SDA Project Manager

Job summary

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 MOD Abbey Wood (South) Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8JH or Devonshire Dock Complex, Bridge Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, 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 but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.

Job description

This role is an integral part of the SSNA (Submersible Ship Nuclear AUKUS) Project Delivery (PD) team. They will report to the SSNA Project Manager 3 and work closely with Leaders to ensure the SSNA UK Programme of Record is successfully planned, executed and delivered.

They will support the management of the delivery of the programme's current phase to Time, Cost and Performance. Responsible for supporting project management activities including; project budgets, schedules, risks, issues, opportunities and the reporting of progress towards.

Job Purpose

• To deliver simple projects or elements of semi-complex projects using basic principles, tools and techniques to deliver a project.
• To lead these elements, developing business cases and project management plans or support in the development of these artefacts for control accounts of larger project delivery.
• Support the Project Management & Project Controls Management Programme Leads in creation of information to support in project planning, execution and delivery.
• Act as a key point of contact for internal team and successfully manage external stakeholders.

Roles & Responsibilities

• To act as co-ordinator of the SSNA programme Presentation material suite and supplementary reports ensuring all data remains topical on a regular basis.
• To support the management of the SSNA programme Governance and Management Information Reporting.
• To ensure appropriate SSNA Governance and Management Information Control is in place and is effective.
• To ensure corporate & reporting Drumbeats are being followed.
• To maintain Action Trackers.
• To conduct Secretariat duties for nominated Governance.
• To contribute towards the Statement of Requirement (SoR) for the SSNA Build Phase.

Specifically:

• Control of SSNA Project Delivery SharePoint site.
• Support the control of SSNA Governance and Management Information Reporting & associated action trackers
• Support the management team deployment of Standars of Excellence through secretariat of weekly and daily stand up meetings

Assurance

• Implement effective assurance activities to provide confidence in the quality and content of Governance and MI supplied by the SPA and Industry Partners (IPs).
• Facilitate forums and groups to drive Governance and MI focus and to support informed decision-making.

Strategy & Processes

• Establish alignment of processes across IPs & SPA for process and control to ensure consistency.
• Maintain drumbeat for governance and reporting
• Maintain SPA SSNA documents in Business Management System (ensuring new and updated document versions contain relevant digital signatures).

Integration

• Manage Governance and Management Information to ensure consistency and to maintain the integrity and accuracy of the whole programme view of risk & opportunity.
• Work with colleagues across the project controls functions to ensure coherency of analysis, interpretation, and key messages.

Analysis

• Develop awareness of SPA SSNA Project Delivery team monthly outputs and understand purpose of outputs such as CPR/VAR and learn to interpret data.

Data

• Support identification and capture of ‘inter-programme’ dependencies and work with others to ensure inter-programme dependencies are recorded, and appropriate ‘give’ / ‘get’ milestones are in the schedule.
• Ensure Governance and MI are aligned to data structures.
• Establish common approach (including data quality metrics) that enable delivery of high-quality baseline artefacts.
• Liaise with other teams to ensure delivery of timely data.
• Drive continuous improvement on Governance and MI quality and integrity.

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.

Person specification

To be successful in your application, please ensure your provide evidence of the following essential criteria:

• Ability to work with changing or conflicting requests
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong team working skills and a collaborative approach
• 5 GCSE grades 9-4 or equivalent , including English Language & Maths

Qualifications

5 GCSE grades 9-4 or equivalent, including English Language & Maths

Evidence of the Qualification/Licence/Membership will be required at interview.

All qualifications/licences/memberships declared must be held at point of application and be in date.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Stakeholder Management - Supervised Practitioner
• Project Risk - Supervised Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,300, Ministry of Defence contributes

£11,095 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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%

Discover My Benefits :

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD:

• https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/
• Things you need to know
• Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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 and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable requirements for the role. Candidates will be required to provide job history and qualification details.

Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving (CSBC3)
• Developing Self and Others (CSBC3)
• Managing a Quality Service (CSBC3)

Technical Competencies:

• Stakeholder management (Supervised Practitioner)
• Project Risk (Supervised Practitioner)

At Interview, you will be assessed against the following;

Experience:

Personal Statement/ Experience - The panel will ask questions about your personal statement. Exploring your Past Experiences, Key Achievements or Qualifications.

Behaviours:

• Working Together (CSBC3)
• Delivering at Pace (CSBC3)

Technical Competencies:

• Stakeholder management (Supervised Practitioner)
• Project Risk (Supervised Practitioner)

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

Interviews will be conducted on MS 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.

To be considered for this role, qualifications and/or memberships detailed must be held in full, prior to submitting your application.

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 app