Dstl Portsdown (PDW) West or Porton Down (PTN) will be the permanent workplace.
However, travel to other MOD, UK Industry and international partnership locations is frequently expected.
About the job Job summary Are you a STEM professional seeking a new leadership challenge?
Are you ready to work on one of the UKs most strategic defence programmes shaping the long-term future of Combat Air Systems capability?
If so, join Dstl and work on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Programme which will deliver a combination of crewed and uncrewed platforms and complex weapons to fulfil UKs combat air capability to replace Typhoon.
Your scientific and engineering expertise will influence and assure military capability requirements are met, and the desired strategic outcomes of this programme are achieved.
This unique opportunity will see you work with a diverse stakeholder community as part of a dynamic MOD team in collaboration with UK defence industry.
In addition, you will collaborate with partners in Japan and Italy as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) which will deliver the air platform at the core of FCAS.
In this role you will: Support the Technical Lead /Chief Technologist to: Provide scientific and technical leadership across the breadth of FCAS Programme including MOD stakeholders, partners, industry, and supporting agencies.
Ensure technical and engineering influences and needs are understood and effectively accounted for in the FCAS Enterprise.
Ensure MOD technical support, solutions and organisational structures support timely and affordable decision making and delivery.
Lead the specification, development and evaluation of the coherent technical solution(s) against key user requirements, technical performance measures and strategic programme objectives.
Manage enterprise technical risks and issues by independent and collaborative implementation of mitigation plans.
Provide the Programme Director technical assurance of programme technical decisions drawing on appropriate evidence.
Create and foster a positive working environment which supports diversity and enables staff to excel.
For more information, see the role profile attached on CS Jobs.
About you You will have demonstrable experience, and a working knowledge, of leading large complex and diverse teams in defence delivery environments.
You will be a scientific and technical professional able to offer technical support to the programme, so it is likely you will have a science or engineering degree.
You must be an effective communicator to influence stakeholders at all levels and have built and maintained a broad network across industry, academia and government both nationally and internationally.
You will be adaptable to change and able to operate effectively with competing priorities.
You will be based at a core Dstl site, Porton Down, Salisbury or Portsdown West, Fareham (office environment), with frequent travel to other MOD site, UK industry locations, and international partner locations.
Leadership As a leader in Defence you will help shape, role model and bring to life the 'One Defence' mind-set that will enable us to deliver our vision and strategic objectives.
Your leadership style must be inspiring, confident and empowering.
Working at every level of our organisation, and wider Programme enterprise, to break down silos, unite teams and create a culture that is trusting, collaborative, innovative, diverse and inclusive.
Enabling us to deliver with pace and agility through the skills, commitment and empowerment of our employees and military colleagues.
Important Information Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats.
For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role.
If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.
This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years.
For these roles Developed Vetting may also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.
Benefits Dstl's full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes: Financial : An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution ( find out more here ).
In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers.
Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.
Flexible working : Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours (e.g.
working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e.
working term-time only).
Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g.
start time, finish time).
Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team.
This can be discussed at interview.
Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree).
Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions.
Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.
Selection process details Application will consist of a CV and Personal Statement detailing how your skills and experience fit the requirements for these positions.
Interviews will be held week commencing 16th December and will use Technical and Behavioural questions to assess your suitability for the role.