Deputy Director Integrated Stockpile Management

AWE Aldermaston, London or Abbey Wood (Bristol), with travel to Scotland and the U.S.

Regular travel between London and Aldermaston is expected regardless of contractual base. Due to the highly classified nature of the programme, a high level of office/site attendance is required. All work-related travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed except when travelling to your base location in line with departmental policy.

Job Summary The Deputy Director Integrated Stockpile Management provides strategic leadership for the technical, programmatic, and governance aspects of key nuclear programmes, including Astraea, Future Systems, and Future Containers. You will lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver policy-compliant systems on time, managing complex interfaces and international treaty obligations.

The successful candidate needs to be a dynamic leader capable of guiding a team operating in demanding, fast-paced conditions. You need to have a proven track record of building busy, motivated, and high-performing teams, with the emotional intelligence to effectively protect their resilience. Your credibility and personal influence need to enable you to become a trusted adviser to senior leadership, a valued member of the Directorate’s leadership team, and an influential figure across the wider MOD community.

Job Description The Defence Nuclear Enterprise’s (DNE) mission is to deliver nuclear capability to deter threats and protect the nation. Within the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), the Warhead Group is the strategic customer for warhead capability and nuclear threat reduction, with responsibility spanning strategy, capability, requirements, sponsorship, delivery and approval. This includes management of the in-service warhead, development of its replacement and the transition between the two, as well as ensuring the scientific and industrial capability required to sustain the UK’s sovereign warhead capability now and in the future.

The Integrated Stockpile Organisation (ISO) is responsible for the development, delivery and support of the current in-service Trident Mk4A Re-Entry System, Future Technologies and the replacement A21/Mk7 Re-Entry System. The Deputy Director Integrated Stockpile Management is responsible for delivery of these programmes, providing direction on prioritisation and ensuring effective joint working. The ISO comprises ISM Develop and ISM Deliver, which together undertake the MOD intelligent customer role across the Concept, Assessment, Demonstration, Manufacture, In-Service and Disposal (CADMID) lifecycle.

The post sits within the ISO and is required to flexibly support wider ISO engineering and programme activities as directed by Director Warhead ISM. The postholder provides strategic leadership of the technical, programmatic and governance aspects of the ASTRAEA/Future Systems programmes and Future Containers project and is accountable for managing their complex network of interfaces and dependencies, particularly those associated with international treaties.

The role ensures strategic programme alignment with technical requirements and overarching Government policy, while providing leadership and direction to industry and its extended supply chain to realise programme benefits. The postholder will take a structured approach to developing industry towards a mature operating model, ensuring the operational capability and programme arrangements are in place to successfully deliver the ASTRAEA/Future Systems programmes and Future Containers project.

The Defence Nuclear Enterprise’s (DNE) mission is to deliver nuclear capability to deter threats and protect the nation. Within the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), the Warhead Group is the strategic customer for warhead capability and nuclear threat reduction, with responsibility spanning strategy, capability, requirements, sponsorship, delivery and approval. This includes management of the in-service warhead, development of its replacement and the transition between the two, as well as ensuring the scientific and industrial capability required to sustain the UK’s sovereign warhead capability now and in the future.

The Integrated Stockpile Organisation (ISO) is responsible for the development, delivery and support of the current in-service Trident Mk4A Re-Entry System, Future Technologies and the replacement A21/Mk7 Re-Entry System. The Deputy Director Integrated Stockpile Management is responsible for delivery of these programmes, providing direction on prioritisation and ensuring effective joint working. The ISO comprises ISM Develop and ISM Deliver, which together undertake the MOD intelligent customer role across the Concept, Assessment, Demonstration, Manufacture, In-Service and Disposal (CADMID) lifecycle.

The post sits within the ISO and is required to flexibly support wider ISO engineering and programme activities as directed by Director Warhead ISM. The postholder provides strategic leadership of the technical, programmatic and governance aspects of the ASTRAEA/Future Systems programmes and Future Containers project and is accountable for managing their complex network of interfaces and dependencies, particularly those associated with international treaties.

The role ensures strategic programme alignment with technical requirements and overarching Government policy, while providing leadership and direction to industry and its extended supply chain to realise programme benefits. The postholder will take a structured approach to developing industry towards a mature operating model, ensuring the operational capability and programme arrangements are in place to successfully deliver the ASTRAEA/Future Systems programmes and Future Containers project.

Person specification

• Significant experience of leading and delivering major, complex and high-profile projects or programmes, including delivery to challenging and compressed timescales. Experience within the MOD Defence Major Projects Portfolio (DMPP), Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), or an equivalent major programme environment.
• Strong decision-making capability, using sound judgement, evidence and professional expertise to provide accurate advice, defend recommendations and constructively challenge senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrable ability to lead the integration and delivery of complex, technologically challenging programmes, involving significant systems engineering, integration and interdependencies.
• Excellent leadership capability, with evidence of motivating high-performing teams, working across organisational boundaries at senior levels and successfully leading change.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across complex programmes and organisations to deliver shared programme outcomes, benefits and outputs.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills, with the ability to draw insight from complex information and communicate it clearly to support decision-making at the most senior levels.

Qualification

• A relevant STEM qualification, or substantial professional experience in a technical, engineering or complex programme environment that demonstrates an equivalent level of knowledge and expertise.

Desirable Criteria May Be Used In The Event Of a Strong Field Of Candidates When There Is a Need To Distinguish Between Candidates. This Will Be As a Second Sift, After The Essential Criteria Has Been Considered

• An understanding of nuclear weapons design and delivery.
• Experience of working in a highly regulated or high-hazard environment or industry.
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the Civil Service Jobs portal. This should be completed no later than 23:55 on Sunday 20 th September 2026 and will involve providing the two documents which are weighted equally:

• 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) providing tangible examples that clearly evidence how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

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.

Candidate Drop-In Session Adrian Orchard will be holding a online Q&​A session on Tuesday 8 September 2026 at 17:00-18:00 to provide an overview of the role and welcome any questions you may have. Candidates can access the meeting by clicking here.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This role has a minimum assignment