Deputy Head (Operations), National Space Operations Centre

Job summary

At DSIT we’re all about improving people’s lives by maximising the potential of science & technology.

We accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science, research and development.

We use technology for good by ensuring new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the UK, with the benefits more widely shared.

We are driving forward a modern digital government which gives citizens a more satisfying experience and their time back.

We do all this to enable the Government’s 5 national missions: kickstarting economic growth, making Britain a clean energy superpower, taking back our streets, breaking down barriers to opportunity and building an NHS fit for the future.

Above all, we focus on improving people’s lives. Whether it’s researching new treatments for disease, developing better batteries, reducing burdens through better public services, keeping children safe online, and much more, outcomes for citizens are at the heart of what we do.

Our Inclusive Environment

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

Please note

Former DSIT recruitment campaigns are continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be subject to the machinery of government moves and will ultimately be in one of the new departments. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.

Job description

This role is three days per week – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The division of tasks is likely to be a combination of shared core responsibilities (e.g. running of operations) and defined specific projects (e.g. one part-time officer leads on a specific mission development package). But this will be confirmed between both officers once in place.

National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC)

The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) combines and coordinates civil and military space domain awareness capabilities to enable operations, promote prosperity, and protect UK interests in space and on earth from space-related threats, risks, and hazards.

UKSA responsibilities under NSpOC include operating the UK’s uncontrolled re-entry early warning system, the UK satellite collision avoidance system, the UK in-space fragmentation monitoring service, the UK asteroid early warning capability (planetary defence), support to launch and several other mission-sets to deliver UK national security and national space goals.

NSpOC has been in development since 2021 and officially launched in May 2024. NSpOC is a hybrid organisation with UKSA personnel working from UKSA locations. Our Operations, Analysis and Response Team is co-located with military operations in RAF High Wycombe. Whereas visiting High Wycombe is encouraged if the post holder desires, this role will be based at either Cardiff, Edinburgh, Harwell or Leicester.

NSpOC Organisational Structure

The UK organises its space domain awareness activities under three operational pillars:

Pillar One – OBSERVE: OBSERVE underpins and drives all NSpOC capabilities and services. OBSERVE is responsible for the UK’s ability to monitor activities in space. It does this through data from international partners, data from commercial companies and utilising and developing UK space observation sensors within the UK and overseas.

Pillar Two – ANALYSE: ANALYSE is responsible for interpreting the information gathered by OBSERVE. It involves developing complex software that is operated by expert orbital analysts.

Pillar Three – ALERT and ACT: ALERT and ACT delivers NSpOC operational services to stakeholders including re-entry warning, in-space collision avoidance, planetary defence and fragmentation monitoring.

The role for which the job holder is responsible covers development and delivery of civil and dual-use ALERT & ACT functions – essentially managing the UK civil warning and protection capabilities.

Our vision is that:

The Operations Group will have complete and real-time understanding of the entire space environment to identify, assess, manage and respond to events, risks and hazards as they occur and at scale. You will play a key role in bringing this vision to life.

The operating approach is:

NSPOC operates as a highly agile, responsive and dynamic organisation with clearly defined, appropriate and proportionate policies and procedures commensurate with our resources and responsibilities. You will be central to ensuring the Operations Group embraces and delivers on this approach to delivery.

Person specification

Key responsibilities

You will be joining the senior leadership team of the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) with collective responsibility for protecting UK interests in space and on Earth from relevant space-related threats, risks and hazards.

You will have lead responsibility within the UKSA and the civil-side of NSpOC for developing and running the Operations Group which owns one of our three operational pillars – ALERT & ACT. This pillar delivers warnings on space threats, risks and hazards to UK space operators (private companies), UK Government Departments and Agencies and international partners. You will manage our contracted Operations, Analysis and Response Team (who operate 365 days a year to assess data from OBSERVE and ANALYSE) and translate it into actionable notifications.

You will work as one with your partners in the Ministry of Defence (responsible for military mission-sets in NSpOC) to ensure a seamless HMG approach to national security threats, risks and hazards for which NSpOC is responsible.

You will be the lead responsible officer for a budget of approximately £1.5m pa which funds the Operations, Analysis and Response Team as well as some e capability development, although major projects are handled by the Capabilities Group in NSpOC, supported by the NSpoC Programme Delivery Group, which has a budget of approximately £20m pa.

As NSpOC is a world-first capability we do not expect you to have worked within a similar organisation previously nor do we expect subject matter expertise in space domain awareness. Being able to think creatively and strategically, leading complex project delivery, having a flexible and agile approach to changing circumstances, and a strong emphasis on cross-team working and building and maintaining relationships are the most important factors for success in this role.

• Set an exceptional example of how to work collaboratively and collectively with colleagues from a range of backgrounds across the UKSA, Government partners, industry and academia to deliver world-leading space protection services.
• Develop and oversee operation of the civil and dual-use components of ALERT & ACT within the National Space Operations Centre involving close cooperation with the MoD and other partners.
• Deliver a world-class space risks and hazards warning services to stakeholders, including refining existing services and working with the Capabilities Group to develop new products.
• Lead our operational response to incidents including development of protocols, coordination across Government and the sector and the provision of expert handling advice – supported by your wider NSpOC colleagues. This will include deciding if, how and when to escalate or take other action in response to space hazards.
• Exercise, test and improve standard operating procedures, in conjunction with other stakeholders. This will include leading post-incident reviews to identify improvements in our processes and reporting.
• Work with military counterparts to continue integrating procedures, software, hardware and teams, and expanding the civil support for military operations.
• Work with the Deputy Head Capabilities and Deputy Head Programme Delivery to help manage and refine the sensor, data and analysis requirements for delivery of ALERT and ACT capabilities. Work with separate DSIT Space Domain Awareness Capability and Policy Team to help define the UK strategic approach to space.
• Manage a budget of £1.5m+ utilising appropriate project, risk, monitoring and evaluation, and financial management tools.
• Ensure project delivery tools are effectively used within the Operations Group to manage capabilities into operations and ensure appropriate feedback loops.
• Act as part of the NSpOC senior leadership team to collectively determine the strategic direction of NSpOC including contributing to areas beyond ALERT & ACT. Provide cover for other NSpOC deputies and Head of NSpOC as required.
• Represent the National Space Operations Centre and UKSA at conferences and events and internationally and in the media as applicable.
• Willingly take forward any other reasonable activity in support of our mission to protect UK interests in space and on Earth from space-related threats, risks and hazards including playing an active role in any incident response. Take an active role as part of the wider UKSA leadership team to make the UKSA a great place to work.
• Space is constantly changing, and the job holder will need to carefully balance the need for proportionate and appropriate procedures with flexibility and agility to ensure the UK is able to meet threats, risks and hazards as they arise.

As a line manager, you will be responsible for working with your members of staff to define their objectives, as well as managing their development and performance.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of working collectively and collaboratively with colleagues from a range of backgrounds with differing needs and requirements.
• Experience of delivering multiple concurrent programmes or projects including effective budget management.
• Experience of being able to work in flexible and agile style in response to a rapidly changing operational environment.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working with contracted teams.
• Experience of software development.
• Experience of working with the military.
• Operations, crisis management and response experience.
• Representational experience e.g. at conferences, events or in the media.
• Space sector specific experience or expertise.
• Knowledge of the Space Domain Awareness sector

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,850, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes

£16,469 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).

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme , with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.

Office atten