Director Attack Submarine (SSN) Capability

UK Ministry of Defence; London; On-site; GBP 98,000; Full time

Job description

The role will be based in MOD Main Building, Whitehall, London or MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol.

Job Summary

The mission of the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) is to deliver nuclear capabilities that deter the threat and protect the nation. You will be responsible for delivery of the Attack Submarine capability, including being the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) of the SSN-A Submarine Programme and responsible for delivery of AUKUS Pillar 1.

As Director Attack Submarine (SSN) Capability, you will have direct line management responsibility for the Executive Assistant, Military Assistant, Chief of Staff, Deputy Director SSN Capability, Deputy Director Astute, Deputy Director Submarine Capabilities, Deputy Director AUKUS Policy and Deputy Director AUKUS Programme. You will have an overall directorate of roughly 65 people split across 5 locations including internationally in the US and Australia.

Job Description

• As Director of Attack Submarine (SSN) Capability, take full responsibility as ‘Senior Responsible Owner’ (SRO) for SSN-A, the UK’s replacement attack submarine programme.
• Lead, at Director level, the UK’s input into the AUKUS Pillar 1 Tri-Lateral Programme, supporting Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.
• In the above capacity, co-chair tri-lateral fora, engaging up to ministerial level across the UK, the US, and Australia. Within the UK work extensively across government, Ministry of Defence, Defence Nuclear Enterprise, industry, high commissions and embassies.
• Ensure the safe, secure and effective operation of the DNO Attack Submarine (SSN) Directorate, supporting all DNO activities as directed by the Chief of Defence Nuclear.
• Sponsor the delivery of four large, highly complex programmes: Astute, Dreadnought, SSN-A, and Core Production Capability, with an annual portfolio spend of circa £6bn.
• Alongside the SSBN Director (who leads the delivery of ballistic missile submarines), deliver the Submarine Capability Portfolio:
• With the Royal Navy, academia, and industry, set requirements and context for future capability.
• Sponsor the associated industrial landscape that will be responsible for delivering these capabilities.
• Manage the Submarine Capability Portfolio coherently across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise Portfolio, ensuring that decisions and choices are considered on a ‘best for enterprise’ basis.
• Act as a key senior leader across the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

Person specification

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of delivering complex engineering programmes safely and securely. You will be able to operate confidently at the very highest levels of government and industry, as well as with international partners. An accomplished communicator, you will be able to build and maintain excellent relationships to attract the support necessary to get the job done.

Within your application you will be required to provide evidence against each of the following Essential Criteria:

• Proven recent senior leadership at a comparable scale – experienced in building, guiding, and continuously improving high performing, diverse and inclusive teams.
• Significant programme delivery experience at a comparable level of scale and complexity.
• A track record of managing diverse, challenging stakeholder relationships and influencing to effect positive change at a senior level.
• Deep international experience in the context of complex programme delivery and/or international relations. An understanding of cultural sensitivities and the ability to work effectively across divergent regions and political systems.
• Ability to provide oversight and challenge across safety critical businesses and programmes.

Alongside your salary of £98,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £28,390 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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%

Selection process details

To apply, please submit your application to [e-mail]

Please send the following information by no later than 23:55 on the 20th of May 2025:

• Your CV, with educational and professional qualifications and full employment history, including an explanation of any gaps in your employment history, and details where possible of budgets and numbers of people.
• A short supporting statement of no more than two A4 sized pages (1000 words) explaining why this appointment interests you and how you can evidence your suitability for the role, with direct reference to the criteria in the ‘Experience Required’ section.
• A diversity monitoring form. All applicants are invited to complete this information to assist the Civil Service with monitoring its recruitment process. All data is reported in an anonymous and aggregate format and will not be seen by anyone assessing your application.
• A declaration of interest form.

We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.

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

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 [e-mail].

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.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. 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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Russell Reynolds Associates
• Email : [e-mail]

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]