About the job

Job summary

The Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) is the overall umbrella term used to describe the federation of organisations and arrangements that enables, maintains, and delivers the Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD) and submarine forces. These include the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) and Royal Navy (RN), together with the delivery agencies — the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) and the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), UK Strategic Command, Sheffield Forgemasters, our industry partners and other government departments, who in various ways support the shared mission.

This is an exciting and conceptual area to work in. CAAS is forging a new DNE facing team to start to implement processes for undertaking independent assurance of portfolio cost, risk and schedule artefacts. In addition, CAAS will support the inception of the DNE portfolio team to devise and implement cost, risk and schedule best practises and build expertise across the portfolio to build a sustainable capability.

We are currently recruiting Cost Estimators, Cost Engineers, Risk Analysts and Schedulers with posts offered at various CAAS locations.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

CAAS are looking for the best functional specialists to be part of the team leading Defence in cost management (cost estimating, cost engineering, scheduling, and risk) within the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE).

Cost Estimator - The role is responsible for cost estimating and cost modelling activities within the CAAS cost management environment and will lead, supervise, and assure the preparation of cost estimates and the population of cost models. As a Cost Estimating Senior Executive Officer (SEO), you will be the estimating lead for high-value, high-profile projects. Working in an agile manner across Defence Nuclear Enterprise programmes, you will provide Subject Matter Expert (SME) advice and guidance on cost estimating, ensuring robust quality estimates are provided to customers to inform decision making by senior management.

The SEO Cost Estimator responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Line management of Higher Executive Officer (HEO) staff and Placement Line Manager to members of the Estimating Capability Development Scheme (ECDS). You will be managing and assuring tasks, providing on-the-shoulder upskilling, and leadership to build high performing teams.
• Championing the development of the cost estimating function and actively participating in functional events to aid the advancement of the function, the team and personal development.
• Be an independent assurer, providing technical and independent challenge to cost estimating approaches and/or outputs to determine the robustness of the estimate, identifying issues and providing credible observations and recommendations for improvement.
• A technical lead, responsible for representing CAAS to provide technical expertise and share cost estimating knowledge and experience.

 

Cost Engineer - The Cost Engineer’s role is to assess, assure and provide insightful analysis of costs to enable robust decision making and delivery of value to MOD stakeholders on engineering projects in the Nuclear Enterprise. The Cost Engineering team are tasked to provide independent cost assurance on projects, programmes, and portfolios throughout the CADMID (Concept, Assessment, Design, Manufacture, In-service, Disposal) lifecycle. The SEO grade will lead assurance on projects up to and including Cat A (>£400M).

The SEO Cost Engineer responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Line management of Higher Executive Officer (HEO) staff and Placement Line Manager to members of the Estimating Capability Development Scheme (ECDS).
• Providing support to CAAS accountants by undertaking technical assessments of supplier’s submissions of charging, labour and overhead rates, cost certificates and cost allocation methods.
• Develop cost estimates and risk analysis in support of project business cases.
• Assess prime contractor and subcontractor bids in line with statutory guidance on allowable costs and appropriate reporting standards.
• Brief and support negotiations to deliver value for money for MOD.
• Provide analysis and assurance advice on MOD approaches to internal cost and time budgets.
• Provide support to project teams on assessments of supplier’s cost forecasts for project delivery.
• Undertake earned value and risk analysis to develop an estimate at completion to provide insight to supplier performance on cost and schedule.
• Produce Independent Cost Estimates(ICE)/reviews on major DNE projects.

 

Risk Analyst – The role is responsible for the functional lead for Quantitative Risk Management (QRM) within CAAS DNE. The project/programme Risk Analyst role offers excellent opportunities to deliver packages of work on a variety of high profile and significant DNE projects/programmes.

This exciting role provides the opportunity to develop a greater depth of knowledge, technical leadership and skills in risk assurance, whilst working with Defence partners and Government departments, to improve Quantitative Risk Management capability within the DNE.

