Head of Sda's Aukus Programme Delivery Office

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 374336**Salary**:

- £76,000 - £117,800- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%**Job grade**:

- SCS Pay Band 1**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- MOD - Submarine Delivery Agency**Type of role**:

- Senior leadership**Working pattern**:

- Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Flexible, with a base location in a main office such as Bristol, Barrow-in-Furness or London but you will be expected to be in Bristol Abbey Wood several times a week.

This role will involve regular international travel to the USA and Australia and irregular hours to collaborate with international partners.About the job

**Job summary**:
Our Agency is central to the UK Government’s £242 billion equipment plan for the British Armed Forces, and is responsible for the procurement, in-service support and decommissioning of all UK nuclear submarines. The nuclear submarine portfolio is a national endeavour, one of the largest UK investment portfolios and of critical strategic importance.

This is an exciting time to join the SDA, be part of the DNE and our Directorate, which includes the AUKUS programme. AUKUS was announced in September 2021, as a new tri-lateral defence and security partnership between Australia, the UK and the US.

Following an initial 18-month consultation phase, the three nations leaders announced in March 2023, the optimal pathway for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine capability. Crucial to this is that, together the AUKUS partners will tri-laterally develop a nuclear-powered submarine based on UK’s next-generation design that incorporates technology from all three nations, including cutting edge US submarine technologies, that will be built in UK and Australia domestic shipyards within this decade. The optimal pathway comprises of three phases and each nation created a Programme Delivery Office (PDO).

The UK PDO manages the interface with the tri-lateral aspects of AUKUS, and some of the change to the wider UK programme of record. This work will include requirements tasking (internally and to UK Industry), commercial and financial arrangements, personnel embedments and exchanges, overall programme governance and close working with the DNO, RN, and the Australian and US Authorities.

We need people with exceptional skills to successfully deliver in the most challenging environment. We are looking for a senior leader with experience of influencing at this level, taking tough decisions, accepting accountability to deliver and manage the complexity in the UKs contribution to the AUKUS programme, and to provide advice to Boards and Executive Committees. Working as part of a team within the Directorate, you must be able to motivate, inspire, lead individuals and teams while supporting them to meet their potential and creating the environment that empowers enabling business delivery. Broad programme management skills will be necessary and the ability to collaborate and influence credibly at a senior level across the three nations will be vital.

If you think you are that person, we are interested to hear how your experience has prepared you for this role and how you might become part of the SDA team.

**Job description**:
**Responsibilities**

**Programme Delivery Office and Performance**:Responsible for ensuring delivering scope of work agreed in the UK PDO plan, with associated key performance indicators, and specified in UK AUKUS Pillar 1.

Regularly reporting up to SDA Director AUKUS Lead, and UK AUKUS Commercial Director Lead, through routine delivery reviews and programme boards.

Providing upward advice, guidance and leading where appropriate with the AUKUS Programme Board to represent the risks, issues, and opportunities escalation to the UK programme.

Providing technical judgement in determining the extent of support to Australia in matters of nuclear regulation, industrial engagement (by UK industry partners), submarine design and submarine construction.

Accountable for the establishment and acceptance of new scope into the UK programme.

Responsible for advice and guidance to SDA delivery teams on the development of the AUKUS endeavour and potential impact on activity and outputs.

Collaborating, influencing, and negotiating with DNO team to pursue AUKUS initiatives jointly and efficiently with both USA and Australia on technical, programmatic and people matters.

**Team Leadership**:Leading the SDA AUKUS Team of c.45 individuals including Civil Servants, military personnel, and contractors, you will provide direction, prioritising where needed to ensure outputs are delivered. The team is based in Bristol and in the future, will contain a liaison element based in Australia (AU). You will develop arrangements for the employment of AU nationals embedding into SDA and wider DNE, including UK industry and deliver the AUKUS people stra