DE&S Background

DE&S has a pivotal role in supporting the UK’s Armed Forces. Headquartered in Bristol, DE&S is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) but operates as an arm’s length body with unique trading status, which allows the organisation to operate in a more commercial way.
DE&S works closely with the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Joint Forces and MOD Head Office to deliver some of the world’s most complex projects. Over the next ten years the organisation will deliver £157 billion of the MOD’s Equipment Programme, procuring new military equipment and services and providing in-service support and managing global logistics to ensure equipment is ready for use, where and when needed.

The annual operational expenditure for 2017/2018 was £1billion, with a £13.9 billion equipment programme spend split between equipment support (£7.7 billion) and equipment procurement (£6.2 billion).

DE&S History

DE&S was created in April 2007, born out of the integration between the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) and the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), acknowledging that changes were required to improve the MOD’s acquisition performance. This has combined DPA responsibilities for buying military capability (materiel, equipment and services) with those of DLO for supporting the armed forces throughout the lifecycle of an operation or exercise (training and deployment, maintenance and upgrade and supply chain operations).

In 2014 DE&S became a Bespoke Trading Entity (BTE), operating as an arm’s length body within the MOD. This new status has given DE&S a strengthened customer-supplier relationship with the military and facilitates a more business-like approach. The organisation also has a set of management freedoms that are unique across Government, which recognise the specialist nature of the organisation and what DE&S delivers. Set within an operating cost envelope designed to drive efficiencies, the freedoms allow changes to be implemented outside of Government norms, particularly around the management of people.

DE&S Ships Domain

The DE&S Ships Domain is led by a Royal Navy Vice Admiral, Chris Gardner. The Ships Domain further sub-divides into 2 Operating Centres (Ship Support & Ship Acquisition) and the Ships Headquarters. Our mission is: To be recognised for excellence in delivering innovative solutions to complex challenges at pace and our purpose is: To equip and support our maritime customers now and for the future. We have a broad and complex programme of work to deliver support to our customers.

The Role

Director Ships Support provides leadership and direction for the c1100 strong civilian and military Ships Support Operating Centre (OC). They have primary responsibility for procurement and support to ensure the provision of safe, available and sustainable platforms and equipment in support of the Royal Navy Surface Fleet and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as well as providing services to other parts of Defence. The role also provides leadership and direction for the definition and transformational delivery of Future Support Models (e.g. Future Maritime Support Programme (FMSP), Future Marine Systems Support Strategy, etc).

Responsibilities

The following responsibilities, whilst not an exhaustive list, are required for successful execution of the role:

Strategic

• Act as a visionary leader, developing and implementing programmes of major change that will drive transformation in support in both the Operating Centre internally and across the maritime enterprise including industry.
• Take responsibility and accountability for delivery of a broad portfolio of products and services to the Royal Navy and other customers.
• Manage and improve working relationships across a range of stakeholder groups, including prime contractors, the MOD, the Royal Navy, international partners and Her Majesty’s Government. The position has significant responsibility for external stakeholder relations both into Government and out to industry which impacts on the reputation and performance of DE&S.

Leadership

• Provide leadership within the Operating Centre to shape, ensure and manage effective delivery of highly complex operational outputs to Front Line Commands.
• Direct and oversee delivery of the Operating Centre’s programme of work and associated projects, through supporting delivery teams, to performance, cost and time.
• Provide collective leadership to the Ships Domain alongside other members of the Ships Management Board to implement the Ships Domain strategy and supporting plans
• Ensure that KPIs are being delivered against corporate targets and customer business agreements within the Ship Support OC.
• Lead the safety management system across the OC to ensure that equipment and support are provided safely and are fit-for-purpose.
• Drive transformation and change, ensuring a continuous improvement mentality, across the OC and Domain.
• Willingness to take personal responsibility and accountability for delivery performance of the OC including ensuring the robust identification, management and mitigation of business risk.
• Inspire the organisation and its people to achieve the DE&S@21 vision, with an emphasis on improving diversity and inclusion.

Operational

• Accountable for planning and guiding the progress and successful implementation of the portfolio management plan to meet the agreed Front Line Commands demands.
• Ensure that customer objectives, priorities and requirements are translated into a viable and deliverable programme and oversee effective execution in accordance with the OC business plan and customer agreements.
• Implement and drive effective performance management arrangements across the OC in line with corporate policies and standards including provision of high quality management reporting and information.
• Manage and deliver operational expenditure (OpEx) and capital expenditure (CapEx) against commercially viable targets and budgets.
• Oversee the development of high-quality business cases for investment and guide them through the approvals process in support of the customer.
• Maintain an accurate and taut cost base of the portfolio and associated projects and support the customer in the development of viable options to support balance of investment decisions.
• Maintain contract cover and oversee the timely negotiation, establishment and management of contracts with Commercial and develop relationships with industry partners to drive greater value and performance through the support chain.
• Provide advice to senior stakeholders and act as subject matter expert at an appropriate level.
• Manage resources (human, finance, and infrastructure) in an effective, efficient and safe manner.