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About the job
Job summary
The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) delivers nuclear capability to deter threats and protect our nation. We do this as part of the Nuclear Enterprise working in close partnership with the Royal Navy, the Submarine Delivery Agency and AWE. The Strategic Systems Performance Analysis and Assessment Group (SSPAG) leads on providing independent assurance to ministers, senior defence officials and the Royal Navy on a wide array of Strategic Nuclear Deterrent operations and capabilities.
The Head of SSPAG is an exciting new post tasked with coordinating this crucial input, assuring the credibility and effectiveness of the nuclear deterrent to support our fundamental purpose to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression.
Are you a strategic problem solver who can lead and deliver in this complex, but exciting environment? We would love to hear from you.
Job description
The current responsibilities of the role include:
- Provide subject matter expertise in a number of different areas of nuclear security issues (including operation, protection and defence of the nuclear weapons system), supporting the planning of strategic and operational effects and supporting strategic intelligence efforts in support of protecting and defending the nuclear deterrent enterprise and operation.
- Ensure significant risks to the achievement of safe, secure and effective operations are understood and reported directly to the Joint Commander.
- Deliver sound judgement and provide insight to the most senior decision makers in MOD and His Majestys Government on the performance of the operation, utilising insightful analysis, judgements and deductions derived from highly complex and nuanced information and evidence.
- Maintain the relationship with US counterparts (US Navy: Security and Technology Programme) on relevant matters relating to the assurance of safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent operations.
- Provide advice and support to the Operational Commander on risks / issues and mitigations related to the continued delivery of credible and effective operations as well as leading the authoritative assessment on operational performance. Delivering technical direction and guidance within the group across all areas of accountability as well as portraying a credible leader to external stakeholders.
- Advising on appropriate courses of action to treat strategic risks which covers all aspects of operations and the supporting enterprise, using a wide range of approaches to advise on policy, strategy, tactics, operations, capabilities and supporting efforts from partners across Government.
Person specification
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria:
- Extensive experience of working across the Policy, Strategy and/or Operational Delivery profession with evidence of providing creative and innovative solutions to complex problems.
- Proven experience of using analysis and assessment to deliver high magnitude positive impact.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrable experience of managing key senior relationships, especially at Board/Executive level, and an ability to engage, influence and challenge a range of internal and external stakeholders across a complex environment.
- A proven leader who can motivate, empower and get consistently good results from a diverse multi-disciplinary team, often under pressure. Demonstratable experience of being able to set a clear vision and/or direction that drives forward the organisations work and its future within an inclusive environment.
- Demonstrable evidence of thinking strategically, delivering sound judgement, clarity of thought, and providing insight to senior colleagues.
- Proven experience in shaping technical and analytical strategies for projects. Proven ability to communicate highly technical content to non-technical audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Benefits
- 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 average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this role. This should be completed no later than 23:55 Sunday 29th October 2023 and will involve providing the two documents outlined below via the Civil Service Jobs portal:
- A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.
Damian Johnson will be offering an online Q&A session on Thursday 19th October 2023 from 14:00 14:30 to provide an overview of the role and welcome any questions you may have. Candidates can access the meeting by clicking here.
For further information about the role and full application process, please refer to the candidate pack attached below. If you wish to receive any material in a different format for accessibility, then please contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them
to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through
building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above.
This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.
Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and
conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your
personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any
absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you
to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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Working for the Civil Service
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SCS Management Team
- Email : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk