UK Ministry of Defence
Director Warhead Capability Strategy
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The role can be based at any of the three main Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) locations: MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB, AWE Aldermaston, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 4PR or MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH.
The nature of the role will require frequent travel between the three main centres, with occasional international travel or to other MOD locations.
Job Summary
Sustaining the UK's nuclear deterrent is the Ministry of Defence's highest priority, and the Director Warhead Capability Strategy plays a pivotal leadership role in ensuring the long-term resilience, coherence and effectiveness of the warhead enterprise that underpins that mission. As one of three Directors within the Warhead Group (WHG), and a member of the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) Senior Leadership Team, you will work closely with the Director General Warhead and Chief of Defence Nuclear to shape the future of the UK's warhead capability. The role was established following the transformation of the warhead operating model and the return of Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) to government ownership, with a particular focus on strengthening strategic coherence, enterprise integration and informed decision-making across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE).
You will be leading the Capability Strategy Directorate, which provides the strategic centre of gravity for Warhead Group, ensuring a clear “golden thread” from policy and capability requirements through to portfolio decisions, investment priorities and delivery outcomes. The Directorate is responsible for developing the strategies, capabilities, user requirements, technologies and strategic options to sustain and evolve the UK's warhead stockpile and Nuclear Threat Reduction (NTR) capabilities, ensuring they remain aligned to Government policy, Defence priorities and future national security requirements.
This is a highly collaborative and externally-facing role, where you will build and sustain strong relationships across Government, the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise, industry, and international partners. The role is central to ensuring the UK continues to deliver a safe, secure and credible nuclear deterrent now and into the future.
Job Description
Strategic Leadership and Enterprise Integration
- Provide strategic coherence for the warhead enterprise, ensuring alignment with Government policy, Defence strategy and DNE priorities.
- Serve as a senior member of both the WHG and DNO Senior Leadership Teams, contributing to the leadership and continued development of the DNE.
- Act as the integrator across strategy, capability, portfolio and delivery functions, maintaining a ‘golden thread’ from capability requirements to delivery outcomes.
- Lead the continued development of the Warhead Group operating model, ensuring it remains aligned with the evolving needs of the enterprise.
People and Organisational Leadership
- Lead and develop a multidisciplinary Directorate of 70–80 staff and four Deputy Directors covering capability, portfolio, international and nuclear threat reduction, and science and technology.
- Foster an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture characterised by innovation, continuous improvement and professional excellence.
- Develop the skills and expertise of the Directorate, supporting professional development through engagement with academia, professional institutions and industry best practice.
Capability And Requirements Management
- Own the capability management framework for Warhead Group, including warhead and Nuclear Threat Reduction requirements.
- Oversee the development of capability strategies, user requirements and strategic options that deliver current and future stockpile and NTR outcomes.
- Ensure coherence between capability requirements, delivery partners and enterprise priorities, including oversight of capability governance arrangements.
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Portfolio Governance and Delivery
- Lead the Warhead Portfolio Management Office and provide oversight of governance, assurance, reporting, approvals and business planning.
- Ensure the warhead portfolio remains balanced, affordable, deliverable and aligned with strategic objectives.
- Maintain high-quality management information that supports decisions and effective governance.
- Support investment and business case decisions through Defence Nuclear governance structures and planning cycles.
Science, Engineering and Technology
- Lead delivery of the Warhead Group Science, Engineering and Technology strategy, ensuring investment is focused on future capability needs and long-term resilience.
- Strengthen collaboration across Government, academia, industry and the national laboratory network to maximise innovation, capability development and value for money.
- Sponsor independent scientific and technical advice to senior leaders, including oversight of arrangements supporting the Nuclear Research Advisory Council.
International and External Engagement
- Lead strategic engagement with key international partners under the UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement and UK-France nuclear cooperation arrangements.
- Coordinate collaboration across Government and wider civil nuclear partners, to strengthen national nuclear capability and address shared challenges.
- Provide strategic leadership for the relationship with AWE, ensuring coherence between DNO's customer, sponsor and shareholder functions, and strengthening enterprise-wide delivery.
Person specification
Portfolio, Programme and Capability Leadership
- Experience of leading complex portfolios, programmes or major delivery activities in highly regulated, technical or operational environments. Demonstrable understanding of the interfaces between strategy, capability, investment, portfolio management and delivery, with a track record of driving improved outcomes through others.
Partnership and Enterprise Working
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries to develop and deliver shared objectives, including the ability to build strong collaborative relationships and align diverse stakeholders around a common purpose. Experience of working with industry, international partners or complex delivery organisations would be advantageous.
Influencing and Stakeholder Leadership
- Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with a proven ability to build credibility and trust with senior leaders across government, industry, and international partners. Comfortable providing challenge, shaping strategic decisions and securing alignment across organisations with differing priorities and perspectives.
Strategic Judgement and Decision-Making
- Excellent strategic, analytical and conceptual thinking skills, with the ability to navigate complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty. Demonstrable experience of making risk-informed decisions, balancing short-term delivery pressures with long-term organisational objectives, and adapting as circumstances evolve.
Safety, Security and Risk Management
- A strong understanding of operating within a safety-critical, security-critical or highly regulated environment, with a demonstrable commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, security, governance and risk management.
Strategic Systems Leadership
- A proven track record of senior leadership in a complex system, including setting strategic direction, developing and communicating a compelling vision, and delivering across institutional boundaries. Experience of building high-performing, inclusive teams and creating a culture that enables people to thrive, develop and deliver.
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Benefits
- Alongside your salary of £105,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £30,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- 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%
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process no later than 23:55 Sunday 6 September 2026 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) providing tangible examples that demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role.
External candidates who join the MOD and are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
For further information about the role and full application process, please refer to the candidate pack attached below. If you wish to receive any material in a different format for accessibility, then please contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk
Rob Harrison Will Be Offering Online Q&A Sessions To Provide An Overview Of The Role And Welcome Any Questions. Please Note This Is Not Part Of The Formal Assessment Process. These Sessions Will Be Taking Place On:
- Friday 21 August 2026 at 14:00pm – 14:45pm - you can access this meeting by clicking here.
- Friday 4 September 2026 at 13:30pm – 14:15pm - you can access this meeting by clicking here.
If you have any issues accessing the sessions, please contact: Justin.Chamberlain108@mod.gov.uk.
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 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
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