Contents
Location
Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ
About the job
Job summary
Dstl delivers world-class science and technology with the sole purpose of keeping the UK, our armed forces, security services, and our citizens, safe and secure; we are the science inside UK Defence and Security. Since we were formed in 2001, our talented scientists and technologists have built an enviable reputation for innovating world-class, state-of-the-art solutions in defence and national security. We are able to deploy our inside knowledge and understanding of government to interpret and connect requirements and stakeholders. We bring together lots of different people and a huge range of disciplines. We have significant variety in our projects, roles and opportunities, making every day a day to explore and get excited and we are immensely proud of our inclusive culture that enables our people to thrive, succeed and achieve their real potential in a unique environment.
Job description
The DSTL Chief Operating Officer (COO) is accountable for providing the enabling platforms and capabilities that DSTL requires in order to enable the delivery of high-impact Science and Technology for the Defence and Security of the UK. It is also accountable for ensuring that the organisation and its estate is safe to operate and secure. The role reports directly to the DSTL Chief Executive and is a pivotal member of the DSTL Board and Executive Team, providing strong and collegiate leadership across the organisation and providing Executive leadership for Health & Safety. The COO leads a diverse set of business enablers that include: Estates, Digital Services, the Internal Portfolio (which delivers DSTL’s infrastructure projects), Health, Safety and Environmental Protection, Security and Resilience, and Business Administration support. As a member of the executive, the COO will also be responsible for working with the CE and Executive Team to drive the delivery of DSTL’s new strategy and the change programme to create One DSTL bringing DSTL together DSTL’s different areas into one high-performing organisation that is more than the sum of its parts.
Person specification
You will bring a track record of strong leadership in a shared service environment, with experience of managing a large facility footprint over multiple locations including IT service delivery. Experience of leading workplace operations, including physical and virtual infrastructure and management of third-party delivery will be considered essential as will the ability to understand, negotiate and influence across a complex, multi-dimensional supply chain and gain high levels of performance from it. You will be able to demonstrate of a track record of strong delivery. As a resilient and inspirational leader, you will have the confidence to lead change and transformation with the ability to develop capabilities and motivate people at all levels, to create diverse and high-performing teams and ensure that any performance issues are tackled swiftly and effectively. As a confident and credible executive at board level, you will bring a strategic perspective and outlook with the ability to see the bigger picture. You will champion excellence in programmatic delivery across a portfolio of capital investment in our IT and unique operating facilities, embedding a culture of continuous improvement, throughout the DSTL estate.
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
GatenbySanderson, an executive search agency, has been appointed to assist with this appointment. Please submit your application at the following link:https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe103742/ by no later than 17:00 on Friday 24th November 2023 and please provide the following documentation:
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 Supporting Statement* (no more than 2 pages) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
*External candidates who may not be familiar with the requirements of the Supporting Statement are encouraged to contact GatenbySanderson for further guidance (see back cover for contact details)
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration
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.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
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.
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