Job description

The DE&S Director Weapons operating centre leads the management and control of all the weapons and munitions
programmes in DE&S. Director Weapons is responsible for the effective and efficient acquisition, through life support (TLS) and storage of weapons. Director Weapons ensures the development, acquisition and support of battle winning capability; sustaining the Defence capability and international co-operation / government to government in the Weapons development field.

Key responsibilities of this role include but are not limited to:

• Manage resources required to implement Portfolio management of complex projects, programmes and change initiatives as well as addressing conflicts between resource limits and time constraints.
• Plan and guide the progress and successful implementation of the Portfolio management plan.
• Obtain relevant, accurate and reliable information about project performance and provides management information to senior management.
• Manage the relationship and interdependencies between Project Delivery and DE&S Leadership.
• Guide Performance Management strategic objectives, determining changes required and potential conflicts and issues related to project progress and alignment.
• Deliver against DE&S corporate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and local domain/function key targets, with responsibility and accountability for their targets agreed against the corporate objectives of the OGSM framework (Objective, Goals, Strategies, Measures).
Inspire people to achieve the vision set out in the DE&S Way. This includes a commitment to improve the diversity of the DE&S workforce.

What you’ll need to succeed:
• Experience of operating in a senior leadership role within a large, diverse and complex organisation, including managing a business area responsible for strategic delivery of programmes or services, in a safe manner.
• Proven experience of commercial acumen and successfully negotiating complex deals with industry.
• Understanding of complex financial/performance management practices within a large organisation.
• Relevant experience with stakeholders: governmental, public-sector, private-sector and/or international stakeholders, with the ability to influence across cultures, organisations, suppliers and customers.
• Established track record of managing projects through their life cycle, maintaining supply chains and service provision.
• A proven commitment to Diversity & Inclusion.

Desirable:
• Leadership experience of a geographically dispersed workforce.

Responsibilities

A high degree of personal leadership is required in this role and you will be expected to display the following leadership attributes:

• Deep understanding of complex systems (or weapons) acquisition, in-service support, logistics and supply chain management – defence and commercial.
• Demonstrable experience of customer and senior stakeholder engagement with an ability to understand the importance of partnering and constructive challenge.
• Substantial experience in complex contract management.
• International co-operation experience.
• Substantial experience of delivery in defence or other capital-intensive sector.
• Significant experience in acquisition and support projects covering all aspects including strategy, development, approvals, delivery, supplier performance/contract management.
• Agility to respond to pace of change in defence activity.
• Broad experience in procurement and acquisition.
• Benefits management and realisation experience.
• Experience in financial management control.
• Safety management understanding/knowledge.
• Business controls processes improvement (desirable).
• Experience in managing infrastructure (desirable).
• Experience operating at board level of strategic planning for weapons capability, in-service support and logistics / supply chain.
• Understanding of market associated with weapons provision and complex supply chain activities.
• Change management and continuous improvement experience.
• Demonstrate experience of delivery management through use of management information, in particular balanced scorecard and EVM.
• Ability to the balance the demand of competing interest groups, in particular multiple customers.

Relocation: Please note that relocation or First Appointment Expenses may be available for eligible candidates. More information can be provided to candidates should they be invited to interview.

Pension: You are entitled to membership of a Civil Service Pension Scheme. More information can be found at www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk.

Annual Leave: 25 days in the first year, rising by one day per year to a maximum of 30 days.

Other Benefits: MOD endeavours to support a work/life balance for all staff. Other benefits include: access to nursery places, a childcare voucher scheme, flexible working arrangements, remote access to systems to allow for remote working and enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption allowances.