About the job
Job summary
The Director of Corporate Operations is a visible and active contributor to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) Chief Executive’s Senior Leadership Team and their corporate agenda, as well as a member of the DIO Executive Committee, Board and Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee. The role leads the organisation through complex political, financial and corporate issues to deliver DIO’s objectives in alignment with Ministry Of Defence and Government policies; advising the DIO Chief Executive on a breadth of financial, people and wider corporate matters, and driving efficiency and effectiveness in all we do.
The role is multifaceted and has a wide range of responsibilities, accountable for the corporate enabling functions which support DIO’s delivery of infrastructure to the Armed Forces, including Finance, Corporate Affairs, Risk & Assurance, Security, People and Business Improvement.
Another responsibility of the role is acting as DIO’s Chief Finance Officer, the role advises the DIO Chief Executive on the effective utilisation of an annual budget of c£1.5bn whilst also ensuring the provision of informed financial advice to the DIO’s customer organisations in respect of a further c£3bn of annual capital and revenue infrastructure expenditure. The role is responsible for supporting the Chief Executive and Budget Holders in managing DIO’s budget, the discharge of financial delegations and for putting in place and maintaining appropriate financial management and control systems.
Please also take a moment to listen to the Vacancy Holder's introductory video message to learn more about DIO and this important role – Welcome Video.
Job description
The current responsibilities of the role include:
Leadership
* Providing proactive and informed advice to the DIO Chief Executive on all financial, people and corporate matters.
* Playing an active role in shaping the organisation’s strategies and plans, alongside the wider Executive Team.
* Influencing and managing key stakeholders across Defence to ensure they understand the priorities of the DIO and how they fit in with the Defence Direction and Infrastructure Direction.
* Providing leadership and strategic direction to the Corporate Operations function in an open and authentic manner, supporting the development of an empowered, diverse and inclusive workforce.
* Promoting a positive, collaborative and proactive working environment at all levels across the organisation and across the Ministry of Defence.
* Fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the directorate; seeking to proactively define and deliver enhancements to processes and outputs that align with wider organisational intent.
* Building the professional capabilities and expertise of each of the constituent functions; engaging and aligning with wider Government professions, whilst representing DIO within the wider Department on all related matters.
Chief Finance Officer
* Exercising effective financial management and budgetary control on behalf of the DIO Chief Executive, ensuring that the organisation delivers within its allocated budget and provides Value for Money for the taxpayer.
* Providing strategic financial advice to Board and other DIO governance forums to aid management decision making, forward planning and support delivery of the business plan and associated financial performance targets.
* Contributing to strategic business planning and building financial budgets in accordance with strategies developed, ensuring financial plans are aligned with business objectives.
* Ensuring the integrity of DIO’s financial systems including the internal control and assurance framework, ensuring that decisions within DIO are taken with full cognisance of their financial and regularity and propriety implications.
People
* Design and delivery of DIO’s People Strategy; determining the interventions needed to make the DIO a great place to work for its people.
* Holding the position of Principal People Officer for the organisation; representing the DIO’s interests in seeking to secure appropriate resource and support to deliver the DIO’s strategies and objectives, whilst also ensuring appropriate internal alignment with and adoption of wider Departmental strategies.
* Building a sustainable and capable workforce aligned to organisational intent, ensuring DIO has access to the right skills and capabilities needed to deliver its outputs now and in the future.
Corporate Affairs
* Protecting and enhancing DIO’s reputation with key stakeholders both within and outside of the wider Department.
* Developing and delivering effective communication strategies which build visibility and give clarity of purpose, both to our people and in the eyes of wider stakeholders.
* Overseeing the delivery of clear, timely and balanced advice for MOD’s Ministerial team, underpinned by effective ways of working and the fostering of strong relationships with both ministerial offices and the wider departmental communications function.
* Ensuring the provision of an effective Board Secretariat function and broader support to the DIO Chief Executive and Non-Executive Directors; shaping the ExCo and Board agendas to ensure they are effective and focus on organisational priorities.
Business Improvement
* Working with the DIO Executive and Senior Leadership Team to define, prioritise and drive a range of business improvement activities across the organisation.
* Overseeing the DIO Operating Model; ensuring it remains fit for purpose, optimally designed, and supported by the right enabling and improvement activities.
* Ensuring the coherence and alignment of improvement initiatives with wider organisational intent and defence direction, taking a proactive role in the shaping and influencing of wider strategic thinking across the department.
Corporate Governance
* DIO’s corporate governance structure and framework, ensuring clear accountability and effective and efficient decision-making.
* Delivering a proportionate, risk-based assurance and control framework which supports better, quicker infrastructure delivery whilst ensuring compliance and confidence in the DIO.
* DIO's risk management system, ensuring the right resilience and mitigations are in place and operating effectively to manage key organisational risks.
* Acting as Senior Security Advisor / Head of Security for the DIO, representing the organisation on the Defence Security Resilience Board and ensuring that the organisation operates within the appropriate security frameworks.
Person specification
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria:
* CCAB qualified chartered accountant.
* A highly motivated, collaborative and authentic leader who sets clear direction and delivers high quality work, at pace and to tight deadlines.
* Excellent corporate leadership skills, experienced in operating in a senior management role across a large and complex organisation, advising senior leaders on corporate strategy and delivering it through high-performing, empowered and inclusive teams.
* Excellent communication skills with experience of effectively engaging and influencing a wide variety of stakeholders at Board and senior executive level to support leadership decision-making and communicating sensitive messages tailored to staff across an organisation.
* A strategic thinker who anticipates emerging challenges quickly, sees the big picture and is proactive and innovative in identifying pragmatic corporate business solutions.
* Demonstrable experience of financial leadership gained in a large, complex organisation, with a record of successful business improvement, relating financial information to a non-financial audience and securing support for difficult or unpopular decisions.
* The ability to provide exceptional leadership to support long-term strategies, managing people and skills effectively to achieve current and future business needs.
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a strong field of candidates when there is a need to distinguish between candidates. This will be as a second sift, after the essential criteria has been considered:
* Experience in wider corporate enablers including HR, governance, communication and secretariat.
* Experience of operating in a public environment, either central or local government and the ministerial scrutiny that brings.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £98,000, the Ministry of Defence contributes £28,390 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%.
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 2nd March 2025.
For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.
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