About the job

Job summary

Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) is the nerve centre of the Naval Service. It supports operations around the globe and provides the ships, people, aircraft and equipment to deliver the UK’s defence policy. Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and exciting jobs in different subject areas. 

The successful applicant will be part of Director Submarines Programme Management Office (PMO), this is a critical role ensuring key programmes within the directorate are delivered using effective programme management techniques to deliver within Performance, Cost, Time and Risk envelopes.  

The successful applicant will initially support delivery of the Spearfish Upgrade Programme (SFU), which is part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). Presenting an exciting opportunity to work within a critical programme for Navy Command as we bring this new vital capability into service. There will be an expectation to support other programmes within Director Submarines Portfolio as the SFU programme transitions into service. 

The SFU programme sits within the Submarine Capability Delivery Team (SM CDT), headed by Deputy Director Submarines (DDSM) and is part of the Navy Command Headquarters. The SM CDT is responsible for ensuring safe and effective delivery of Submarine capability to meet Defence’s requirements, today and in the future. This is achieved: 

1. Through the In-Service Capability Management (ISCM) of Submarines and their associated capabilities/ systems.  
2. By the delivery of assigned change programmes. 
3. Through the provision of effective Operating Duty Holding (ODH) arrangements for submarines as required by Defence Safety Regulations.  
4. Through the provision of an appropriate organisation with arrangements for Submarine Safety and Environmental Management.  

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

Job description

The primary purpose of the Submarine Programme Delivery Support Assistant role is to support delivery of key programmes within Director Submarine’s Portfolio with responsibilities for:  

• Supporting the delivery of effective programme controls including planning, scheduling, dependencies, benefits, risk, governance, stakeholder and communications planning.  
• Supporting in the delivery of assurance reviews for the programme 
• Leading in the delivery of all change control and MI for the programme.  

In support of the SFU programme the position holder will initially work alongside 6 other roles within the Programme Management Office reporting into the Spearfish Programme Manager.  As the programme transitions into service, these roles will form part of Director Submarines Portfolio.  

The team will work flexibly, supporting existing and emerging programmes across Director Submarines Portfolio, with an initial focus on the Spearfish Upgrade Programme. Providing exciting challenges and development opportunities for the individual and team, who will operate in a fast-paced and high-profile environment with exposure to programmes in multiple stages of their programme lifecycle. 

Responsibilities 

1. Support delivery of programme controls through administrative/ secretariat functions for; planning, scheduling, dependencies, risk, issue, benefits and stakeholder management. 

• • Supporting delivery of workshops 

• • Conducting regular reviews of corporate management systems to ensure accurate and up to date information is provided 
  • Support effective governance for the programme, providing administrative support, including maintenance of action and decisions registers 
  • Support development of insights and analysis of the programme identifying trends in data 

2. Lead in the delivery of effective management information (MI) for the programme, to include change control. Conducting regular reviews across databases and artefacts to ensure robust management of programme level information.  

In Navy Command, our civil servants work alongside their military colleagues in jobs that matter; jobs which often have a direct impact on the quality of the operational capabilities we deliver.

Roles can offer great job satisfaction and there are many opportunities to develop and progress both within the Department and across the wider Civil Service.

Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) in Whale Island, Portsmouth, is the nerve centre of the Naval Service. It upholds operations around the globe and provides the ships, people, aircraft, and equipment to deliver the UK’s defence policy.

CHQ supports all the Royal Navy’s activities, from front-line operations to personnel support and training; finance and governance; safety; equipment acquisition; programmes and planning; and Defence Engagement.

Civil servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and challenging jobs in areas ranging from finance; legal services; personnel and HR; project planning and managing contracts, to media and communications.

Person specification

Qualifications 

The following qualifications or demonstrable equivalent experience is desirable but not essential: 

• Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) 
• Association of Project Management (APM) Project Management Qualification (PMQ) 

Experience  

Essential:  

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and bring together stakeholders to ensure collaborative working.  

 Desirable: 

• An understanding of Navy Command and/ or the Submarine directorate would be beneficial but not essential.  

• Experience working within a project or programme with sound understanding of the principles required to effectively implement programme controls. 
• Strong facilitation skills with experience of supporting delivery of effective workshops with multiple key stakeholders.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,641 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.

This vacancy assesses candidates through Success Profiles, the new recruitment framework used within the Civil Service.

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

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly.

At application you will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• leadership
• communicating and influencing  

At interview you will be assessed against the following behaviours :

• leadership
• communcating and influecning
• delivering at pace 
• working together

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

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (500 word max)

We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of gender and ethnic group. Appointment will be based on merit alone

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa.  It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

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 

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.

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.