Navy Acquisition - Transition into Service Manager

Job Summary

Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) in Whale Island, Portsmouth, is the nerve centre of the Naval Service. It supports operations around the globe and provides the ships, people, aircraft and equipment to deliver the UK’s defence policy. The NCHQ supports all the Royal Navy’s activities from front-line operations to personnel support and training; finance and governance; safety; equipment acquisition; programmes and planning; and Defence Engagement. Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and challenging jobs in different disciplines, from finance; legal services; personnel and HR; project planning and managing contracts, to media and communications.

This role is an important one in the Navy Command’s Acquisition Directorate and one which will be pivotal to the introduction of a range of new classes of ship for the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary. In this role you would be ensuring that these new vessels are both ‘safe to operate’ and ‘can be operated safely’: building and assuring evidence to confirm this for the Senior Responsible Owner and the prospective User of the vessels and systems.

The Director Navy Acquisition (DNA) organisation is the Navy’s centre of expertise for leading the delivery of major acquisition programmes. Programmes in our Portfolio are grouped into Programme Management Offices (PMO) according to the capability being delivered: Ships Acquisition, Support Shipping Acquisition, Naval Equipment & Systems Acquisition, Future Support Acquisition, Future Commando Force and Defence Marine Services (Next Generation).

Each programme is led through its delivery phase by a dedicated core programme team. Supporting the programmes are a P3M Team (with specialists in Risk, Schedules, Benefits, Finance, Communications, Acceptance and Governance), and an Acquisition Portfolio Team (covering Portfolio Definition, Assurance and Governance).

We value diversity within our team and operate flexible ways of working; we support all our team members to find the right balance of home and office working that is right for them.

In Navy Command, our civil servants work alongside their military colleagues in jobs that matter; jobs which often have a direct impact on the quality of the operational capabilities we deliver. Roles can offer great job satisfaction and there are many opportunities to develop and progress both within the Department and across the wider Civil Service.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

As part of the Acquisition Portfolio Office within Director Navy Acquisition, this post will be part of the Transition into Service team. Working with various programme teams, the post will support the drafting of the relevant documentation and certification required to ensure the successful transition into service of future (surface vessel) platforms. Initial focus will likely be on the Type 26 Global Combat Ship and the Type 31 General Purpose Frigate but the TiS team is already involved with other exciting new programmes such as the Future Solid Support Ship, elements of the Navy’s ground-breaking Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) and the Multi-Role Strike Ship. The role will work closely with DE&S and will have occasional broader interaction with the UK Shipbuilding enterprise with some potential international aspects depending on the preferred solution.

Main Responsibilities Will Include:

• Support the drafting of the ‘Operating Safety & Environmental Case Reports (SECRs) for FSS, T26, T31 and other DNA major platform and Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR) regulated programmes.
• Track the production of and assist as required in all other ODH and Accountable Person documentation for FSS, T26, T31 and other DNA major platform and DMR regulated programmes.
• Support the drafting and publication of Safety Governance DINs/RNTMs etc for FSS, T26, T31 and other DNA major platform and DMR regulated programmes.
• Support policy development in relation to the administrative transition into Service of future platforms.
• Provide general assistance with matters relating to transition into service or AP handover issues for DNA platform programmes.
• Develop the equivalent to all of the above for future DNA major platform and DMR regulated programmes.
  
  

Person specification

It Is Highly Desirable That Candidates:

• Have knowledge of programme management best practice.
• Have experience of the management and handling of sensitive and/or classified information.
• Have experience working with a wide network of stakeholders.
• Have proactively managed their own and team’s priorities. 
  
  

The successful candidate will ideally hold relevant qualification (eg Safety & Environmental Management Training (SEMT)) or an equivalent (eg qualification and/or experience in ship Safety Management Systems (SMS)). This could be obtained either directly (eg from holding a role involving maritime SMS organisation and arrangements) or indirectly (eg from holding a role where an understanding of maritime safety and environmental management is a prerequisite or has facilitated experience).

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
  
  

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

• Working Together
  
  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

As a Civil Servant In Navy Command, You Will Be Part Of a Forward-looking Organisation With Inclusive Workplace Policies, Excellent Career Prospects, And a Job That Makes a Difference. Navy Command Prides Itself On Being a Supportive Employer And Where Possible Encourages Flexible Working, Helping You To Maintain a Great Work/life Balance. Other Benefits For Navy Command Civil Servants Include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• A very competitive pension scheme
• Personal & professional development
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to a confidential, professional support service
• Discount schemes
• Bicycle / season ticket loans
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year
  
  

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role. An apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through an apprenticeship you will gain professional knowledge, practical experience, and the broader skills required to upskill you in your current role and pave the way for your future career. Most of the training will be ‘on-the-job’, with the remaining ‘off-the-job’ training often delivered by a training provider. This means minimal disruption and maximum impact. Professional qualifications can be achieved through an apprenticeship and range from Level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSEs), Level 3 (equivalent to 2 A Levels), and Levels 4 -7, which can give you a foundation degree, a full bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree. Apprenticeships normally last between 12 months - 3 years, depending on the level of the apprenticeship.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this 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.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.