UK Ministry of Defence
SDA Devonport Submarine Infrastructure Chief of Staff
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, PL2 2BG
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 our 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 per week.
The primary delivery location for this position is HMNB Devonport.
Please note, due to the level of security, this role is reserved for UK nationals only.
Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application. The role will be based at HM Naval Base Devonport, with regular travel to Bristol and periodic travel to other locations such as London.
Job Description
The Devonport Submarine Infrastructure Chief of Staff is a recently created position within the Submarine Support directorate of the SDA, with this newly established team focused on delivering a multi-billion-pound portfolio (circa £4 billion over the next 10 years) of critical infrastructure programmes and projects that underpin maintenance of Royal Navy submarines at Devonport. This team delivers docks and supporting infrastructure to multiple Nuclear Enterprise customers including the Defence Nuclear Organisation and Royal Navy. It also engages closely with Babcock as the primary industrial partner.
As Chief of Staff, you will be a key member of this team, providing support and guidance to the 1* Team Leader and the wider business to achieve organisational objectives, line managing the Team Leader’s Executive Assistant to ensure smooth functioning of team and most effective use of the Team Leader’s time. You will support with the development of cross-organisational relationships, providing leadership to your team whilst acting in the best interests of the organisation. You will need proficient stakeholder engagement and communication skills, and you will need to be adaptable, resilient and proactive in a fast-paced and complex environment.
The role supports the Team Leader in daily engagements and activities, working across a growing team delivering on a range of projects and workstreams all of which require direction, coherence and governance. The individual will therefore be required to take on senior direction and implement through delivery of tasks, engaging with wider stakeholders and passing on the leadership vision. This role will also lead on business enabling activities such as recruitment and communications. As Chief of Staff in a newly established team, there will also be a key role establishing and embedding new governance arrangements, setting up the Devonport Submarine Infrastructure team for success.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by the SDA Recruitment Team. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com
Person Specification
For This Role, We Are Seeking The Following:
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication skills as you will liaise with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders across Defence Nuclear Enterprise (both Navy Command, SDA and Defence Nuclear Enterprise) and its industry partners.
- Ability to maintain sight of the big picture throughout all activity.
- Personal resilience and flexibility.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Customer Focus - Expert
- Stakeholder Communication - Expert
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £61,100, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,700 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%
Discover My Benefits:
Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD:
https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/
This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
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
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
At Sift, you will be assessed on your;
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
- Personal Statement - This should be a maximum of 500 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable requirements for the role. Candidates will be required to provide job history and qualification details.
Behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
Technical:
- Customer Focus - Expert
- Stakeholder Communication - Expert
At Interview, you will be assessed on;
- Personal Statement/ Experience - The panel will ask questions about your personal statement. Exploring your Past Experiences, Key Achievements or Qualifications.
Technical:
- Customer Focus - Expert
- Stakeholder Communication - Expert
Please refer to the Civil Service Behaviours here and the Technical Skills Framework and Success Profile documents attached.
The sift will be completed within 10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.
Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.
All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into 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.
The post does NOT offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non-Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.
This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans - GOV.UK
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.
There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.
If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact DBSFPCP-SRMResourcingSDA@mod.gov.uk
SDA Reward Offer - Working for SDA - Submarine Delivery Agency - GOV.UK
The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills