Senior Operations Manager

Location

Defence Munitions Gosport, Hampshire PO13 0AH Defence Munitions Beith, Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA15 1JT Defence Munitions Crombie, Crombie by Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 8LA Defence Munitions Glen Douglas P.O Box 1, Arrochar, Argyll and Bute, G83 7BA Defence Munitions Plymouth, Ernesettle Lane, Plymouth, PL5 2TQ Defence Munitions Kineton, Warwickshire CV47 2UD Defence Munitions Longtown, Longtown, Carlisle, CA6 5LX MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol 6250

About the job

Job summary

We are Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S). We make sure the UK military is equipped, supported, and connected, as they protect life at home and overseas. We manage a vast range of complex projects to buy, support and supply vital equipment and services that the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force need, so they can operate safely and effectively.

Our people push for best-in-class every day – because it helps keep our nation safe. So whatever your background, whatever your skill set, if you’re driven to set new standards, find your place with us. Ready to see where your ambition will lead you?

Job description

We have exciting opportunity for two Senior Operations Managers to join our Defence Munitions (DM) team here at DE&S.

DM receive, store, maintain and issue a wide range of munitions used by the UK armed forces to train protect and serve all over the world.

As a DM Senior Operations Manager, you have key strategic responsibilities whilst accountability for the safe and effective operational and leadership oversite for all the DM depots across the UK. You will be accountable for leading, managing and overseeing a team of Specialist Managers and their subject matter experts, and will have indirect responsibility for leading a multidisciplinary industrial and professional workforce.

Working alongside the DM management team and their DM General Managers, you will identify and take action to improve operational resilience, effectiveness and employee engagement across all DM depots.

We seek two credible, creative, and inspiring leaders, who are able to encourage innovation and diversity, build positive relationships and drive the performance of multi-disciplinary teams within a complex and ever-evolving environment.

One of these roles will be responsible for delivering governance across financial, commercial, project controls, Project management Office, Income Generation, business resourcing and performance measurement of the organisation. An understanding of Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives (WOME) will be critical, particularly as the role will be responsible for delivering the strategy and direction of Defence Munitions.

The other role will manage a team of specialists covering Explosive & Conventional safety, Environmental & Sustainability Management, WOME Logistics for the Military and other customers, Physical & Personnel Security, Infrastructure, Approval to Process of Complex Weapons, General Munitions and Explosives as well as leading our digitalisation transformation programme. The candidate will also lead management of the Mechanical Handling Equipment (MHE) used for movement of WOME materiels, and the specialised training capabilities required within DM (such as Explosives & MHE).

Please note:

There will be a requirement to make frequent journeys to all DM depots across the UK. Excess fare of Travel and subsistence expenses will be paid.

You can be based at one of the following locations:

DM Gosport, DM Beith, DM Plymouth, DM Crombie, DM Longtown, DM Kineton, DM Glen Douglas, ABW Bristol.

We strongly recommend tailoring your CV in line with our CV guidancebefore applying, with specific sections to highlight Key Achievements, Relevant Experience, and Applied Skills & Knowledge.

About the role

As a Defence Munition Senior Operations Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Lead the DM Assistant Team Leaders across all of the DM organisation, using coaching to develop their skills and capabilities to be inspiring leaders.
• Build a culture of inclusion and engagement, strengthening the links between the DM teams and DE&S.
• Maintain a “one DM” lens to identify where local decisions may impact other parts of the DM or Weapon Operating Centre (WOC) portfolio, assessing risks at a strategic level to ensure a successful output.
• Be prepared to make decisions and set the direction, policy and guidance that will, on balance, deliver a better outcome for DM and its customers, even when it may not deliver for a particular site.
• Identify risk and provide a decisive response to significant delivery challenges and implementing short- and long-term solutions whilst identifying root cause issues.
• Leadership of a major security improvement programme.

Person specification

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

• Significant experience of operating at a strategic senior management level in a large, highly complex organisation.
• Significant knowledge and in-depth understanding of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment (OHSE), in a complex operational environment.
• Experience as a Senior Operations Manager with a proven ability to make clear and pragmatic plans that execute service delivery.
• Experience of developing strategy whilst leading multi-functional teams through a change that you initiated and developed.
• Demonstrable organisational, influencing and communication skills with validated leadership capabilities.
• Experience of managing the delivery of contract requirements and budgets, including managing the approval process, monitoring actual spend and updating forecasts.

It will also benefit your application if you are able to demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• Working knowledge of the Operational Delivery Function and Sub-Functions (Operations Management (OM), Supply Chain Management (SCM) or Technical Through Life Support (TTLS).
• Experience in recruitment and workforce planning activities in a complex environment.
• Experience in a technical governance or audit role with a working knowledge and understanding of technical governance and assurance activities.
• Experience of the safe management of explosives and high-hazard operations in a secure and compliant manner.

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

Stakeholder Management – Expert

Continuous Improvement to Optimise Support - Expert

Communicating and influencing – CSBC4

Delivering at Pace – CSBC4

Benefits

We're pleased to offer a generous benefits package to support everything from your work-life balance to your bank balance, including:

• 25 days’ holiday a year, plus 1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• A market-leading employer pension contribution of around 27 percent, an annual performance-based bonus, and recognition awards
• Flexible and hybrid working wherever possible, to support your work-life balance (though some attendance to the stated site is required)
• Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications, with plenty of opportunities and support for progression
• A huge range of discounts including retail, sports, leisure, restaurants, gifts, days out, holidays, cinema, motoring, insurance, health care, gym memberships, and more
• Up to six days of paid leave a year for volunteering
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave schemes, offering 100% pay for 26 weeks (after a qualifying period)
• We champion a diverse and inclusive environment, where everyone can be themselves and give their best. We believe that by harnessing the power of different ideas, experiences, and perspectives, we can achieve our ambitions, together. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £62,500.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Bristol: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bristol

Reference ID: ORC 967 Senior Ops