Navy Command - Safety Design Committee Control Chair

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

You'll be based at HMNB Clyde, home to the UK Submarine Service. It sustains the nation’s continuous at-sea deterrent and supports the Royal Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. As a centre of excellence for submarine operations, Clyde plays a critical role in national security and global stability.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Are you an experienced nuclear safety professional looking for an opportunity to influence some of the UK's most significant defence infrastructure programmes? HM Naval Base Clyde is home to the UK's Continuous At Sea Deterrent programme and supports critical Royal Navy operations. As the SDCC Chairperson, you will provide independent challenge, assurance and expert advice on nuclear safety design submissions.

As the SDCC Chairperson you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead independent reviews of nuclear design safety submissions.
• Provide assurance that nuclear risks are understood and appropriately managed.
• Challenge and influence the development of safety documentation.
• Chair Safety Design Control Committee meetings.
• Advise project teams on the adequacy of safety arguments and evidence.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of nuclear safety arrangements.

The SDCC Chairperson is integral in ensuring the functional output of the SDCC meets the requirements of DSA02-DNSR, AC13 compliance.

• HNC (or equivalent) in an engineering discipline.

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.

As part of Defence Reform, Navy Command continues to review and evolve its Target Operating Model to support more agile ways of working. In this context, the role and responsibilities of this role may develop over time to reflect changing business priorities and opportunities.

At Sift, you will be assessed against the following;

• Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and qualification details.
• Candidates will be required to provide a 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 requirements for the role.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following success profiles:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical:

• Nuclear Competence Framework - Competence 1.2 - Nuclear Safety Management Systems (Level 2)
• Nuclear Competence Framework - Competence 1.5 - Nuclear Safety and

Nuclear Security Assurance and Regulation (Level 2)

• Nuclear Competence Framework - Competence 4.4 -Nuclear Infrastructure Concept, Assessment, Design, Modification and Life Extension Through Life (Level1)

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.

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.