DNO-WHG-Capability & Strategy Business Case & Change Manager
Description
- Job grade: Senior Executive Officer
- Contract type: Permanent
- Business area: MOD - Defence Nuclear - DNO
- Type of role: Project Delivery
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time, Compressed hours
- Number of jobs available: 1
Location
About the job
Job summary
The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) is responsible for the provision of the nuclear deterrent, encompassing our submarines and nuclear warheads, while also advising on UK nuclear planning and fostering international co-operation on nuclear matters. With a multidisciplinary team of over 700 professionals, the DNO brings together expertise in science, engineering, finance, policy, programme delivery, and more. We work in partnership with the Royal Navy, the Submarine Delivery Agency and the Atomic Weapons Establishment as the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE).
Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated, and our people feel supported, included and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world.
Within DNO, the Warhead Group leads the UK nuclear warhead programme which provides a stockpile of reliable, safe and effective nuclear warheads to support the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent now and in the future. This post sits within Warhead Portfolio Integration, which drives Warhead delivery through a portfolio-led approach. The team provides governance, reporting, approvals, assurance, change control and portfolio management across the Warhead Group, enabling effective decision-making and delivery. Working across WHG, DNO, AWE and wider Defence, Portfolio Integration supports the prioritisation, management and oversight of programmes and projects, providing senior leaders with the insight, assurance and governance required to deliver the portfolio successfully.
This is an exciting time for Portfolio Integration with great opportunities to contribute to a Defence priority. The team delivers through and for others, has strong exposure to senior leaders and works closely with our primary delivery partner, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). We are on a journey to embed the recent Warhead Operations Model Change Programme, you will need to be comfortable with uncertainty, able to persevere through change, manage fast paced tasking and work across boundaries.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
The Business Case and Change Manager works within the Planning and Control and leads the day-to-day operation of Warhead Group Category C/D (below £50M) investment approvals and portfolio change control governance. The role is the focal point for the WHG Approvals Panel and Change Control Board, helping project teams progress robust submissions, maintaining accurate governance records and giving senior leaders clear visibility of decisions, risks and emerging trends. This is an opportunity to work across Warhead Group, DNO, AWE and wider Defence, supporting high-profile decisions in a complex delivery environment.
You will join the Portfolio Integration Team within the Capability Strategy Directorate, supporting the Assistant Head of Approvals, Assurance and Change within the Planning and Control team.
As the Business Case and Change Manager, you will lead Warhead Group Category D investment approvals and change control governance, ensuring robust governance, effective decision-making and compliance with organisational policy. Acting as the focal point for the WHG Approvals Panel and Change Control Board, you will support project teams through approvals and change processes, provide governance expertise, and maintain oversight of portfolio approvals and change activity.
You will work closely with stakeholders across WHG, DNO, AWE and wider Defence to improve approval readiness, support timely decisions and drive continuous improvement across approvals and change control processes. The role provides functional leadership across investment approvals and change control governance but has no direct line management responsibility.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the operation of the WHG Approvals Panel and manage the Category C/D (below £50M) investment approvals pipeline, ensuring effective governance, timely decision-making and compliance with organisational policy.
- Review and challenge Category C/D (below £50M) business cases and supporting evidence, advising project teams on governance routes, JSP 655 compliance and approval readiness.
- Coordinate Cat C/D (below £50M) approvals activity across WHG, managing engagement with Finance, Commercial, scrutiny and governance stakeholders to support successful progression through the approvals process.
- Produce and maintain governance outputs, including panel papers, briefs, outletters, action logs, decision records, trackers and management information.
- Maintain oversight of approval decisions, actions, risks and dependencies, ensuring issues are escalated and tracked through appropriate governance routes.
- Act as WHG functional lead and gatekeeper for change control, ensuring compliance with change governance policy and organisational requirements.
- Review, challenge and quality assure Change Control Notes (CCNs), coordinating impact assessments and ensuring changes receive appropriate scrutiny and assurance.
- Manage and maintain the WHG Change Control Log and associated governance records, ensuring an accurate audit trail of change activity and decisions.
- Provide secretariat support to the Change Control Board, including preparation of agendas, papers, actions and decision records.
- Produce management information and reporting to provide senior leaders with visibility of approvals activity, portfolio change, risks, impacts and emerging trends.
- Analyse approvals and change activity, identifying systemic issues, lessons identified and opportunities to improve governance effectiveness, efficiency and compliance.
- Provide expert advice and guidance to project teams, capability managers and senior leaders on investment approvals and change control governance.
- Build and maintain effective relationships across WHG, DNO, AWE and wider Defence to support governance coherence, informed decision-making and successful portfolio delivery.
- Drive continuous improvement across investment approvals and change control processes, championing best practice and improving governance maturity across the portfolio.
- Support wider Portfolio Integration priorities and activities as required.
Person specification
Essential Skills:
- Experience of working in project delivery, including change control, assurance or business case delivery.
- Ability to quickly understand complex organisations, processes and stakeholder environments.
- Ability to analyse a wide range of issues, prioritise effectively and manage competing demands.
- Excellent organisational skills with a commitment to continuous improvement.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a range of stakeholders.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Nuclear Weapon Foundation Course (NSQEP - Accredited Course) (once in post)
- A project delivery practitioner qualification would be desirable but not essential (e.g. P3O, Management of Portfolios (MoP), Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), Management of Risk (MoR), Association for Project Management (APM), PRINCE2 or equivalent qualification) Better Business Cases Foundation or Practitioner. APMG Change Management, Configuration Management or equivalent qualification.
Desirable Skills:
- Experience of investment approvals, business case assurance or governance processes.
- Experience of change control, configuration management or project controls.
- Experience of reviewing and challenging business cases, change proposals or governance products.
- Experience of developing governance processes, guidance, templates or training materials.
- Experience of working within Defence, Government or another complex regulated environment.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
- 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%
- 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- On-site Gym
- Cycle Loan (Advance on Salary)
- Thank You Scheme
- Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA)
- Defence Discount Service
- On-site Nursery (site dependent)
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at .
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
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Selection process details
*Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history/qualification details/previous skills and experience. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.
*Candidates will be required to provide a Personal Statement of Suitability which should be a maximum of 750 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential/desirable requirements for the role.
At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Personal Statement and the following
Behaviours:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
If a large number of applications are received, the initial sift will be based on Changing and Improving, CV and Personal Statement only. However, evidence should be provided against all behaviours requested.
At interview, you will be assessed against the following behaviours and your experience.
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
The requirements for the role have been benchmarked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview.
Interviews will be conducted face to face at either Main Building, London, Abbey Wood, Bristol or AWE, Reading.
Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit.
You will also be expected to achieve Developed Vetting clearance, above the normal clearance level expected for the MoD.
The Defence Nuclear Organisation plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of the UK’s independent strategic nuclear deterrent. To help enhance security, staff working for the DNO are encouraged to always exercise a high level of discretion in sharing information or talking about their work. As part of the application process, we ask that you do not tell anyone other than your partner or close family member about your application to join the DNO. You should not mention your application on social media or discuss it with anyone else at this stage.
Further information:
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.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.
The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : DNO External Recruitment
- Email : [email protected]
Recruitment team
- Email : [email protected]
Further information
Attachments
| Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB) |
| Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB) |
| Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB) |
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