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 national security?

We are seeking an enthusiastic programme management professional to join the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), to deliver on the National Endeavour to recapitalise the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

Defence Nuclear Organisation's purpose is the delivery of all the UK’s submarines, from procuring them, through to disposing of them safely when they reach the end of their life. It is also responsible for nuclear warheads, nuclear skills and related infrastructure, and day-to-day nuclear policy.

This role is in the Infrastructure and Materials Directorate of DNO, which is managing significant capital investment in this area.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

We are looking for a candidate who can bring their skills and enthusiasm to the Future Material Campus Programme. The role will focus on Programme Delivery and support to the Programme SRO. Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining delivery of capital projects in relation to nuclear or nuclear related material, centred around the Future Material Campus (FMC) Programme.

• Creating an environment to allow successful delivery of the FMC programme through stakeholder engagement, championing the programme and delivering the critical capabilities required to deliver against the requirement.

• Working closely with the FMC Requirements manager, delivery partners and wider stakeholders, including working with other government departments and industry to ensure policy and implementation against future requirements. The post holder will support the cross government and industry wide interactions as required to support the delivery of the programme.

The role offers significant development opportunities, in the form of both on the job learning and specific training (both P3M and Nuclear).

The post holder will support across the infrastructure and materials teams as part of a wider cohort of SEO/C1s with similar skills and competencies to develop resilience across the infrastructure capital team.

It is important to note that this post will require significant face to face collaboration given the classification of work, including time within operational facilities. Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting their application if there are any concerns related to workplace attendance.

Regular travel to both the London (MOD Main Building) and near Reading (AWE Aldermaston) locations will be required. Some travel to other locations across the UK and overseas may be required occasionally.

Person specification

Required experience, skills and personal attributes: 

• Strong P3M skills and knowledge.
• Strong stakeholder management skills.
• Effective management and prioritisation of a demanding workload.
• Can demonstrate the ability to lead cross-functional teams to deliver critical milestones, recognising and monitoring key dependencies across the wider programme and their impacts.
• Can understand and effectively communicate technical issues to non-technical audiences.

Desirable experience, skills and qualifications:

• Qualification in project, programme management (e.g. APMP, PRINCE2, MSP etc.) or equivalent experience.
• Experience of working in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
• Experience of working in the Defence and Security sector.
• Experience of working in regulated sector (e.g. Civil Nuclear)
• STEM Qualification or equivalent experience
• Membership of a Professional Institution, with route to Incorporation or Chartership.
• Awareness of procurement and contract management skills and knowledge. 

The successful candidate will be given the opportunity to complete relevant P3M and Nuclear qualifications, where not already held.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes £11,631 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 and how these relate to the essential and desirable aspects of the Person Specification.

At Sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviour:

• Working Together (competency style) - You have 250 words to answer the Behaviour.
  

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.

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

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.

Nationality Requirements - Further Information for Candidates

1. 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

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

Dual Nationals

     3.  As per Paragraph. 1.41 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:

     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

      4. As per Paragraphs. 3.10-3.11 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules: 

      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) 

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.  

Interviews will be conducted at MOD Main Building: London.

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.

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.