Deputy Director Integrated Stockpile Management

The Deputy Director Integrated Stockpile Management provides strategic leadership for the technical, programmatic, and governance aspects of key nuclear programmes, including Astraea, Future Systems, and Future Containers. You will lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver policy-compliant systems on time, managing complex interfaces and international treaty obligations.

The successful candidate needs to be a dynamic leader capable of guiding a team operating in demanding, fast-paced conditions. You need to have a proven track record of building busy, motivated, and high-performing teams, with the emotional intelligence to effectively protect their resilience. Your credibility and personal influence need to enable you to become a trusted adviser to senior leadership, a valued member of the Directorates leadership team, and an influential figure across the wider MOD community.

The Defence Nuclear Enterprises (DNE) mission is to deliver nuclear capability to deter threats and protect the nation. Within the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), the Warhead Group is the strategic customer for warhead capability and nuclear threat reduction, with responsibility spanning strategy, capability, requirements, sponsorship, delivery and approval. This includes management of the in-service warhead, development of its replacement and the transition between the two, as well as ensuring the scientific and industrial capability required to sustain the UKs sovereign warhead capability now and in the future.

The Integrated Stockpile Organisation (ISO) is responsible for the development, delivery and support of the current in-service Trident Mk4A Re-Entry System, Future Technologies and the replacement A21/Mk7 Re-Entry System. The Deputy Director Integrated Stockpile Management is responsible for delivery of these programmes, providing direction on prioritisation and ensuring effective joint working. The ISO comprises ISM Develop and ISM Deliver, which together undertake the MOD intelligent customer role across the Concept, Assessment, Demonstration, Manufacture, In-Service and Disposal (CADMID) lifecycle.

The post sits within the ISO and is required to flexibly support wider ISO engineering and programme activities as directed by Director Warhead ISM. The postholder provides strategic leadership of the technical, programmatic and governance aspects of the ASTRAEA/Future Systems programmes and Future Containers project and is accountable for managing their complex network of interfaces and dependencies, particularly those associated with international treaties.

The role ensures strategic programme alignment with technical requirements and overarching Government policy, while providing leadership and direction to industry and its extended supply chain to realise programme benefits. The postholder will take a structured approach to developing industry towards a mature operating model, ensuring the operational capability and programme arrangements are in place to successfully deliver the ASTRAEA/Future Systems programmes and Future Containers project.

• Significant experience of leading and delivering major, complex and high-profile projects or programmes, including delivery to challenging and compressed timescales. Experience within the MOD Defence Major Projects Portfolio (DMPP), Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), or an equivalent major programme environment.
• Strong decision-making capability, using sound judgement, evidence and professional expertise to provide accurate advice, defend recommendations and constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrable ability to lead the integration and delivery of complex, technologically challenging programmes, involving significant systems engineering, integration and interdependencies.
• Excellent leadership capability, with evidence of motivating high-performing teams, working across organisational boundaries at senior levels and successfully leading change.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across complex programmes and organisations to deliver shared programme outcomes, benefits and outputs.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills, with the ability to draw insight from complex information and communicate it clearly to support decision-making at the most senior levels.

Qualification

• A relevant STEM qualification, or substantial professional experience in a technical, engineering or complex programme environment that demonstrates an equivalent level of knowledge and expertise.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a strong field of candidates when there is a need to distinguish between candidates. This will be as a second sift, after the essential criteria has been considered:

• An understanding of nuclear weapons design and delivery.
• Experience of working in a highly regulated or high-hazard environment or industry.