Join us and shape the future: SDA Project Professional Graduate Scheme
Are you ready for an exciting journey with the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence that plays a pivotal role in securing the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent? If you are a talented and motivated individual, we invite you to be part of our Project Professional Graduate Scheme, where you can become a key player in the most technically complex programmes in Defence.
Here at SDA, we don't just value diversity; we thrive on it. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team fosters creativity, develops talent, and propels us towards excellence. We're on a mission to build the Project Professionals of the future.
Why choose SDA's Project Delivery Professional Graduate Scheme?
* Unparalleled Impact: Be a crucial part of securing the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent and contribute to the most technically complex programmes in Defence.
* Structured Training: Our structured career development scheme provides you with technical and leadership skills, shaping both your future and the organisation's success.
* Meaningful Impact: Be part of an organisation that protects and supports the UK Armed Forces, bringing real meaning and impact to everything you do.
* Structured Placements: Undertake project placements across a variety of programmes and projects within the SDA gaining hands-on experience of sub function specialisms and project competencies.
* Career Progression: This is a 2-year scheme on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) and upon successful completion of the scheme you will regrade into a permanent position. The focus on your career progressions doesn't finish at the end of the scheme, our career and talent management team will continue to provide support after you move into your permanent role.
* SDA Project Delivery Graduate Scheme Training Pathway: Complete training across Project Delivery sub functions, with an opportunity to gain a practitioner level Project Delivery qualifications we will work with you to identify the best qualification to fit your career aspirations and development opportunities
* Development Opportunities: Access extensive talent, career, and personal development opportunities to fuel your growth.
* Supportive Environment: Throughout the scheme, you will be supported by the dedicated Project Delivery Early Talent Scheme Team and a placement manager within the project team who will guide you through your journey and ensure you get access to the right training. You will be provided with a buddy in your team.
* Inclusive Environment: Join an organisation where colleagues of every background are included, encouraged, and supported to be their very best.
* Empowerment: Bring a fresh perspective, ask questions, and put positive change in motion.
* Networking: Build a network of internal business contacts and peers, sharing knowledge and identifying opportunities to learn and develop. There is also the opportunity to join dedicated networks to support you in your journey.
* Mentoring Opportunities: Receive support through mentoring and support others through outreach activities, and engagement with seniors.
* Work Location: You will primarily be based in Abbey Wood Bristol or HMNB Devonport. There may be some overseas travel depending on your placement, further information on this will be shared if you are successful. There may be a requirement to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office. We cover the costs of accommodation, travel, and subsistence for detached duty away from your permanent duty station. This post does not offer relocation expenses.
* Flexible Working: Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this scheme. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Defence Business Services (DBS) and the vacancy holder cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. If successful working arrangements can be discussed with the vacancy holder after completing of security checks.
Responsibilities
Our Project Delivery Graduates are at the heart of our delivery. You will experience career development throughout the two-year graduate scheme gaining the technical and behavioural skills to shape your development and the future of the organisation.
In this two-year scheme, you will be expected to volunteer and join mini projects within the PD Early Talent Team. Below are some of the areas you will be involved in within your delivery teams.
* Project Support: Develop and document project components as required by the Project Team.
* Planning and Scheduling: Contribute to planning, scheduling, and risk management activities.
* Progress Monitoring: Monitor project progress and compile data for business cases and customer presentations.
* Stakeholder Engagement: Supporting key activities such as identifying and analysing stakeholders, maintaining accurate communication records, and assisting in the preparation of reports and presentations
* Networking: Build a network of internal contacts, understanding the roles of different sub-functions and how they collaborate to deliver projects.
* Your contracted hours will be 37 per week.
If successful at sift, you will be invited for an assessment centre and interview, this will be held face to face in Bristol Abbey Wood in January/February 2026.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office may be required. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
Person specification
For this role, we are seeking the following:
We are looking for driven and dynamic professionals with a strong commitment to the Project Delivery profession. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who brings passion, positivity, and a proactive approach to their work. They should champion inclusivity, demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities, and exhibit excellent written and verbal communication skills. We value individuals who consistently display positive and inclusive behaviours, including adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to embrace challenges. A commitment to continuous improvement, a solution-focused mindset, and the ability to inspire and motivate others while fostering an inclusive and supportive environment are also key attributes we seek.
* This two-year scheme will develop your knowledge and understanding of how our projects are delivered, providing you with an insight into project management and project control tools and techniques, including scheduling and risk management.
