, acceptance into operations for the realisation of capability benefits.

They will be responsible for supporting sponsors, developing, and managing relationships with wider stakeholders, supporting in the development of understanding of the benefits and capabilities being delivered by the infrastructure and materials projects or programme.  

 Post holders will develop as SME’s and will support the wider portfolio by acting as a point of contact for non-I&M led projects and programmes with a view to managing interdependencies and shaping the portfolio to meet demand.

Act as an intelligent customer and support development of the DNO material strategy and its Infrastructure Capability Plans (ICP). This includes assessing and accepting recommendations proposed. Materials roles will also translate and define requirements for the procurement, reprocessing and disposal of nuclear material. They will act as an integrator into wider programme planning and develop and implement a MOD strategic materials plan. 

The post will also support across the infrastructure and materials team as part of a wider cohort of Assistant Heads with similar skills and competencies in order to develop resilience in the I&M team. This includes representing the Defence Nuclear Programme in nuclear weapon programme fora on strategic material or infrastructure issues and briefing seniors across MOD and wider government. 

DNO fully supports flexible/hybrid working where possible. However, the classification of some of the work demands regular office attendance. Flexibility will be required by postholders to meet the demands of the programme and they should expect to attend the office 2/3 times a week to access classified systems and engage face to face. Equally, there will be regular travel to other sites.

Terms of Reference (TOR’s) for individual roles are available subject to classification constraints and discussion with line managers.

Person specification

Responsibilities:

Infrastructure

• Sponsorship of infrastructure projects and programmes. 
• Assessing, planning, enabling, and initiating investments, infrastructure projects and programmes. 
• Infrastructure requirements, benefits, and acceptance management.
• Provide infrastructure insight and expertise across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

Materials

• Determine and maintain the strategy for strategic materials.
• Provide SME advice to relevant Warhead Group projects and programmes.
• Management (procurement, disposal, loans, and transfers) of Accountable Nuclear Material (ANM) to achieve material availability for current programmes. 
• Management of ANM recycling to ensure continuity of supply for future programmes.
• Material Disposal.

Qualifications

Qualification or Membership of a professional science, engineering or project or programme institution, with route to Fellowship or Chartership.

Skills

• At least 5 years’ experience of working in regulated sectors, projects or programmes with knowledge life cycle phases or related experience.

Desirable Qualifications

• Degree in a scientific or engineering discipline. 
• Membership of a Professional Engineering Institution, with route to Incorporation or Chartership.
• A recognised Project Management Certification (e.g. APM, PRINCE2 or equivalent)
• Nuclear Weapon Foundation Course (NSQEP - Accredited Course) 
• Nuclear Weapon Z6 Course (NSQEP - Accredited Course) 
• Nuclear Submarine Quality Assurance Course (NSQEP - Accredited Course) 
• Nuclear Fuel Cycle Course 
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Science
• Audit and Evaluation Skills Course 
• System Engineering (Awareness) Course
• Weapons Ordnance Munitions & Explosives Safety (Awareness) Course

Desirable Skills

• Business Case Approvals experience.
• Infrastructure Project Delivery.
• Infrastructure or Estate Management.
• Awareness level knowledge of the Nuclear Weapon Programme.
• Awareness level knowledge of the MOD’s Capability Management approach.
• Awareness Level knowledge of MOD Commercial Policy, Procedures and Process 
• Practitioner level understanding of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement. 
• Practitioner Level knowledge of Management of the Nuclear Weapon Programme (JSP538 & JSP372) 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,670, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,570 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

Candidates can apply online via the Civil Service Jobs website by completing the application form before the deadline shown. Apply using the Civil Service Jobs apply button, filling in all required details in all sections. Using the Success Profiles link for information on format and style, ensure you provide evidence for all Behaviours and Experience sections requested in the appropriate competency style.  

*Please note that not following the appropriate format will mean that you may be unable to reach the required grades for sift or interview* 

Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history, full details of education and qualifications and previous experiences and skills. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.

You also have around 1000 words for a Personal Statement where you have the opportunity to show how you meet the requirements of the role. This will be considered prior to selection for interview.

The requirements for the role have been benchmarked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview. 

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

At interview we will ask you to cover a short 10-minute presentation on how you have worked with another party (delivery agent, industry, or another) to realise a better outcome.  We are particularly interested in how you managed relationships, influenced stakeholders and balanced conflicting priorities. 

Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit.

Please note that due to the sensitivity of the role we can only accept UK Nationals and you will also be expected to achieve Developed Vetting clearance, above the normal clearance level expected for the MOD.   

No application can be accepted after the closing date.

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: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

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. 

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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.

Nationality Requirements - Further Information for Candidates

This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per Civil Service Nationality Rules Section 3. In accordance with these rules, ‘only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service’[1] (Paragraph. 3.1).

UK National Definition

1. The definition of a ‘UK National’ can be found at Paragraphs. 1.4-1.8 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Dual Nationals

1. As per Paragraph. 1.41 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:
2.    a)   ‘Candidates with dual nationality are in principle eligible for employment in the Civil Service provided that they meet the requirements in relation to one of their nationalities [i.e. UK National]. They may not be eligible, however, for employment in certain reserved posts where additional nationality requirements are imposed.’ 

Additional Restrictions for Reserved Posts

1. As per Paragraphs. 3.10-3.11 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules: 
2.     a)  ‘…departments and agencies are entitled to impose additional requirements in reserved posts if this is considered necessary. This could include, for example, requirements as to the residency of the applicant or the nationality of one or both parents of the applicant.’

      5, If you are a Dual National who possesses UK Nationality and wish to check your eligibility for the post, please contact our recruiting team at the details below. Please be advised that we will not be able to provide a justification for our decision for security reasons. 

DNO External Recruitment DNO-ExternalRecruiting@mod.gov.uk

[1]  Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before, or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996. (Paragraph. 3.1)

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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 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.