The role will be based in MOD, London; MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol; Atomic Weapons Enterprise (AWE), Aldermaston; HMNB Clyde or another appropriate Defence Nuclear Enterprise location. Frequent travel to all other locations will be required as well as regular international travel.
Job Summary
The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) – consisting of over 800 personnel working across science, engineering, finance, policy, programme delivery and more – is responsible forprovision of the nuclear deterrent. Additionally, it advises on policy, planning and international co-operation on nuclear matters. The DNO sits within a wider enterprise known as the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE), which is the partnership of organisations that operate, maintain, renew and sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent. The DNE is comprised of the DNO,Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), the Royal Navy, UK Strategic Command and AWE plc (who, on the behalf of the DNO, are responsible for the management and operation of the Atomic Weapons Establishment).
- Part of the DNO’s role is to ensure the provision of warheads for the deterrent: this involves managing both the current warhead programme as well as the replacement warhead. The Government announced in 2020 that the UK will build a new generation of nuclear warheads that will maintain our ability to effectively deter threats well into the future. The MD, Warhead has oversight of the entire nuclear warhead programme, is responsible for requirement setting, maintaining relationships with key internal stakeholders, overseeing certain capability programmes, and partnering with AWE. This is one of the most complicated and critical portfolios in government.
- AWE maintains the existing warhead and designs and will manufacture the replacement warhead. Managing Director, Warhead will set and lead the relationship between the DNO and AWE, ensuring collaborative working for collective success.
- Across these high-hazard complex programmes, safety is key and the role holder will thus own the relationship with our regulators, with accountability for meeting regulatory obligations and expectations.
- The successful candidate will need to be a highly motivated, collaborative leader who can drive both a team and a wider range of stakeholders at pace. Robust technical leadership, ideally with experience of highly-regulated sectors will be essential to that. Strong people skills, strategic thinking and clear communication are also key attributes. The post holder will need to represent the warhead programme within MOD and wider government.
- This post will report to the Chief of Defence Nuclear (CDN)
Job Description
Please see the Candidate Information Pack attached for more information.
Please see the Candidate Information Pack attached for more information.
Person specification
Please see the Candidate Information Pack attached for more information.
Alongside your salary of £220,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £63,734 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Selection process details
To apply, please send your application by email to responses@russellreynolds.com. This should be received by
no later than 23:55 on Wednesday 8th January 2025;
Your Application Should Include
- Your CV, with educational and professional qualifications and full employment history, including an explanation of any gaps in your employment history, and details where possible of budgets and numbers of people;
- A short covering statement of no more than two A4 sized pages (1000 words) explaining why this appointment interests you and how you can evidence your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the ‘what experience will you need’ section;
- A diversity monitoring form. All applicants are invited to complete this information to assist the Civil Service with monitoring its recruitment process. All data is reported in an anonymous and aggregate format and will not be seen by anyone assessing your application;
- A declaration of interest form.
Further information is available via the candidate information pack available below.
Please note that references and open-source due diligence checks (including into social media accounts) will be undertaken for all short-listed candidates.
Recruitment Timeline
We expect the process for this role to be as follows:
- The closing date for applications will be 23:55 on Wednesday 8th January 2025
- Longlisted candidates will be invited to meet with Russell Reynolds for a preliminary interview.
- A shortlist of the applications will take place on w/c 3rd February 2025
- Between w/c 10th February and w/c 17th February shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in some or all of the following assessments:
- A staff engagement panel with a selection of people from across the department
- Undergo an Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA)
- Meet with key stakeholders, such as a Minister or senior leader from the department
- Inputs from all of those steps will then form the basis of a panel interview, chaired by Sarah Pittam, Civil Service Commissioner, on w/c: 24 February2025.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Russell Reynolds
- Email : responses@russellreynolds.com
Recruitment team
- Email : craig.nannestad@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Craig Nannestad in the DG Workforce Team, Government People Group (craig.nannestad@cabinetoffice.gov.uk ) in the first instance.
