SDA Planning and Scheduling 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 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 HMS Drake.

Please note, due to the level of security, this role is reserved for UK nationals only.

The Schedule Management Group (SMG) provides a professional home for planning and scheduling across the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), delivering high-quality planning and scheduling support, governance, assurance and management information to enable successful programme and project delivery.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Schedule Management Group as an SMG Manager supporting the Devonport portfolio. Working across a diverse range of submarine infrastructure and support programmes, you will play a key role in ensuring delivery teams have access to effective planning and scheduling support, robust governance and informed decision-making.

As an SMG Manager, you will lead and develop a team of planning and scheduling professionals, providing direction, coaching and support to help individuals achieve their full potential. You will be responsible for managing team workload, supporting resource allocation and ensuring the delivery of high-quality scheduling outputs across a complex and demanding portfolio.

Working closely with senior leaders, project teams and key stakeholders, you will build effective relationships, provide assurance and oversight of planning and scheduling activities, and support the identification and management of delivery risks and opportunities. You will help ensure that schedules remain credible, aligned and fit for purpose, enabling projects to make informed decisions and maintain confidence in delivery plans.

The role requires a proactive and collaborative individual who can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery, manage competing priorities and communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels. You will contribute to continuous improvement across the scheduling community, sharing good practice, supporting capability development and helping to strengthen planning and scheduling maturity across the organisation.

As a leader within the Schedule Management Group, you will help foster a positive and inclusive working environment, encouraging collaboration, professional development and a culture of continuous improvement whilst supporting the successful delivery of some of the UK's most complex and strategically important defence programmes.

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post. Successful candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before starting the role.

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 Sift, you 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:

• Communicating and Influencing - CSBC3
• Making Effective Decisions - CSBC3

Technical Competencies:

• Planning and Scheduling - Practitioner
• Controlling a Project - Practitioner

At Interview, you will be assessed against the following;

Experience:

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

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing - CSBC3
• Making Effective Decisions - CSBC3

Technical Competencies:

• Planning and Scheduling - Practitioner
• Controlling a Project - Practitioner

Please refer to the Civil Service Behaviours here and the Technical Skills Framework and Success Profile documents attached.

Interviews will be conducted over Microsoft Teams.

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.

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.

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. Makin7g 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.