Chief Operating Officer Dstl

The preferred location for this role is Dstl’s core site at Porton Down, near Salisbury. Exceptionally, you may request to be based at our other key site, Portsdown West, Fareham. Job SummaryThis is a significant leadership role; the successful candidate will not only be part of The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Executive Team but also a Board member, and Network Champion within Dstl.

You will be accountable for providing the enabling platforms and capabilities that Dstl requires in order to enable the delivery of high impact Science and Technology for the Defence and Security of the UK. The role carries significant responsibility for the safe and secure operation of a complex estate in a unique high-hazard environment. The Chief Operating Officer provides the assurance to Dstl’s Chief Executive who is accountable to Parliament as the Accounting Officer.

Working with the Chief Executive, you will have responsibility to ensure that there is a sound system of governance, risk management and internal control in place. You will lead the Operations Executive Area, with a budget of approximately £220M and 700 FTE, with this number expecting to grow further over the next 12-18 months. Job DescriptionThe Chief Operating Officer will lead a first-class, Strategic Operations Management team to enable to delivery of Dstl’s strategic vision. The key responsibilities include: Maintaining the current estate to statutory and regulatory standards, including the management of Dstl’s facilities management contracts.

Delivering capital programmes and projects designed to provide capability for the here and now, triaged and Programme Managed by the Dstl Portfolio Office linking to MOD’s annual business planning cycle. Developing a longer-term 10-year prioritised infrastructure plan aligned to the Dstl Strategy, delivery programme and to provide key capabilities, designed to address ageing infrastructure as well as future capability requirements, linked where required to the Government’s Spending Reviews. Delivering digital services that mobilise, modernise and transform Dstl’s approach to information technology, support the delivery of the programme and including the management of Dstl’s IT contracts.

Providing a safe, secure, smart, sustainable and resilient working environment. As directed by the Chief Executive, providing effective information risk management and professional business support services to help enable the effective and efficient running of the organisation. Additionally take on a number of safety responsibilities within your business area. This will include the health and safety of self and others, understanding and meeting defined accountabilities as written in Dstl policy. Ultimately, demonstrating the expected Health & Safety behaviours and lead by example.

Foster an inclusive working environment where open communication and psychological safety are prioritised to encourage constructive feedback and continuous improvement. ResponsibilitiesThe Chief Operating Officer will lead a first-class, Strategic Operations Management team to enable to delivery of Dstl’s strategic vision. The key responsibilities include: Maintaining the current estate to statutory and regulatory standards, including the management of Dstl’s facilities management contracts. Delivering capital programmes and projects designed to provide capability for the here and now, triaged and Programme Managed by the Dstl Portfolio Office linking to MOD’s annual business planning cycle.

Developing a longer-term 10-year prioritised infrastructure plan aligned to the Dstl Strategy, delivery programme and to provide key capabilities, designed to address ageing infrastructure as well as future capability requirements, linked where required to the Government’s Spending Reviews. Delivering digital services that mobilise, modernise and transform Dstl’s approach to information technology, support the delivery of the programme and including the management of Dstl’s IT contracts. Providing a safe, secure, smart, sustainable and resilient working environment.

As directed by the Chief Executive, providing effective information risk management and professional business support services to help enable the effective and efficient running of the organisation. Additionally take on a number of safety responsibilities within your business area. This will include the health and safety of self and others, understanding and meeting defined accountabilities as written in Dstl policy. Ultimately, demonstrating the expected Health & Safety behaviours and lead by example. Foster an inclusive working environment where open communication and psychological safety are prioritised to encourage constructive feedback and continuous improvement.

Person specificationExcellent leaderships skills in a number of senior roles, with an ability to motivate, inspire and develop a diverse Operations team whilst balancing working at pace to manage a full workload with conflicting short and long-term priorities. Ability to confidently, clearly and credibly influence strategic operations at pace, making an impact at senior levels through excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including building and maintaining broad diverse networks and relationships with Board level stakeholders.

Evidence of strategic thinking, excellent analytical skills and the ability to translate current challenges in order to create and contribute to a culture of innovation, risk management and long-term improvement. Using evidence-based strategies to evaluate the full range of options, understand the impacts, get the right solution and influence at the most senior levels. Demonstrable evidence of developing strategic plans with the use of data from disparate sources and aligning these to overall business strategy and decision making.

You will need to be comfortable making difficult decisions without having the full picture, using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to reduce ambiguity. Demonstrable knowledge of the essential practices required within a safety, security or regulatory Operations environment that necessitates putting safety as a fundamental priority and ensures the commitment to all in protecting people and the environment. Credible sector experience within Facilities, Estates or Infrastructure Management and comfortable operating in an IT Programming environment. Alongside your salary of £100,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £28,970 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your roleAn environment with flexible working optionsA culture encouraging inclusion and diversityA Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28. 97%Selection process detailsTo apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process no later than 23: 55 Sunday 7th September 2025 and provide the two documents outlined below via the Civil Service Jobs portal: A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role. Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

External candidates who join the MOD and are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. For further information about the role and full application process, please refer to the candidate pack attached below. If you wish to receive any material in a different format for accessibility, then please contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod. gov. uk. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years.

An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise. As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.

Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above. SecuritySuccessful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.

The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirementsOpen to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.

As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicantsJob ContactName : SCS Recruitment TeamEmail : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod. gov. ukRecruitment teamEmail : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod. gov. uk