Head of Commercial Attack Submarines

The DNO was established in April 2016 to oversee all aspects of nuclear business within the MOD and across the wider Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). The DNE comprises the people that design, produce and maintain the submarines and nuclear warheads, and provide the necessary infrastructure and support. It includes the DNO as well as the Submarine Delivery Group (SDG), Royal Navy, UK Strategic Command, and Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). We also work with industry partners such as BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Babcock. DNE Commercial Functions provides commercial advice, guidance and operational support across the whole spectrum of DNE acquisition and commercial strategy, sourcing and contract management from the most senior levels down and across the Enterprise.

This role will see you work across the MOD/DNE and Industry Parties who are responsible for the design and build of new attack submarines for the Royal Navy. This role is focused on the Astute and SSNA Programmes and in addition, you will be responsible for the commercial aspects of Submarine Build Modernisation, a multi-billion pound programme to which is a combination of infrastructure development and industrial transformation to recapitalise and digitally enable the main sites of our principal industrial partners (BAE Systems and Rolls Royce) and their supply chains.

Our programmes are the largest, most complex programmes currently being undertaken in the UK. From a career perspective, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring your experience to bear in an environment where you can make a real difference.

We are looking for a driven, resourceful and professional Deputy Director, interested in taking on a challenging and scalable role and prepared to work at pace in a complex environment. The candidate will need strong internal and external stakeholder management skills, demonstrable strong negotiation skills and be capable of motivating an agile team of commercial professionals focused on both commercial acquisition and contract management activities. Successful candidates will get to explore the opportunities for commercial development within the DNE.

Role will be based in DNE SDG Offices in Abbeywood Bristol or Barrow, at least 3 days/week. The post will require travel between the sites (Bristol, London and Barrow) on a regular basis.

This position will require individuals to hold SC clearance or be willing to undergo the process of obtaining it before an appointment is made.

• Become part of DNE Commercial Senior Leadership Team reporting to the Commercial Director for Submarine Build
• Become part of the senior management teams that support the production of the SSN-AUKUS and Astute design and build programmes, and the Submarine Build Modernisation programme - providing commercial advice, guidance and contract management direction into the 2* Programme Directors and 1* Deputy Director business areas.

• Developing the commercial strategies and negotiating the bilateral contracts for new contractual commitments, in line with programme strategies and commercial policy (this will include collaborative working with wider SDG Teams to ensure coherence with extant commercial arrangements.

• The post will be commercially responsible for procurement of three floating docks to deliver an out of water engineering capability at His Majestys Naval Base Clyde which is set to be an exciting 2Bn+ competition combining the delivery of an essential military capability at pace and delivery of UK social value outcomes (this activity will be confirmed within 6 months)
• Be responsible for the programme's commercial relationship with industry, Allies, and public sector bodies.

• Contract manage the SSN-AUKUS Design and Long Lead Contracts, Astute Build Contracts, and the Submarine Build Modernisation Contracts worth billions of pounds to deliver programme outcomes and value for money.

• Set direction, drive culture, and provide leadership to the commercial teams based in Bristol and Barrow (circa 40) ensuring the delivery of a very high quality, professional and agile commercial service; and contribute to the leadership and capability development of the wider DNE commercial function.
• Act as the link between the programmes and the wider DNE/SDG thinking on its industrial strategy and relationship with industry.

Locations:

The successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. When selecting your location listed in this job advert please be aware that this will be your contractual base location with a requirement to spend a minimum of 60% of your working time in this organisational workplace.

Your time spent on official duties at workplace locations other than your contractual office such as supplier, customer or partner locations required to perform your role is included in the 60% attendance.

This requirement will however take into consideration any reasonable adjustments agreed upon appointment for people with a disability, flexibilities agreed for those with specific caring responsibilities, or other similar temporary flexibilities.

• A highly resilient leader: Defence Nuclear and Submarine Build activities are a national endeavor and a high-pressure environment which requires resilient leaders that can deliver some of the nations highest security priorities.
• A demonstrated ability to define and implement an industrial and commercial strategy for delivering a range of complex programmes.
• A substantial track record of leading complex, high value private sector or government commercial transactions to demanding timescales, managing interdisciplinary teams of civil servants and external advisors to deliver programme outcomes.
• Experience working in multi-party alliance/collaborative arrangements including international parties with and sovereign governments and familiarity with relevant wider national security issues relevant to the programme.
• Strong communication skills and credibility in engaging at Board and Ministerial level, with an ability to manage a varied and complex stakeholder landscape to drive decisions and approvals.
• Strong leadership skills and an ability to build and lead a several geographically disparate capable, resilient, and high-performing commercial teams by setting direction and defining culture.
• A track record of working in technically complex industries and to work with technical subject-matter areas including single source contracting regulations, security and safety regulations, and environmental regulations.
• This role is reserved for British nationals and requires SC Clearance and further additional security clearances may be required in the future alongside additional read-ons with classified communities.
• Ability to attend the Bristol/Barrow-in-Furness office at least 3 days a week with regular travel to Barrow/Bristol, and London + travel to work with suppliers and visit manufacturing sites.
• Be amongst the most senior members of the Government Commercial Function and play a role in the broader commercial reform programme led by the Government Chief Commercial Officer;
• Play a key leadership and change management role in developing a strong commercial function for the MOD and across government.

PLEASE NOTE: Those with existing SC may join whilst DV is achieved but this will be on a case-by-case basis. Those without existing clearance will need to achieve DV before they start.