About the job

Job summary

The Naval Base Commander (Devonport) (NBC(D)) Utilities Manager will work within HM Naval Base (HMNB) Devonport. This exciting position will provide a challenging and rewarding role that supports the NBC(D) with the co-ordination and administration of information on cross site utilities, functional machinery and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)  and their performance.

The utilities manager is responsible for holding contracted service providers to account for delivery of essential services supporting estates, ships and submarines across the Devonport Site.

The utilities manager will work closely with the Design Authority and the Infrastructure Directorate to collate information and measure it against contracted requirements, undertaking activities to restore services or improve reliability of provision as required by end users and safety demands.

You will be expected to apply engineering and asset management knowledge to a range of issues and communicate issues and decisions to a range of stakeholders across the site.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week and the office is based at HMNB Devonport. 

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. 

Job description

• To articulate the requirement and priority for service delivery of Utilities and associated asset replacement to the Industry Partner at the appropriate level to ensure that NBC(D)'s operational outputs are delivered.
• To enact the role of a Devonport Intelligent Customer (IC) on behalf of the MoD as the contracting Authority, to retain adequate resources and technical competence, to set the requirements, understand the contract, monitor, measure and assess whether the deliverables and activities of the Industry Provider meet the requirements of Site Utilities, Functional Machinery and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) aspects of the service provision contract. 
• To ensure that potential impacts on Nuclear Safety Implicated Assets due to service changes are understood, and clearly and promptly communicated to the MOD Design Authority.
• To ensure the Industry Provider is held to account, and to raise any concerns to the appropriate NBC Authority (commercial, safety or security). To be prepared to challenge the quality of the service provision to ensure the MoD as the customer receives the required level of service, which is compliant with legislation, MOD Policy and industry standard.
• Assure value for money while seeking to increase platform, infrastructure and asset availability and materiel resilience.
• To build collaborative, positive relationships with Industry Provider staff in support of the safe, secure and efficient delivery of Naval Base outputs scoped in the Contract.
• To take prompt action as appropriate where the Contract services being delivered by the Contractor do not meet the required level of outputs demanded by the Contract this covers both ‘over’ and ‘under’ provision.
• To hold the Industry Partner to account for provision of timely performance metrics such as management information and Key Performance Indicators in accordance with the Contract and as required.
• To raise Contract performance, technical safety and/or security concerns with the appropriate Authority seeking resolution at the lowest level, starting with local IC to Industry Provider, then, if not resolved, to the Business Management Group (or equivalent), escalating through the Devonport Contract Management Team (or equivalent with Commercial advice) and, if necessary, to the Central Contract Management Team. NBC’s Ops, INFRA and Design Authority Group Heads to be updated at each stage.
• To approve maintenance job plans and schedules for Functional Machinery on site (included but not limited to Utility functional plant & machinery, non-nuclear lifting equipment, workshop items and transport).
• Carry out audits to ensure maintenance is being carried out IAW approved job plans and to the correct standard. Also ensuring any defect pick-ups are addressed appropriately.
• Review asset survey reports to ensure maintenance issues are enacted, any shortcomings identified are covered in remedial action plans, via maintenance asset tool tasks or injection in the MOD New Works Programme. Similarly, this activity to include BM owned assets as stated within the FMSP contract.
• Identify programmes and costs for replacement or upgrade of Functional Machinery and GFE.
• Manage disposal of Functional Machinery and GFE through interface with the Defence Equipment Sales Agency.
• Manage Energy & Sustainable Initiatives working to inform and deliver the Devonport Energy Master Plan.
• Support in the delivery of the asset ownership function, to include managing condition and compliance, management of space, asset risk, asset decision making and project strategic definition to assure that the Naval Base Estate is safe of operate and asset capability supports output requirements.

Person specification

The post holder will have proven ability to work with varying internal and external stakeholders, have strong verbal & written communication skills. The position requires an optimistic and enthusiastic people person who has a strong team ethic. A diplomatic team-player who can establish positive relationships and work collaboratively with stakeholders across the organisation and at all levels.  In return this role will provide you with the opportunity to expand your knowledge and develop your skills to a higher level.

Essential Criteria

1. Knowledge of utility and asset management processes, including Intelligent Customer responsibilities.
2. Good understanding of project and/or programme management tools, techniques including planning, scheduling, risks and issue management and stakeholder relationships. 
3. Ability to apply engineering knowledge to assess proposed contractor maintenance and upgrade activities.
4. Ability to work flexibly using own initiative, responding quickly and positively to challenges and changing priorities to meet tight deadlines in a constantly evolving environment.
5. Good organisational skills and the ability to develop and implement effective administration disciplines and processes.

Experience

The successful applicant will have the following attributes and skills:

1. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships.
2. Ability to listen to and interact confidently with others. 
3. Able to work at pace and prioritise workloads to meet deadlines.
4. Good written and oral communication, numeracy, and computer literacy.
5. Ability to work with minimal supervision.
6. Ability to work on a high hazard, complex site.

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.

CV: Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.  

You will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours at both Application and Interview:

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

Sift and Interview to be held at HMNB Devonport, dates to be confirmed.

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 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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.