Deputy Director International Programmes and Exports Delivery

Job summary

The National Armaments Group (NAD Group) brings together the people, organisations and expertise responsible for delivering the UK’s national arsenal — from science and innovation, through acquisition and delivery, to sustainment and support. Led by the National Armaments Director, the Group exists to strengthen how Defence works with industry and allies, simplify complex systems, and ensure the right capabilities are available when they are needed most. By operating as one integrated group, NAD is designed to reduce duplication, improve decision‑making, and create clearer accountability across Defence. In this role, you will be working in a part of Defence that sits at the heart of national security, with a clear mission and growing influence over how Defence operates, invests and delivers.​

The Deputy Director International Programmes and Exports Delivery is responsible for leading the delivery of exports and capability programmes, including collaborative programmes involving technology sharing, equipment projects, and multinational partnerships. You will negotiate, establish and manage the frameworks for Government-to-Government (G2G) agreements and support Government-to-Industry (G2I) contracts, shaping customer requirements, negotiating with partners and setting commercial conditions to ensure delivery aligns with the UK Government’s priorities and strengthens the UK's international partnerships and prosperity.

This is a unique leadership role at the heart of the UK's international defence relationships, where you will help shape and deliver programmes that strengthen partnerships with allies and enhance military capability around the world. If you are passionate about leadership, motivated by complex challenges, and excited by the prospect of working in an international environment where your contribution truly matters, we'd love to hear from you.

Job description

The current responsibilities of the role include:​

• Lead and deliver international programmes, including multi-nation exports, early science and technology projects, and collaborative shared initiatives. Act as the contracting authority for Government-to-Government (G2G) agreements, support Government-to-Industry (G2I) contracts, and provide international engagement assistance to Portfolios managing sales of existing platforms, systems, and inventory.​
• Proactively manage programmes and contracts to ensure effective fulfilment of all deliverables. Where necessary, establish and safely operationalise an effective G2Gprovision, coordinating activities across Defence Lines of Development (DLODs), such as training and logistics support.​
• Negotiate and secure programme opportunities, engaging with customers to define requirements, develop solutions, and refine offerings. Lead negotiations with partners on terms and conditions, commercial arrangements, contract preparation, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), workshare agreements, industrial (offset)offers, and intellectual property (IP) generation and exploitation.​
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the Director General National Armaments Plans & Portfolios teams and support NAD delivery functions. Contribute to options development, commissioning, and delivery, ensuring export programmes are prioritised and aligned with the UK’s Programme of Record and wider defence priorities.​
• Ensure compliance with relevant legal and government commercial policies, seeking and securing expertise in export controls, MOUs and capability protection measures to safeguard UK national security interests, protect sensitive technologies, and uphold the UK’s reputation as a responsible global actor.
• Manage stakeholder relationships by fostering trust and collaboration with international governments, companies and industry partners to ensure that programme delivery remains aligned with HMG’s strategic objectives, and international commitments.​
• Be accountable for programme budgets, approvals and contribute to the management of a self-funding (Customer-funded) resourcing model for programme delivery, enabling the financial sustainability of programme delivery whilst ensuring compliance with financial policies and protecting the taxpayer from the costs of supporting export programmes. ​
• Provide strong leadership to a mixed team of civil servants and military personnel. Promote continuous improvement, learning, diversity, and an inclusive, safe working environment. Build team capability to deliver high-quality advice to Ministers and collaborate effectively with other government departments, industry, and international partners.

Person specification

• Extensive experience leading complex international programme delivery in an ambiguous and maturing environment, with clear understanding and experience of negotiating and managing contracts, budget management and ensuring legal compliance.
• Demonstrable experience of shaping and leading high-performing programme delivery teams, with evidence of driving continuous improvement and building capability, promoting diversity and creating a safe and inclusive work environment.
• Experience working with UK and international industrial partners, with a deep understanding of industry and a proven ability to navigate the complexities of working across boundaries to enable successful delivery.
• Demonstrable ability to build and maintain successful relationships with a complex set of stakeholders across a variety of organisations, with evidence of aligning strategic objectives and achieving outcomes through strong relationships, persuasion and influencing rather than positional power.
• Strong commercial acumen, with clear evidence of understanding and balancing risk to identify the right solution and influence stakeholders to buy into this solution.
• Experience and understanding of Government-to-Government (G2G), Government-to-Industry (G2I) contracting mechanisms, or equivalent partnering agreements and long-term partnerships.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Ministry of Defence contributes £24,914 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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%

Things you need to know

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 no later than 23:55 on Sunday 30 August 2026. Thiswill involve providing the two documents which are weighted equally:

• A CV (no more