Navy Command- Project Director (Finnart), Clyde Transformation Programme

Job summary

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for todays challenges and tomorrows opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navys readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navys nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in-service management to long-term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

Clyde Transformation Programme is a Navy Command programme delivering critical infrastructure at His Majestys Naval Base Clyde to support the Royal Navys current and future submarine fleet. The programme includes new-build facilities, refurbishment of existing assets, and delivery of a resilient out-of-water engineering capability.

Youll be based at Kentigern House in Glasgow, a key Ministry of Defence hub in the west of Scotland. It provides a central location for a range of defence teams, supporting critical programme delivery and collaboration across the organisation. Its position in the heart of Glasgow offers strong links to wider defence activity, enabling effective engagement with stakeholders while contributing to the citys vibrant professional community. There will be some requirements to travel to Finnart Oil Terminal and HMNBC.

For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A sole UK national refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Are you ready to lead some of Defence's most significant infrastructure investments? As Project Director (Finnart), youll shape and oversee a portfolio of three major projects that will modernise critical Defence facilities, strengthen operational capability and support long-term Royal Navy objectives. Working with senior stakeholders across government and Defence, youll set the vision, secure investment and guide delivery of projects that will have a lasting impact on the future of the Defence estate.

As Project Director (Finnart), you will lead a portfolio of major infrastructure and capability projects that support the long-term transformation of Defence operations in Scotland. Working as part of the Clyde Transformation Programme (CTP) Senior Leadership Team, you will translate strategic priorities into a clear, affordable and deliverable programme of investment, ensuring projects are aligned to operational needs and deliver lasting benefits.

You will provide leadership across a portfolio that includes the development of a new Oil Fuel Depot at Finnart, the future development of Finnart as a strategic Defence asset, and improvements to Glen Mallan to support submarine operations. This will involve shaping requirements, developing investment strategies, securing business case approvals and working with delivery partners to ensure projects are delivered successfully.

The role requires you to balance competing priorities, resources, timelines and budgets across multiple projects while maintaining a clear focus on strategic outcomes. You will oversee governance, assurance and performance across the portfolio, ensuring informed decisions are made and risks are effectively managed throughout project delivery.

You will build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across Defence and government, bringing together a wide range of organisations to achieve shared objectives. Acting as the senior client representative, you will work closely with delivery partners and other key stakeholders to align priorities, resolve challenges and maintain momentum across the portfolio.

As the portfolio grows, you will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, creating the structures, capabilities and ways of working needed to support successful delivery. You will provide clear leadership, foster collaboration and ensure the team is equipped to meet both current and future demands.

The role offers a unique opportunity to influence significant investment decisions, shape the future use of strategically important Defence sites and play a leading role in one of Defence's most complex and high-profile transformation programmes.

We value flexible ways of working. This role requires regular onsite attendance (around 60% of the working week) to benefit from face-to-face collaboration, while offering flexibility of hours to support work life balance and business needs. During the initial period, you may be asked to attend more frequently to get familiar with the site, team, and responsibilities

Person specification

What you will be doing:

• Lead a portfolio of major infrastructure and transformation projects, shaping the long-term future of the Finnart and Glen Mallan sites and ensuring investment is aligned to Defence priorities, operational needs and strategic objectives.
• Provide client-side leadership across the portfolio, developing requirements, securing business case approvals and working closely with delivery partners to ensure projects deliver the intended outcomes and benefits.
• Oversee governance, assurance, risk, budget and resource management across multiple projects, making informed decisions and balancing competing demands to achieve the best outcomes for Defence.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across Defence and government, representing the portfolio at key investment and governance forums and bringing organisations together around shared priorities.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, creating the capability, accountability and organisational structure needed to support the successful delivery of a complex and evolving portfolio.

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

• Significant experience leading complex, high-value projects, programmes or portfolios, including setting strategic direction, developing investment plans and delivering outcomes through business case approval, implementation and benefits realisation.
• Strong experience of leading within complex stakeholder environments, acting as an intelligent client, establishing effective governance and assurance arrangements, and working collaboratively with partners, suppliers and delivery organisations to achieve successful outcomes.
• Proven ability to make evidence-based decisions and balance competing priorities across cost, risk, schedule and operational requirements, alongside experience of managing significant budgets, commercial activity, resources and multidisciplinary teams.
• A recognised project delivery qualification or accreditation, or a willingness to achieve the required accreditation within an agreed period following appointment.

Desirable criteria:

• Chartership from a relevant professional body such as APM
• APM PMQ or equivalent

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of 72,840, Ministry of Defence contributes 21,101 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).

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon co