DNO - Warhead Group’s Integrated Stockpile Management - Mk4A Surveillance Manager

The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) is responsible for the provision of the nuclear deterrent, encompassing our submarines and nuclear warheads, while also advising on UK nuclear planning and fostering international co-operation on nuclear matters. With a multidisciplinary team of over 700 professionals, the DNO brings together expertise in science, engineering, finance, policy, programme delivery, and more. We work in partnership with the Royal Navy, the Submarine Delivery Agency and the Atomic Weapons Establishment as the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE).

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This post sits in DNO Warhead Group’s Integrated Stockpile Management (ISM) Mk4A Chief Engineer (CE) organisation.

Integrated Stockpile Management (ISM) is responsible for the development, delivery and support of both the current in-service Trident Mk4A Re-Entry System, Future Technologies and the replacementA21/Mk7 Re-Entry System. These programmes are owned by Director ISM who maintains the responsibility for delivery of these programmes, provides direction on prioritisation and ensures joint ways of working. The ISO has two parts, the ISM A21/Mk7 and the ISM Mk4A team which share the responsibility for the MOD intelligent customer role across the entire CADMID cycle for the TRIDENT Re-Entry System (inc. applicable support equipment) and future TRES technologies.

The Mk4A team is responsible for the development, delivery and support of the in-service TRIDENT Re-Entry System (TRES). It acts as the MOD intelligent customer role across the CADMID cycle for the Mk4A TRES and support equipment and is the intelligent customer for TRES equipment designs throughout the manufacturing, in-service and disposal phases. It also supports Nuclear Weapon operations across the life cycle phases.​ The Chief Engineer ensures that engineering standards for Stockpile Management outputs and operations are defined and applied, and that safety and performance requirements are both met and maintained. The Surveillance Manager will directly support the Safety and Environmental Manager (within the Chief Engineer Organisation) by managing the Warhead Service Life Assessment (SLA) programme.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

The primary purpose of the ISM Mk4A Surveillance Manager is to:

Define, Assure and Direct the Warhead Service Life Assessment (SLA) programme to generate evidence to underwrite the safety and performance of the Nuclear Warhead Stockpile.

Act as UK Chair of the Service Life Assessment Sub-Committee (SLASC). Analyse, Resolve and Advise on technical and safety issues with US Government Departments and contractors with respect to SLASC and its working groups to ensure compatibility and assurance from the US on the Service Life Assessment of Re-entry Body Assemblies (RBA’s).

Provide technical review of the Warhead Annual Assessment of Stockpile Health (AASH) Certification statement from the Trident Design Authority, produce a formal recommendation, gain NWAA approval/endorsement and manage communications of conclusions to stakeholders.

Approve the yearly requirements submitted by AWE for setting the evidence required from the AASH process to validate the required Performance and Safety of the Warhead and predictions to Out of Service Date (OSD).

The Surveillance Manager has responsibility for:

• Providing technical oversight of UK SLA Programme for Trident Mk4 & Mk4A Warheads and providing Assurance Statements for the Performance and Safety for the Warhead;
• Acting as Chair to various UK/ US Safety and Technical Forums to direct US and UK Design Authorities for providing safety and performance evidence for continued Assurance Statements for through life of the Trident Warhead.
• Providing advice and evidence to the Regulator that the Warhead is safe throughout its lifecycle as assured by the SLA Program and the Annual Assessment of Stockpile Health (AASH). Provide advice and direction to other LCP Authorisees to manage and maintain the performance and safe operation of the Trident Warhead.

The underpinning duties include:

• Agree and approve requirements to underpin the warhead Service Life Assessment (SLA) programme to generate evidence to underwrite the safety and performance of the nuclear warhead stockpile.
• Ensure proper scrutiny and control of the SLA programme within AWE, acting as a focal point as the Technical Risk Manager for the SLA Programme.
• Manage the timely delivery of US/UK SLA evidence as required to support safety and performance assurance and manage the programme of risk mitigation to the UK stockpile.
• Agree/provide recommendations to updates and changes to US/UK Comprehensive Test Plan. Negotiate and agree information exchange and hardware delivery between the US and UK technical authorities.
• Manage the delivery and provide formal recommendation to accept the Annual Assessment of Stockpile Health (AASH) for the TRIDENT Re-Entry System (TRES), secure internal and external approvals, including managing the delivery of an independent peer review group report.
• Act as MK4A Technical specialist for Re-Entry Body Assembly (RBA) system level test results, design information and technical data, scrutinise the relevant AASH/TLA sub-component and system level technical reviews, providing oversight and, robust technical challenge to weapon performance and safety submissions to ensure the stockpile is safe and will perform throughout life.
• Support the MK4A Project Office to ensure that adequate project management is applied to the SLA programme and that all risks are identified, sentenced and escalated as appropriate to ensure the risks to evidence delivery are mitigated.
• Manage effective stakeholder engagement with the Design Authority and MoD Stakeholders on the design safety and performance issues for the TRES.

This post is on the MOD Civilian Nuclear Post Control List (PCL) and may attract the Nuclear Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA). This is a discretionary allowance. The post being listed on the PCL does not mean that the post holder will have an automatic entitlement to receive the RRA. The NSQEP RRA is not a contractual allowance and can be amended or withdrawn without notice in line with MOD Main and Submarine Delivery Agency policy.

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.

As the post holder will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process. Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

Open to UK nationals only.

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

Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history/qualification details/previous skills and experience. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.

Candidates will be required to provide a Personal Statement of Suitability which should be a maximum of 1000 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential/desirable requirements for the role.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Personal Statement and the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Technical Skills:

• Nuc 2.2 and 6.2.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Technical Skills:

• Nuc 2.2

You will also be assessed against your Experience for the role.

The requirements for the role have been benchmarked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview.

Interviews will be conducted face to face at Abbey Wood Bristol.

Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit.

Further Information:

You will also be expected to achieve Developed Vetting clearance, above the normal clearance level expected for the MoD.

The Defence Nuclear Organisation plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of the UK’s independent strategic nuclear deterrent. To help enhance security, staff working for the DNO are encouraged to always exercise a high level of discretion in sharing information or talking about their work. As part of the application process, we ask that you do not tell anyone other than your partner or close family member about your application to join the DNO. You should not mention your application on social media or discuss it with anyone else at this stage.

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.