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. Since April 1969, the Royal Navy has delivered the Continuous At-Sea Deterrent (CASD) under the codename ‘Operation Relentless’. At least one of four nuclear-armed submarines, supported by smaller attack submarines, is on patrol at all times: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. These submarines provide the ultimate guarantee of our national security. What we do is vital to this guarantee.

At the SDA, it’s our people that make us great. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable to be themselves and be supported to do their best work. As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will 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 different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

It is an exciting and busy time for the UK and the submarine industrial base and we have exciting opportunities within our Project Delivery Graduate Scheme. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

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

Ignite Your Career with Submarine Delivery Agency's Project Delivery Graduate Scheme!

Are you ready to dive into a challenging and rewarding career with one of the most impactful organizations in Defence? The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is on the lookout for dynamic and motivated individuals to join our Project Delivery Graduate Scheme in 2024!

Here at SDA, we don't just value diversity; we thrive on it. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team fosters creativity, develops talent, and propels us towards excellence. We're on a mission to build the project professionals of the future, and we want YOU to be a part of it!

Why Choose SDA's Project Delivery Graduate Scheme?

Unparalleled Impact: Be a crucial part of securing the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent and contribute to the most technically complex programmes in Defence.

World-Class Training: Our structured career development scheme provides you with technical and leadership skills, shaping both your future and the organisation's success.

Diverse Opportunities: Work across the UK in various roles, from Project Support to Risk Management, Planning and Scheduling, Estimating, Cost Engineering, and more.

Inclusive Environment: Join an organisation where colleagues of every background are included, encouraged, and supported to be their very best.

Empowerment: Bring a fresh perspective, ask questions, and put positive change in motion.

Meaningful Impact: Be part of an organisation that protects and supports the UK Armed Forces, bringing real meaning and impact to everything you do.

What the Project Delivery Graduate Scheme Offers:

Structured Placements: Undertake flexible project placements across SDA, gaining hands-on experience in various sub-function specialisms.

Supportive Environment: Enjoy the guidance of a dedicated scheme manager and a placement supervisor, ensuring your professional and on-the-job development.

Development Opportunities: Access extensive talent, career, and personal development opportunities to fuel your growth.

Networking: Build a network of internal business contacts and peers, sharing knowledge and identifying opportunities to learn and develop.

Mentoring and Buddy Opportunities: Receive support through mentoring, buddy programs, outreach activities, and engagement with seniors.

Qualification Pathway: Work towards a formal project delivery qualification and APM membership, setting the foundation for a successful career.

Career Progression: Upon successful completion, regrade into a permanent role in one of the sub-function specialisms.

Person specification

Our Project Delivery Graduates are at the heart of our delivery. You will experience structured career development throughout the two-year graduate scheme gaining the technical and behavioural skills to shape the future of the organisation. In this two-year scheme, you will be involved in:

Project Support: Develop and document project components as required by the Project Team.

Planning and Scheduling: Contribute to planning, scheduling, and risk management activities.

Progress Monitoring: Monitor project progress and compile data for business cases and customer presentations.

Networking: Build a network of internal contacts, understanding the roles of different sub-functions and how they collaborate to deliver projects

In Scheme Assessment Process: 

Following successful completion of the two-year scheme you will be asked to give a short presentation based on what you have learnt followed by a Q&A.​ There will then be a professional discussion based on your future aspirations within the SDA and how you will support the business and your ability to perform at the higher level. You will be regraded into a permanent position and allocated a role within the SDA.##

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as a Project Delivery Graduate in the Project Delivery function.  Your responsibilities will be as described in this job advert. The reason why you are appointed for a fixed period is due to the requirement for you to successfully complete the two year Graduate scheme before a permanent job offer can be made.   This post will therefore begin on your appointment and end after two years. 

You should be aware that when your Fixed-term Appointment at MOD comes to an end, arrangements will be made in line with the FTA policy. 

If you are a permanent MoD civil servant and are found successful for an advertised Fixed-term Appointment (FTA) you should move into the post under a Temporary Transfer (for up to a maximum of 23 months). At the end of the posting you will return to your previous MoD Business area. If this posting is at a higher grade, your promotion will be temporary, and you will return to your substantive grade at the end of the Temporary Transfer. If a Temporary Transfer cannot be agreed between all parties then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA and Change of Work Location in the UK policy for further information. 

If you are transferring to MoD from another government department (OGD) you should join the MoD on an inward loan. At the end of the loan you will return to your home (OGD) department. If a loan cannot be agreed between all parties then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA policy for further information. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,840, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,516 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.

When applying, you’ll complete a full application and upload your CV.  

Finally, the top scoring candidates will be invited to an assessment centre in Bristol. Assessment will likely take place during April,  excluding bank holidays. Successful applicants can expect to join the scheme in Autumn 2024.

When applying please also indicate your preferred location: Bristol, Barrow-in-Furness, Plymouth or Scotland - Clyde. There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses (where incurred) related to the recruitment process. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment centre.

If you are successful at interview, you will be invited to an SDA Open Day, so that you can learn more about the important work we do, and what to expect from the scheme. 

Things you need to know - Security

Please note that due to the classification of work in some areas of SDA, we are only able to accept applications from people who hold sole British nationality.

Following completion of all pre-employment checks candidates can expect to start employment in Autumn 2024. (Please note: If all your pre-employment checks have not been completed in time for you to start your employment, it may not be possible to offer an alternative start date,)

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only. You must have the right of abode in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the EEA (including other countries determined within the EEA or those with bilateral agreements), for at least the previous three years on the first day of learning.

Further information

Applicants should monitor their Civil Service Jobs application centre regularly for updates.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating staff on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harms associated with second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Tobacco-Free Working Environment (TFWE) programme, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere, unless stated otherwise, in the Defence working environment by 31st December 2022. Those seeking, considering, or accepting employment should be aware of this requirement.

Some of MoD’s Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS) changed from 3 February 2014. Those TACOS changes applied to Broader Banded and Skill Zone staff who were new recruits to MoD or who were appointed to a post on substantive promotion, progression, or advancement. On the same basis, the TACOS for Departmental Retained Grades changed with effect from 01 September 2014.

All employees joining MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.

Following the introduction of the new Government scheme Tax Free Childcare, the Childcare Voucher scheme has now closed to new entrants. Applicants should be aware that any move across the Civil Service on or after 5 October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You can find out more about Tax Free Childcare at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Please see the MOD Privacy Notice link below which describes how we will use your personal data, explains your rights and gives you information you are entitled to under Data Protection legislation. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defenceprivacy-notice/mod-privacy-notice.

Cabinet Office Fraud Checks

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant whose details are found to be held on the IFD will be refused employment.

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 . 

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. (Maximum of 250 Words)

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Technical Skills:

• Controlling a project

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.