MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB.
Job Summary
Combat Air capability is critical to UK military capability in support of the country’s National Security Objectives. It is also a key strength of the UK’s industrial base and an important aspect of international partnering and exports.
The 2018 Combat Air Strategy set out an ambitious vision for the UK’s Combat Air sector, driving a comprehensive approach across Government, our industrial base and international partnering, requiring major decisions on the way ahead. Our ambition in combat air has been confirmed by this Government. The Head of Strategy is responsible for defining how best to maximise the strategic benefits to the UK of our investment, including the balance and coherence between affordability, international partnering and sovereign industry in support of the Growth mission.
Within this approach, the UK, Japan and Italy have launched the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) to deliver the core platform at the heart of the System. The Head of Strategy plays a vital role in enabling the GCAP programme and other international projects within the future combat air portfolio.
Job Description
This role is accountable to the Director Future Combat Air Strategy (FCAS) where the current responsibilities of the role include:
* Delivery of the Combat Air Strategy, preserving Sovereignty for Defence, defining and enabling Government decisions on investment, programme and partnering choices.
* Delivering international partnering choices and maximising UK influence, providing a strong single lead for international engagement and cooperation in future combat air programmes.
* Securing cross-Government support for Ministry Of Defence combat air policy and programmes, leading Ministry Of Defence ’s engagement across Whitehall on future combat air policy, industrial policy, international and investment choices.
* Supporting Defence investment choices for combat air which will define the optimum affordable mix of future combat air investment to meet Defence policy and operational requirements.
Person specification
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria:
* Extensive experience of formulating international policy and strategy, at a high level, within a complex Defence and/or Security environment, and evidence of dealing with complexity and identifying practical options and actions that meet the strategic need.
* Proven leadership skills and a team player, with the ability to motivate, empower and support a diverse and inclusive team to deliver results, whilst under pressure and to tight deadlines, across a complex and matrixed landscape.
* A persuasive communicator with extensive experience of leading cross-organisational working with multiple international partners to deliver policy and plans. Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating how you use your networks to good effect, build trust quickly, get the best out of others and develop a sense of common purpose to achieve results.
* Proven experience of senior stakeholder management in a political, pressured environment with evidence of being able to build and maintain a strong network of working relationships, at Board level, to deliver shared objectives. You will also need to demonstrate excellent influencing skills with the credibility to command the trust and confidence of senior officials.
* The ability to think strategically and on a global perspective, responding quickly to complex changing circumstances and high-pressure situations, maintaining integrity and a clear view. Comfortable making risk-based decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focusing as detail emerges.
* Proactive and delivery focused, who can deliver multiple concurrent workstreams in environments where there are high levels of ambiguity and challenge, with the ability to re-prioritise when needed.
Alongside your salary of £76,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £22,017 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%
Selection process details
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process by no later than 23:55 on Monday 5th May 2025 and will involve providing the two documents outlined below via the Civil Service Jobs portal:
* A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
* A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.
External candidates who join the MOD and are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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. 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Contact point for applicants
* Name : SCS Resourcing Team
* Email : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateS
Recruitment team
* Email : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateS
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