Army - Approvals and Scrutiny Manager

This post sits within Task Force RAPSTONE, based at Army Headquarters in Andover. RAPSTONE delivers transformative capability change through rapid and innovative project delivery, addressing critical capability shortfalls and supporting the Chief of the General Staff's (CGS) intent to triple the Army's fighting power by 2030.

RAPSTONE works at pace to turn urgent operational needs into frontline capability, delivering solutions such as tactical uncrewed systems, counter-UAS technology, electronic warfare, dispersed sensing and mobility platforms. The team works closely with frontline users, industry and Defence partners to deliver modern capability quickly and effectively.

This role focuses on approvals, scrutiny and governance across the RAPSTONE portfolio. Working closely with the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), project teams, Army HQ staff and corporate functions, you will provide assurance, challenge and decision support to ensure business cases, investment submissions and rapid delivery approaches are robust, proportionate and ready for senior decision-making.

This is a unique opportunity to join a high-performing team at the forefront of Army modernisation, offering exposure to senior leaders, strategic decision-making and innovative capability development.

The post is 37 hours per week.

Task Force RAPSTONE accelerates the Army's ability to identify, develop and field modern capability against urgent operational needs. Operating across warfare development, rapid acquisition and frontline delivery, RAPSTONE is a key driver of Army modernisation.

As part of a lean, collaborative and high-performing team, you will work alongside military personnel, civil servants, industry partners and senior Defence leaders to support capability decisions that directly impact the Army.

This role sits at the heart of RAPSTONE's approvals and governance activity. You will provide scrutiny, assurance and decision support for business cases, investment submissions and rapid delivery proposals, ensuring they are robust, proportionate and ready for senior decision-making.

Working with Senior Responsible Owners, project teams, finance colleagues and assurance bodies, you will review risks, affordability and deliverability, coordinate governance processes, and translate complex information into clear, decision-ready advice.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a fast-paced, mission-focused organisation tackling some of Defence's most pressing capability challenges. RAPSTONE values initiative, collaboration and continuous improvement, embracing modern ways of working and the effective use of digital tools and emerging technologies.

Key responsibilities:

• Business Case Development and scrutiny Provide rigorous, proportionate scrutiny of outline and full business cases, testing strategic alignment, value for money, deliverability, realism of timelines and the adequacy of risk identification and mitigation
• Governance and approvals management Lead the coordination of approvals across the full P3M lifecycle, acting as the single point of control to ensure submissions are coherent, compliant, and ready for senior decision. Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in approval timelines, recommending and implementing improvements that support rapid capability delivery without weakening governance or control.
• Approvals assurance and delegated authority control Provide independent scrutiny of business cases and investment submissions, ensuring compliance with policy, strategic intent, delegated authorities, and governance requirements prior to consideration by senior boards and committees.
• Delivery acceleration Lead efforts to identify and remove obstacles within approvals, scrutiny and governance processes that could delay capability delivery. Working across stakeholders, develop and implement proportionate, risk-based solutions that improve efficiency, accelerate decision-making and enable the delivery of operational capability at pace while remaining compliant with Defence policy and governance requirements.
• Communications and stakeholder management Identify and manage stakeholder relationships, highlighting the need for senior-level support. Communicate the outcomes of independent assurance activities to relevant stakeholders.
• Guidance Provide direction and guidance on development to the team and more broadly across the departmental profession. Where applicable, ensure adherence to P3M best practice and recognised frameworks (e.g. PRINCE2/MSP where applicable), promoting consistency in governance, controls, templates, and reporting across the portfolio.
• Resource management Scrutinise the use of accelerated or non standard approaches, ensuring deviations from standard process are justified, proportionate, documented, and formally approved, balancing urgency with legal, financial, and reputational safeguards.
• Risks and issues oversight Review and challenge programme and project risk registers, identify cross portfolio dependencies, and escalate systemic or strategic risks to senior leadership with clear analysis and recommendations.
• Audit Readiness Maintain clear audit trails, approvals trackers, and decision logs, ensuring documentation, assurance evidence, and governance records are accurate, traceable, and audit‑ready.
• Leadership and objectives
• Cascade vision and translate it into delivery objectives for the team. Assist in leading the programme to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes.

The successful applicant will be supported to maintain or further develop relevant professional accreditation or qualifications aligned to governance, project delivery, assurance, or investment appraisal.

Open to UK nationals only.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

At the application stage, you will be assessed against the following criteria, listed in priority order:

• Personal Statement - 750 words demonstrating your relevant skills and experience in line with the essential criteria.
• CV
• Behaviours Delivering at Pace
• Communicating & Influencing
• Seeing the Bigger Picture

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift may be conducted against the Personal Statement only. The remaining evidence submitted at the application stage will be assessed only if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following criteria, listed in priority order:

• Experience-based question(s) will be asked.
• Behaviours Delivering at Pace
• Changing & Improving
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

Further information:

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.

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 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 compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.