The SEO Risk Analyst responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Line management of Higher Executive Officer (HEO) staff and Placement Line Manager to members of the Estimating Capability Development Scheme (ECDS).
• Provide Subject Matter Expert (SME) advice and guidance on risk management and quantitative risk analysis, ensuring robust quality estimates are provided to customers to inform decision making by senior management.
• Work alongside the DNE and their partners conducting independent assurance around risk management and quantitative risk analysis undertaken in project/programme/portfolio teams.
• Support the development and improvement of DNE capabilities in the areas of quantitative risk analysis, including verification and validation of risk analysis models and interpretation of probabilistic outputs.
• Champion the development of the risk function, the team and personal development by working collaboratively with cost management professionals across Defence to promote CAAS good practice around risk management and analysis.
• Build relationships with DNE stakeholders to develop and share risk guidance, process and “good practice” documentation whilst providing on-the-shoulder support, training and upskilling where required.

 

Scheduler - The role is responsible for the Functional Lead for schedule management within CAAS DNE. The project/programme Scheduler role in the CAAS DNE offers excellent opportunities to deliver packages of work on a variety of high profile and significant  projects/programmes. You will be ideally positioned to provide skills and expertise in the improvement of schedule capability across the Enterprise.

The SEO Scheduler responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Line management of Higher Executive Officer (HEO) staff and Placement Line Manager to members of the Estimating Capability Development Scheme (ECDS).
• Delivering packages of work to support operational outputs and capability development across DNE programmes and provide functional leadership in schedule management.
• Work alongside the DNE and their partners conducting schedule analysis and developing assurance reports which will provide a level of scrutiny to determine if the schedule is credible, and the extent to which it can be relied upon as a plausible representation of the project/programme.
• Supporting approvals and determining recommendations for improvement.
• Work with DNE to help realise recommendations, and support/assist in their practical implementation to improve standards.
• As a schedule functional leader, you will build relationships with DNE stakeholders to develop and share schedule guidance, process and “good practice” documentation whilst providing on-the-shoulder support, training and upskilling where required.

Person specification

To join us, candidates must demonstrate the following criteria:

• Level 5 Qualification in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) based subject or having completed an engineering apprenticeship or equivalent. Note: Ex Service candidates will be deemed to have the necessary academic requirements if they have at least 4 years technical experience in the rank of Staff Sergeant (OR6) or equivalent, and have completed approved courses of technical training.
• A proven record of accomplishment and experience of cost estimating/engineering, risk analysis or scheduling on a range of complex projects.
• Relevant experience in leading and assuring cost estimates/risks/schedules on projects/programmes.
• Experience in presenting technical results and briefing recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Experience of line management or managing a delivery team.
• Proficient in the use of Excel and other relevant tool sets to analyse data.

Please indicate your preference for Estimating, Cost Engineering, Risk Analysis or Scheduling and preferred location on your application.

 

Desirable Criteria:

It is desirable if the candidate has any of the following:

• International Cost Estimating & Analysis Association (PCEA or higher)
• Association of Cost Engineers (ACostE) - Enrolled or higher
• Association of Project Management (APM) Qualification or higher
• Association of Project Management Group (APMG) - Project Planning & Control (PPC)
• Experience using Quantitative Risk Analysis software or Parametric tools
• Experience in formal training delivery or upskilling

Nationality requirements:

Barrow, and Plymouth (Devonport) based posts may be subject to Naval Nuclear Propulsion Plant Information (NNPPI) and Polaris Sale Agreement (PSA) clearance. This is not available for some non-UK nationals.  

Barrow in Furness BAES Submarines does not permit staff on site who hold dual nationality.

Aldermaston requires Developed Vetting (DV) of post holders.

It would be advantageous that staff working in the DNE would be willing to obtain DV clearance in the future.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history as well as previous experiences, skills and qualifications.

Candidates will also be required to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 750 words. The personal statement should reference examples of where you meet the person specification for the chosen role. 

The sift is expected to take place circa w/c 01/07/2024

With interviews being held via MS Teams circa w/c 22/07/2024 

The following Behaviours will be assessed at the interview stage only:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing self and others

Technical Competences (Applicable to Role)

• Cost Engineering - Finance Competence Framework Section 7 - See attachment
• Cost Estimating - Finance Competence Framework Section 8 - See attachment
• Risk Analyst - Competence 10.3 - How to effectively assess risk (quantitively & qualitatively risk assessment) - See attachment
• Risk Analyst - Competence 10.5 - Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Analysis - See attachment
• Scheduling - P3M09 (Schedule Management) - See attachment

Please note where MOD specific requirements are within the framework, we are content with candidates drawing equivalencies from previous non-MOD roles.

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

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.