The Head of Support Ships has the following areas of responsibility: Delivery of the DE&S Scope of the Royal Navy Support Shipbuilding Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). Navy Command Delivery Agent for the acquisition and introduction to operational service of x3 Fleet Solid Support Ships within approvals. Subject Matter Expert consultancy in the Gateway Area of DE&S for Support Ships programmes, including Offshore Support Vessels (host platform for mine hunting and seabed warfare capabilities) and Multi Role Support Ships (Littoral Strike Vessels). Supporting the Combat Ships Delivery head through workload variation in Type 26 and Type 31 Frigate acceptance and transition to service. Supporting the delivery of the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh. Through the management of industrial relationships and international relationships (as agreed with the DE&S Gateway), develop the opportunity for exports to improve the prosperity of the UK and deliver International Collaboration with Partners and Allies on support shipping technology and under way replenishment. Promoting a culture of Operational Excellence by ensuring process improvement and embracing the principles of flexible workforce. Influence DE&S Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Be responsible for delivery against these and other key targets within, corporate objectives of the OGSM framework (Objective, Goals, Strategies, Measures). Improving the availability of systems/platforms/services so Defence may have greater capacity to actively protect our Nation. Promote a culture that enables safe, secure, suitable, and sustainable delivery; working with the appropriate regulatory facing Accountable Persons, ensure that a formally delegated appointee structure in accordance with Acquisition Safety and Environmental Management System (ASEMS) is in place, safety delegations to flow from the Chief Executive Officer. Provide support to Safety and Environmental Committees, highlighting any issues which may impact safety or environmental performance. Utilising DE&S Portfolio Office analysis about project performance to provide operational direction on the performance objectives of their portfolio. Person specification Essential Criteria - What are we looking for? To be successful with your application, you'll need to be able to demonstrate the following 6 essential criteria : Behavioural: Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion - A visible leader, with a proactive commitment to diversity and inclusion and demonstrable experience of creating and maintaining a psychologically safe and inclusive environment. Being accountable - Evidence of accepting and responding to challenges from stakeholders up to Ministerial level and colleagues in a constructive manner Fostering autonomy and choice - Demonstrable evidence of encouraging measured risk taking and innovation and encouraging staff autonomy to allow them to work in a way most suitable and productive for their work to deliver better approaches of services. Technical: Technical 1 Significant experience of Major Projects delivery and understanding of Government approval processes Technical 2 Substantial evidence of acquisition, in-service support, logistics and supply chain management knowledge Technical 3 Demonstrable experience in risk management and experience in safety and environmental management in a highly Regulated Environment. Qualifications Essential: MAPM, APMP, MSP or equivalent Project Management qualification Desirable: Engineering/Science Degree qualified or equivalent experience Chartered status or Fellow of a Professional Institution Experience of safety accountability in the Regulated Environment Benefits Alongside your salary of 87,300, Ministry of Defence contributes 25,290 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Things you need to know Selection process details This is an external competition and we welcome applications from candidates in both the public or private sector. To apply for this post, you will need to submit the following documents, via the following link (Apply here ) by 23:55 on Sunday 2nd March 2025. A copy of CV in PDF format setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps. A Supporting Statement in PDF of no more than 1500 words (font Arial, size 11), outlining how you consider your personal skills, leadership attributes, qualities and experience match the essential criteria on page 10. Applications that exceed the word limit will not be considered. For assistance with Supporting Statements or if you experience any technical issues with submitting your application, please do reach out to the recruitment team prior to the closing deadline. Late submissions will not be considered. After you've applied Shortlist All submissions will receive an email acknowledgement from upon application. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt of your application 3 working days post-closing date, please contact us at DESHR-SCSRecruitmentmod.gov.uk. The panel will consider the evidence you have provided against the essential criteria set out at page 10 of the candidate pack to determine their shortlist. Staff Engagement Exercise If you are found successful at shortlist you will be invited to attend a staff engagement exercise (SEE). This involves a 10 min presentation to a small group of DE&S employees followed by a Q&A session. Following the SEE the Employee Panel will provide feedback and scores to support the interviewing panel. Interview Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend a panel interview for an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the essential criteria. Full details of the interview process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. The Panel will consist of Rear Admiral Steven McCarthy (Director Maritime Environment and Chief Naval Engineer Officer), Keith Bethell (Director General Air), and Karen Owens (Head HRBP). Offer We will notify all candidates of their outcome, as soon as possible after the final interview. DE&S reserves the right to make any offer of appointment conditional upon references and satisfactory conclusion of security enquiries. In the event that you meet the requirements for the role, but you are not offered the position, we will be pleased to retain your application for a 12-month period in case another suitable role arises Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. 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 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. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .