About the job

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence.

Here you’ll find a community to belong to – whether that’s alongside project teams with a shared vision or as part of an employee network of like-minded individuals. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

Discover more about our work:

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of around 27%, to help work work for you.

Nationality, visas and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to UK nationals only. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job description

Are you an aspiring Project Manager? Are you looking to progress your career whilst supporting our UK’s armed forces? The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) have a fantastic opportunity at our Devonport site to join as a Project Manager.

What do Project Managers do in the SDA?

Project Managers are accountable leaders for making sure a project is delivered on time, on budget and within scope. Project Managers within the SDA are key to successful and timely delivery of safe and effective equipment to Front Line Commands and their service personnel. Every day we play a functional part of making this happen, and that is ultimately what is important.

The role involves working within our SDDI (Submarine Disposal and Devonport Infrastructure) team. This team is responsible for the disposal and decommissioning of old submarines, as well as creating future capability for maintaining upcoming submarines. They achieve this by constructing maintenance facilities for Astute Class submarines to undergo major service, replacing used or failed elements, and updating equipment with the latest technology.

Your role in this process will be involved in the Project Management activities of the Main Works Construction contract, ensuring compliance while supervising all construction activities. You will closely collaborate with the NEC (New Engineering Contract) Supervisor to fulfil all contractual duties. Additionally, you will provide strategic support to our supply chain partners, addressing cost, program, and quality challenges.

You will join a dynamic team which has been structured to not only provide individuals with both personal responsibility and ownership, but also a supportive environment in which they can experience all aspects of project delivery and grow into future roles. You will be supported by your manager and wider team to fulfil your potential and access to funded industry-recognised qualifications.

Working at Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe, you will be able to witness first-hand the output of your project. All whilst utilising and developing your knowledge and experience in line with business needs to support our armed forces. If you have the pride, passion and commitment, with the drive to develop your skills and experience of leadership and delivering successful outcomes, then you will find yourself in good company in the SDA. 

Please note the role requires full time site attendance.

What you’ll be doing

• Coordinate multi-disciplinary functions in managing a Control Account or simple projects demonstrating ability to lead as future managers.
• Develop and control all relevant project documentation from project plans, project schedules, status reports and risk registers to deliver specific project outputs within an established baseline, measuring progress via monthly drumbeat, explaining variances and taking corrective action.
• Support an open, honest, no blame culture, proactively highlighting failures and shortfalls
• Ensure their own compliance by having a clear understanding of their responsibilities in managing a Control Account or project and how this aligns within the broader governance framework.
• Conduct internal and external stakeholder analysis work to identify and understand stakeholder requirements, interests and influences or support in the development of these elements for control accounts.
• Understand and demonstrate the contractual obligations and the role of suppliers to meet a project's requirements.
• Manage risk, assumptions, issues, dependencies and opportunities for simple projects or support in the development of these elements for larger projects proactively engaging with Project Controls Function
• Maintain financial control, providing analysis in-line with the project schedule and WBS.
• Maintain project delivery within defined parameters through effective liaison with project controls.
• Proactively ensure the development of your career management plan

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Previous experience applying project management tools and techniques to contribute to successful project delivery outputs
• Contributing to project improvements or change

It would also benefit your application if you meet the following desirable criteria:

• Construction project experience, including an understanding of construction methods, and have working knowledge of construction contracts, ideally NEC3/4 ECC (Engineering Construction Contract).

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Controlling a Project (Supervised Practitioner)
• Project Risk (Supervised Practitioner)
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,800, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,396 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

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills

Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

1. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Security

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.