Blackpool, Bristol, Glasgow
Job Summary
The Defence Business Services (DBS) Chief Operating Officer is accountable for overseeing delivery of a significant range of services that support the successful operation of Defence. You will be a pivotal member of the DBS Executive Team, providing strong and collegiate leadership across the organisation and driving forward key priorities in the Strategic Defence Review.
Defence is going through a period of unprecedent change including modernising its Corporate services in line for the Governments Strategy for Shared Services. In this role, you will collaborate with a counterpart Programme Director for Corporate Services Modernisation (CSM) in supporting the preparation of this major change delivery across Defence, ensuring DBS fully inputs into the major change, supporting a single Enterprise Resource Platform across the Defence Enterprise, and leads in creation of a new Shared Service Operating Model in line with CSM and Defence Reform.
The Vacancy Holder Jennifer Chard will be offering an online Q&A session on
Wednesday 1
st
October between 10:00 - 10:45
to provide an overview of the role and welcome any questions you may have. Please access the meeting by clicking
here
. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process. If you have any issues accessing the session, please contact: People-CivHR-
Job Description
* A member of the Defence Business Service (DBS) Executive Team; a key leadership role across the wider DBS organisation of c2000 FTE, responsible for executing strategy and championing change across all deliverables.
* Accountable for overseeing and growing all operational delivery within DBS including business-critical services such as payroll, finance, and HR services, Armed Forces Pension Scheme and business continuity and resilience capability within DBS.
* Management of a number of major transformational project/ programmes
* Driving productivity and efficiency of the business and identifying ways to reform and modernise to improve effectiveness and customer experience, reporting performance against Key Performance Indicators.
* Lead on the continuing integration of operational areas of the DBS Organisational redesign, and prepare for the next phase aligned with DBS Corporate Plan, Corporate Service Modernisation and Defence Reform. This includes implementing a new operating model for shared services and onboarding or transitioning new services into the shared service organisation to realise benefits for Defence.
* Develop and drive effective working partnerships with stakeholders from across Government departments, MOD and the Private sector, aligning organisational objectives of DBS' Service Delivery Model, to deliver user centric, efficient and effective shared services.
* Deputising for the CEO; helping to create and maintain a work environment conducive to teamwork, creativity, quality, operational efficiency, and value acceleration aligned with building an organisational culture and a service mindset for DBS.
* 'Contract Owner' for the £340m outsourced delivery contract for the Armed Forces and Veterans Services, working with Ministers to deliver high profile projects successfully.
* The direct line management of a number of executive team members in operational delivery roles.
* A member of the Defence Business Service (DBS) Executive Team; a key leadership role across the wider DBS organisation of c2000 FTE, responsible for executing strategy and championing change across all deliverables.
* Accountable for overseeing and growing all operational delivery within DBS including business-critical services such as payroll, finance, and HR services, Armed Forces Pension Scheme and business continuity and resilience capability within DBS.
* Management of a number of major transformational project/ programmes
* Driving productivity and efficiency of the business and identifying ways to reform and modernise to improve effectiveness and customer experience, reporting performance against Key Performance Indicators.
* Lead on the continuing integration of operational areas of the DBS Organisational redesign, and prepare for the next phase aligned with DBS Corporate Plan, Corporate Service Modernisation and Defence Reform. This includes implementing a new operating model for shared services and onboarding or transitioning new services into the shared service organisation to realise benefits for Defence.
* Develop and drive effective working partnerships with stakeholders from across Government departments, MOD and the Private sector, aligning organisational objectives of DBS' Service Delivery Model, to deliver user centric, efficient and effective shared services.
* Deputising for the CEO; helping to create and maintain a work environment conducive to teamwork, creativity, quality, operational efficiency, and value acceleration aligned with building an organisational culture and a service mindset for DBS.
* 'Contract Owner' for the £340m outsourced delivery contract for the Armed Forces and Veterans Services, working with Ministers to deliver high profile projects successfully.
* The direct line management of a number of executive team members in operational delivery roles.
Person specification
* A track record of strong leadership in transforming shared services operations and/or large-scale operational delivery enterprise in a public sector or a large-scale private organisation. Proven ability in delivering operational outcomes and driving improvements in operational efficiency.
* An inspiring, confident and transformational leader with a proven track record in leadership positions across large public or private sector organisations, building, developing and continuously improving high performing, diverse and inclusive teams.
* Excellent communication skills with an ability to establish and maintain influential relationships with senior stakeholders across a wide range of complex organisations.
* A high level of commercial awareness, with a proven ability to understand, negotiate and influence across a complex, multi-dimensional supply chain.
* A strong understanding and expertise in Project and Portfolio management at Board level.
* Experience in overseeing governance structures, especially in a shared services or vendor management context, ensuring adherence to regulatory frameworks and organisational guidelines.
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 role
* An environment with flexible working options
* A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
* A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Selection process details
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process no later than
23:55 Sunday 5
th
October 2025
and will involve providing 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-
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 2 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.
Security
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.
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 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.
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).
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 : SCS Recruitment Team
* Email : People-CivHR-
Recruitment team
* Email : People-CivHR-