Job description for Assistant Head of Business Change

Join us as an Assistant Head of Business and make a significant impact on the Submarine Delivery Agency’s (SDA) future?

In this pivotal role, you will be at the forefront of designing and delivering enhancements to our operating model. Leading a small, dedicated team within the Strategy Implementation area, you will drive the next steps of our SDA28 Strategy, which builds on the great platform from our first five years as an agency and sets out our ambition for the next five years, ensuring our operations are more efficient and effective.

As a leader, collaboration is key, and you will work closely with key stakeholders to manage dependencies and align with other internal and external change projects. Effective project management will be essential, as you develop and maintain crucial project documents to manage risks, seize opportunities, and deliver benefits.

By driving change within the SDA and understanding our broader role within the defence sector, you will have the opportunity to see the bigger picture and contribute to our mission in a meaningful way.

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Office attendance is required for 3 days per week to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourself with the site, the team, and your role.

For security reasons, this role is open to sole UK nationals only.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the SDA’s Operating Model project, delivering targeted improvements, ensuring the coherence of existing change to deliver business benefits, and measuring organisational effectiveness
• Establishing and maintaining the change plan for the project, reporting to the Strategy Implementation Performance Committee and the SDA Board. Manage and mitigate business change risk
• Leading on communications and engagement messaging for the project, working closely with Change Communications Team and the SDA Communications Team
• Building and maintaining strong internal and external networks to manage and respond to change influences
• Acting as a change mentor and role model, developing yourself and sharing your knowledge and experience with others

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you’ll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Demonstrable knowledge of change and project management principles, protocols, and models and how they interact effectively
• Experience of delivering large scale change, including operating model change, within a complex organisational environment
• Qualification in APMG Principles of Change Management Practitioner or an equivalent qualification or demonstrate equivalent experience
• Evidence of communicating and influencing stakeholders at all levels, internal and external

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Strategic Thinking Planning – Practitioner
• Change Management – Expert
• Making effective decisions – CSBC3
• Communicating and influencing – CSBC3

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,500, Ministry of Defence contributes £16,947 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/SDA-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. When two (or more) candidates are on equal interview scores, positions will be offered based on the scores assessed at interview, in this order – 1st) Technical competence, 2nd) CV Review, 3rd) Behaviour one, 4th) Behaviour two.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.