Head Of Site Operations

Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support

Salary: £61,100 per annum (plus generous benefits)

Grade: Professional I

Working Pattern: Full time, Flexible Working

Contract Type: Permanent

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

DE&S has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director Group (NAD Group). The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies. This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

Job description

Are you an experienced leader ready to take on a high-impact role in Defence? This is a unique opportunity to lead a critical Defence site with national importance, offering significant responsibility, visibility, and the ability to directly influence operational safety and performance at scale.

At DE&S, we play a vital role in equipping and supporting the UK’s Armed Forces. As Head of Site Operations, you will be accountable for the safe, secure, and efficient operation of the site, ensuring the delivery of essential Defence outputs in a highly regulated and safety-critical environment.

This is a strategic leadership position with significant responsibility. You will lead a diverse and high-performing team, ensuring the effective management of personnel, resources, and operations across the site. Operating at the forefront of Defence Munitions, you will oversee the storage, maintenance, and distribution of munitions, equipment, and complex weapons, ensuring strict compliance with safety, security, and regulatory standards.

You will work closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including Military colleagues, regulatory bodies, and wider DE&S teams, to deliver operational excellence and drive continuous improvement. This role is based at DM Glen Douglas and requires onsite presence 100% of the working week to support operational delivery and team leadership. Occasional travel to other Defence Munitions and MOD sites across the UK will be required.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead, develop, and motivate site personnel to deliver operational outputs effectively.
• Ensure all site activities are conducted safely, securely, and efficiently.
• Oversee the management of munitions, equipment, and associated operations.
• Act as Delivery Duty Holder, ensuring safe systems of work and robust safety assurance.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across DE&S, the wider MoD, and external partners.
• Ensure full compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement to enhance performance and value for money.

Person specification

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

• Proven experience operating at a senior management level within a multifaceted and operationally focused organisation.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to develop and motivate teams.
• A solid understanding of operational management in a regulated environment.
• Demonstrable experience in risk management and decision-making.
• Knowledge of Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental (OSHE) practices in hazardous or highly regulated environments.
• A full UK driving licence.

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

• Core Behaviour 1: Leadership – CSBC4
• Core Behaviour 2: Changing and Improving – CSBC4
• Technical Competence 1: Managing support, supplier, and customer networks – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: Making evidence-based decisions – Practitioner

Offered benefits:

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday.
• 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

Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission

Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-candidate-information-pack

Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions

Civil Service Code: The Code - Civil Service Commission

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Disability Confident: Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Conflicts of Interest: The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Selection Process Details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

• Pre-sift - We will check your application to ensure 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.
• 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.
• Interview - If you're invited to interview, you will be assessed against the following: CV Review, Core Behaviour 1, Core Behaviour 2, Technical Competencies.

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:

1. Core Behaviour 1
2. Core Behaviour 2
3. Technical Competencies
4. CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criteria, and/or an additional assessment. Please note for this specific assessment, the Lead Criteria will be: Proven experience operating at a senior management level within a multifaceted and operationally focused organisation. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission.

Offering at a lower level: If you’re not successful at interview, we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.