MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol MOD Whitehall City of Westminster 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 (CASD), and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence. 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. At the SDA, we strive to Support, Deliver and Aspire and put out values at the heart of our recruitment process. 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. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary. This position is advertised at 37 hours. Job Description This is an exciting role directly supporting the MOD SCS Pay Band 3. The role, will work within a small, high-performing team that is primarily responsible for managing the Chief Executive Officer Submarine Delivery Agency’s (CEO SDA) day-to-day business, ensuring that we make best use of his time. CEO SDA’s portfolio is significant, and the successful candidate will have a varied portfolio (exact content to be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate) and have responsibility for ensuring that issues within that portfolio, are progressed appropriately. The candidate will work as part of a small, high-performing team, that is primarily responsible for managing the CEO SDA’s day to day business, ensuring that we utilise the maximum time available to this busy role. The ideal candidate will have the confidence and ability to ensure CEO SDA is armed with the right information ahead of his meetings, enabling him to drive forward SDA’s programme of work, and ensuring his intent and direction is communicated to colleagues across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE), other parts of MOD and wider Government. Communication and interpersonal skills will be critical, as the post-holder will play an important role liaising with internal and external organisations, commissioning briefings and coordinating with the 1 Deputy Directors, 2 Directors as they deliver across a range of policy areas. The post-holder will need to build a strong relationship with CEO SDA. There will also be development opportunities to work on policy, delivery and strategy, although main responsibilities will include: Leading on a discrete portfolio, proactively working with colleagues across the DNE, Whitehall and Industry to drive delivery of CEO SDA’s priorities through effective diary management. Supporting CEO SDA’s office through coordinating suitable briefs and meetings, and broader office management, including: Corporate Management; Accommodation; CEO SDA’s Day file; Close, direct, work with seniors across the DNE; Building and maintaining strong working relationships with colleagues from across the MOD, other Government departments and industry; and, Rapidly interpreting the CEO SDA’s intent and decisions, with the ability to communicate this clearly and succinctly across a complex stakeholder community. Due to security constraints, this post is exempt from hybrid working requests. Requests for flexible and condensed working patterns can be considered but may be limited. Candidates should consider this and must discuss with recruiting line manager before submitting an application. This is an exciting role directly supporting the MOD SCS Pay Band 3. The role, will work within a small, high-performing team that is primarily responsible for managing the Chief Executive Officer Submarine Delivery Agency’s (CEO SDA) day-to-day business, ensuring that we make best use of his time. CEO SDA’s portfolio is significant, and the successful candidate will have a varied portfolio (exact content to be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate) and have responsibility for ensuring that issues within that portfolio, are progressed appropriately. The candidate will work as part of a small, high-performing team, that is primarily responsible for managing the CEO SDA’s day to day business, ensuring that we utilise the maximum time available to this busy role. The ideal candidate will have the confidence and ability to ensure CEO SDA is armed with the right information ahead of his meetings, enabling him to drive forward SDA’s programme of work, and ensuring his intent and direction is communicated to colleagues across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE), other parts of MOD and wider Government. Communication and interpersonal skills will be critical, as the post-holder will play an important role liaising with internal and external organisations, commissioning briefings and coordinating with the 1 Deputy Directors, 2 Directors as they deliver across a range of policy areas. The post-holder will need to build a strong relationship with CEO SDA. There will also be development opportunities to work on policy, delivery and strategy, although main responsibilities will include: Leading on a discrete portfolio, proactively working with colleagues across the DNE, Whitehall and Industry to drive delivery of CEO SDA’s priorities through effective diary management. Supporting CEO SDA’s office through coordinating suitable briefs and meetings, and broader office management, including: Corporate Management; Accommodation; CEO SDA’s Day file; Close, direct, work with seniors across the DNE; Building and maintaining strong working relationships with colleagues from across the MOD, other Government departments and industry; and, Rapidly interpreting the CEO SDA’s intent and decisions, with the ability to communicate this clearly and succinctly across a complex stakeholder community. Due to security constraints, this post is exempt from hybrid working requests. Requests for flexible and condensed working patterns can be considered but may be limited. Candidates should consider this and must discuss with recruiting line manager before submitting an application. Person specification The successful applicant will need to be comfortable working within a fast-paced environment, be extremely organised and have excellent interpersonal skills - particularly in relation to stakeholder management and be able to demonstrate good judgment. Given the classification of the CEO SDA's portfolio of work, the successful applicant will need to pay attention to sensitive matters and handle them appropriately. The role offers the opportunity to develop strong leadership skills, which will be widely transferable across Government. The successful candidate will be proactive and able to work with others across MOD and Whitehall to develop SDA thinking on complex and emerging issues. They will need to build a relationship with CEO SDA and become a trusted adviser on issues within your portfolio and beyond and should be prepared to be asked for their opinion. The successful candidate will need to be DV cleared or be willing to go through this process. If the candidate is unsuccessful in achieving DV clearance, they will be unable to continue on a permanent basis in the role. Essential Skills Strong communication skills. Initiative and resilience to work around problems. An aptitude for stakeholder management as you will need to work closely with, internal and external senior officials and military personnel. Desirable Skills Ability to interpret and analyse information to think strategically and plan ahead to identify long and short-term priorities and take action to respond to requests on behalf of CEO SDA. Work closely with the rest of the Outer Office to balance the CEO SDA's time and representation at key meetings. This will include managing the expectations of senior leaders within Defence and across Whitehall. Drive delivery of CEO SDA's priorities through effective management and prioritisation of his diary and travel arrangements. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Problem Solving (Practitioner) Strategic Thinking and Planning (Awareness) Alongside your salary of £35,800, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,371 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% An opportunity to be considered for Reward and Recognition - £250-£5000 per year. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected. At sift and interview, you will be assessed on your; Experience Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience. Personal Statement - This should be a maximum of 1000 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable requirements for the role. Behaviours Communicating and Influencing (CSBC3) Delivering at Pace (CSBC3) Technical Competencies Problem Solving (Practitioner) Strategic Thinking and Planning (Awareness) 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-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It 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. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. 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 developed vetting (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. 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 developed vetting (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. 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). This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job Contact Name : Amelia Erotokriou Email : Amelia.Erotokritou100mod.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3mod.gov.uk Further information Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: infocsc.gov.uk.