SDA Infrastructure Project Manager

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 Shaftesbury House, Barrow-In-Furness, LA14 1AF.

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. The post is Barrow based with an expectation of a min 2-3 days per week on site, subject to outputs and co-ordination requirements. Successful candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.

SBM Background: The Submarine Build Modernisation (SBM) Programme is a CAT A endeavour, focused on the planning for and delivery of the future submarine acquisition capability (manufacturing, workforce, enabling activity, supply chain etc).

The Role:

This role is in the Barrow Enablers & New Infrastructure Team of the SBM programme with a focus on all Barrow Infrastructure elements of the Business Case, including the development of related Project Delivery artefacts, specific Permisssioning cases, contract management once contracted and tracking and reporting of delivery. The team are also responsible for the production of the Barrow Site Master Plan, Site Redevelopment Plan scope and associated functional requirements for facilities.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Programme Delivery

• Assisting in managing to the baseline for delivery with the prime supplier in respect of the Facilities contracted scope.
• Implementing agreed processes for any changes to the baseline and ensuring the appropriate authorisations are secured to effectively embed the changes without compromising on programme delivery.
• Build strong relationships and act as a point of contact for the delivery programme team for Facilities with the prime supplier, and establish effective ways of working to ensure accurate monitoring and analysis.
• Implementing necessary action plans in response to issues, risk, opportunities in the programme within prime supplier Facilities scope.
• Managing risks, issues and mitigations within the prime supplier Facilities scope through SDA programme delegations - escalating to Head of Dept where necessary.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, to deliver agreed time, cost, and quality outcomes across different stages of the life cycle.
• Demonstrate resilience in operating in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environments.
• Work to maintain an open, no blame and inclusive culture, and leading by example.
• Champion career and delivery management and proactively support the wider development of the Project Delivery community.

Measuring Performance

• Assisting with assuring the overall performance against prime supplier Facilities contracted scope including reporting requirements and risk management.
• Implementing Processes to set, change (within delegations), and hold the Parties to account against the baseline for the prime supplier Facilities contracted scope.
• Monitoring and authorising (above a threshold) baseline Change to known key dependencies (e.g. completion of integration activity)
• Identifying, monitoring, and challenging prime supplier Facilities on their management of known issues, risks, and opportunities within their scope.
• Recommending (within delegations) to the Head of Dept the commitment of risk funding against identified issues, risks, or opportunities.
• Support the Head of Dept in preparing for Management Reviews (e.g. providing commentary on information from Project Controls and requesting further analysis) and other governance forums, in respect of prime supplier Facilities scope.

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.

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 via the Help link.

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.

At the Sift Stage, Applications will be assessed against the following.

Experience:

• Personal Statement - This should be a maximum of 1000 words that sets out your motivation for applying for this role. It must demonstrate your Career History and Key Achievements along with your relevant Qualifications also detailing how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions - CSBC3
• Leadership - CSBC3

Technical Competencies:

• Controlling a Project - Practitioner
• Stakeholder Management - Supervised Practitioner

At the Interview Stage, Candidates will be assessed against the following.

Experience:

• Personal Statement – The Panel will ask you questions regarding your Personal Statement.

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions - CSBC3
• Leadership - CSBC3

Technical Competencies:

• Controlling a Project - Practitioner
• Stakeholder Management - Supervised Practitioner

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 will be considered, taking into account business needs.

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.

This post does not offer any assistance with Relocation Allowances.

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.

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.

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.

Please note the Civil Service Nationality Rules will also need to be met. The Civil Service Nationality Rules operate independently and in addition to the UK Immigration Rules and must be met before an individual can take up employment in the Civil Service. The Civil Service Nationality Rules do not apply to UK, Irish and Commonwealth nationals, or to those who are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme but do apply to all other nationalities- including EU/EEA nationals who are ineligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

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.

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 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.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

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