Job description for Operations Manager

Are you passionate about submarines? We are seeking an enthusiastic entry level Operations Manager to join our team!

At the SDA, our mission is crucial to delivering the United Kingdom’s submarine capability and ensuring the Royal Navy is equipped with cutting-edge, life-saving tools and battle-winning capabilities to tackle any challenge, now and in the future.

In this role, you will contribute to the delivery and support of Supplier Management, providing crucial data to stakeholders to support their decision-making. You will work collaboratively within a large team to ensure the timely delivery of outputs for our front-line customers. This fast-paced role involves significant customer engagement, allowing you to gain experience and skills in stakeholder management and both written and verbal communication.

You will assist in delivering in-service support to ensure the customer’s capability, equipment, or service continues to meet availability, reliability, sustainability, and safety requirements. You will ensure compliance with relevant legislation, statutory regulations, MoD policies and standards, and SDA Business Management System processes.

You will be supported by line managers and can develop your career within the SDA and the wider organisation through formal training and on-the-job learning.

In return, we offer great benefits, including a market-leading employer pension contribution, performance-based bonuses, and a flexible working environment. We also have a wide range of staff networks where you can meet new people, share perspectives, and celebrate differences. When you join us, you’ll be joining a real community.

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. On our Faslane site regular in-person attendance is required at least 4 days per week to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance.

Due to security requirements, this post is reserved for Sole UK Nationals only. 

Nationality, visas, and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country.

We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

What you’ll be doing

• Assisting with the day-to-day management of the delivery of in-service support within area of responsibility, according to the customer requirements, delivery plan, support solution, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), governance and reporting requirements
• Assisting with the monitoring and analysing data to track that customer KPIs are met, supports the interpretation of data and management information to identify trends, risks and issues, and aids performance report collation as required
• Assisting with the management of risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies and communicating changes to stakeholders
• Ensuring compliance with the Defence Logistics Framework and on other Ministry of Defence regulations
• Utilising Ministry of Defence Logistics Information Systems to provide data on request
• Engaging with internal and external stakeholders as required on matters related to stores availability to customers
• Producing stock data to enable customers and stakeholders to plan essential maintenance of submarines

Person specification

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

• Experience of stakeholder engagement and delivering customer service
• Evidence of working collaboratively in teams
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams)
• Demonstrable ability to review and interpret data

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

• Stakeholder Management – Awareness level
• Service Delivery Management – Awareness level
• Communicating and Influencing – CSBC2
• Delivering at Pace – CSBC2

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,242 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.