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 sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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

The SDA is looking for talented, motivated and creative university graduates to join our Radiological Protection Development Scheme and become our Radiological Protection Professionals of the future.

During this 2 year scheme, successful applicants will undertake various work-based placements across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE); SDA Delivery Teams, Babcock, BAE, Rolls Royce, the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and Navy Command to support personal development, scheme completion and initial professional development towards Incorporated or Chartered status.

Through placement opportunities at waterfront establishments, industry partners you’ll also get an understanding of the systems in place to support our Royal Navy colleagues who are ‘hands on’ with the equipment.

There is also potential to undertake further academic study through our upskilling programme (MSc), and opportunity to access technical training and continuous professional development.

The Scheme provides excellent experience to apply for permanent roles within DNE to continue your career and personal development. You will also be eligible to apply to the Royal Navy Medical Services Officer Submariner role. Please be aware some roles we recruit for may require Developed Vetting clearance at a later stage.

Depending on the placements you are allocated to, hybrid working may be available but there is an expectation that employees will be in the workplace on a regular basis.

You can choose your preferred base location from the following sites:

• MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol, Avon BS34 8JH
• HMNB Clyde, Faslane, Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute G84 0EH
• HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, Devon PL2 2BG

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance.

What you’ll be doing

Providing support to engineering staff across the business assisting with technical activities, while continually developing yourself.

You’ll be involved in the following:

• Undertaking a structured technical training programme based around our platforms and DNE partners systems to develop capabilities in a defence context.
• Solving radiological protection problems through the in-service life of the equipment and developing upgrades to ensure it continues to provide the battle-winning "edge" our customers need.
• Delivering radiological protection advice/services against agreed objectives to develop knowledge and experience and adding value to the team and wider business.
• Building awareness and understanding of how the MOD and wider industry operates to assist in your own development and career progression.
• Building and maintaining a network of internal business contacts and peers to gain knowledge and identify opportunities to learn and develop.

Person specification

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

• You must already have or will achieve a minimum of 2.2 in an Engineering or Science related Honours Degree (or equivalent).

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

• Application of Analytical Techniques – Supervised Practitioner
• Technical Requirements, Evaluation and Acceptance – Supervised Practitioner
• Communicating and Influencing – CSBC 2
• Working Together – CSBC 2

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,800, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,506 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.

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.