Contract- Fixed Term Appointment (FTA)
This is a Fixed-Term Appointment (FTA) as a Project Delivery Graduate in the Project Delivery profession. The reason why you are appointed for a fixed period is due to the requirement for you to successfully complete the two-year Graduate scheme before a permanent job offer can be made. You should be aware that when your FTA comes to an end, arrangements will be made in line with the FTA policy.
If you are a permanent MoD civil servant and are found successful for an advertised FTA you should move into the post under a Temporary Transfer (for up to a maximum of 23 months). At the end of the posting if unsuccessful at regrade you will return to your previous MoD Business area. If this posting is at a higher grade, your promotion will be temporary, and you will return to your substantive grade at the end of the Temporary Transfer. If a Temporary Transfer cannot be agreed between all parties then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA and Change of Work Location in the UK policy for further information.
If you are transferring to MoD from another government department (OGD) you should join the MoD on an inward loan. At the end of the loan, you will return to your home (OGD) department. If a loan cannot be agreed between all parties, then a transfer on an FTA contract is possible, read the FTA policy for further information.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
In Scheme Regrade Assessment Process
As you will join on an FTA, following successful completion of the two-year scheme you will be asked to provide evidence on what you have learnt across the two years, including an assessment. If successful, you will be regraded into a suitable permanent position and allocated a role within the SDA.
Qualifications
Five full GCSEs at A*-C or grades 4-9, including English Language and Maths. A degree at a 2.1 or higher or a 2:2 with Honours will be accepted.
Formal certificates must be provided within three months of signing the contract. Failure to provide this will result in your contract being withdrawn. Evidence of the above qualifications will be required as part of your pre-employment checks before a formal offer can be made.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Working Together
* Communicating and Influencing
* Changing and Improving
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Working Together
* Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 31,300, Ministry of Defence contributes 9,067 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 role
* An environment with flexible working options
* A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
* A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
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.
At Sift stage,you will be assessed against the following;
Experience:
Personal Statement - This should be a maximum of 1000 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable requirements for the role.
Behaviours- Please use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) when providing your examples.
* Working Together (CSBC3)
* Communicating and Influencing (CSBC3)
If successful at sift, you will be invited for an assessment centre and interview, this will be held face to face in Bristol Abbey Wood in January/February 2026.
The assessment day is an in person only event, there will be no options to undertake any part of this assessment virtually. Any requests to do so will not be responded to. It will be broken into two parts and will be held at Abbey Wood Bristol.
Assessment Day
Part One - Assessment Activity (Jan 26/Feb 26) this is a one hour session held at Abbey Wood Bristol
This will involve group activity work to demonstrates these behaviours. This will contribute to 50% of your overall score.
You will be assessed on the following:
Behaviours:
* Working Together (CSBC3)
* Communicating and Influencing (CSBC3)
* Changing and Improving (CSBC3)
Part Two - Interview (Jan 26/Feb 26) This is approximately for one hour interview held at Abbeywood Bristol.
This will be on the same day as the assessment and will last for one hour, you will be assessed against the following competencies below and will need to provide examples using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This will contribute to 50% of your overall score.
* Working Together (CSBC3)
* Communicating and Influencing (CSBC3)
* Changing and Improving (CSBC3)
Travel costs to attend the assessment centre/interview will not be reimbursed by SDA.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an assessment day.
Please contact SDA-PD-EarlyTalent@mod.gov.uk mailbox for any questions regarding this vacancy.
Essential Qualifications required to apply
Please add all qualifications (GCSE and Degree) - failure to do this will cause your application to be rejected.
* Five full GCSEs at A*-C or grades 4-9, including English Language and Maths. A degree at a 2.1 or higher or a 2:2 with Honours will be accepted.
* Formal certificates must be provided within three months of signing the contract. Failure to provide this will result in your contract being withdrawn. Evidence of the above qualifications will be required as part of your pre-employment checks before a formal offer can be made.
Please see the guide for acceptable equivalents
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk.
Reserved posts are open to UK nationals only, while non reserved are open to UK, Commonwealth, EEA and certain non-EEA nationals. Contact your recruitment team if youre unsure about this jobs status.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
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.
The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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 requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
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 Inclusion
The 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) .
Apply and further information
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 applicants
Job contact :
* Name : Lis Carter
* Email : SDA-PD-Earlytalent@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : DBSCivPers-ResopurcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.
Attachments 20251308-SDA_Graduate_Success Profile_DRAFT_Version 1-O Opens in new window (docx, 50kB) CS_Behaviours_2018-DES-branded-v6 Opens in new window (pdf, 10MB) PMPC Technical Competence Framework July 2020 Final Opens in new window (pdf, 209kB) Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 128kB)