NUCLEAR RESEARCH ADVISORY COUNCIL - 3 Members
- Body
- Defence Nuclear Organisation
- Appointing Department
- Ministry of Defence
- Sectors
- Defence, Science & Technology
- Location
- London and various other sites
- Number of Vacancies
- 3
- Remuneration
- This is a remunerated Non-Departmental Public Body position paying £380 per day. Travel and other reasonable expenses will be paid in line with MOD policy. This post is not pensionable.
- Time Requirements
- Up to 20 days per year
Campaign Timeline
-
Competition Launched
01/05/2019
-
Closed for Applications
29/05/2019
-
Panel Sift
04/06/2019
-
Final Interview Date
27th and 28th June and 4th July 2019
-
Announcement
17/08/2020 at 13:00
Announcement
An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.
Three new members were appointed to the Nuclear Research Advisory Council for a period of 3 years from 15 August 2019 to 14 August 2022.
Date: 17/08/2020
Vacancy Description
About the Nuclear Research Advisory Council
The Ministry of Defence is looking to appoint a new Member to the Nuclear Research Advisory Council (NRAC). You will be independent of the Ministry of Defence operational activities and will be expected to apply intellectual rigour in support of the NRAC programme.
NRAC provides independent, external, evidence-based advice to the MOD Chief Scientific Adviser (Nuclear) (CSA(N)), MOD Director Warhead (and Senior Responsible Owner, (SRO)), DG Nuclear, and other senior MOD officials as necessary.
Terms of Reference
NRAC advises upon the UK’s ability to design, certify, manufacture and support an effective and reliable nuclear stockpile in the context of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This includes assessments of effectiveness, resilience and efficiency in terms of:
- The UK warhead programme
- The technical capabilities and resources required to support warhead-related activities
- Strategic arrangements and planning
- Collaboration with industry, academia, government and international allies.
Role of Members
The Council consists of a Chair, a number of Members, and a Secretariat. A variety of technical skills and expertise is required across the Council to enable effective coverage of the Council’s Terms of Reference. The Council’s strategic direction and work programme are reviewed annually by the Chair with input from Members.
Members of the NRAC have a collective responsibility for the operation of the Council. They are expected to apply independent intellectual rigour in support of the NRAC work programme. To carry out its work programme, the Council has mandate to hold meetings with MOD, the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), and other associated agencies and bodies to conduct reviews, receive presentations, attend facility tours, and participate in other activities related to the Terms of Reference. NRAC outputs are delivered in the form of written reports and letters, supplemented with meetings and briefings with stakeholders. In supporting the Council, Members are expected to:
- Support development of the NRAC work programme by identifying topics for review (understanding the strategic aim, and why those topics are important), what the key questions are and what part of the UK Warhead programme they affect.
- Contribute to NRAC’s Annual Report and other written outputs and briefings
- Engage fully in collective consideration of the issues, taking account of the full range of relevant factors, including any guidance issued by the sponsor department or the responsible minister.
- Comply at all times with the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies and with the rules relating to the use of public funds and to conflicts of interest.
- Respond appropriately to complaints, if necessary with reference to the sponsor department.
- Ensure that the Council does not exceed its powers or functions.
The Council is assisted by MOD officials, including the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) who act as the sponsor department and provide the Secretariat.
NRAC formally reports through the Chair to the MOD Chief Scientific Adviser (Nuclear) (CSA(N), MOD Director Warhead (and Senior Responsible Owner (SRO)), DG Nuclear and other senior MOD officials as necessary, and has formal access via CSA(N) to the Secretary of State (SofS) to whom the Council is accountable.
Communications between the Council, CSA(N) and the SRO will generally be through the Chair, except where the Council has agreed that an individual member should act on its behalf. Nevertheless, any Council member has the right of access to CSA(N) and to the SRO on any matter which he or she believes raises important issues relating to his or her duties as a Council Member. In such cases the agreement of the rest of the Council should normally be sought.
Person Specification
Member – Aerospace Engineering
Essential Criteria:
- Significant experience as a Senior Aerospace Engineer in the missile, rocketry, satellite or similar air/space platform environment.
- Familiarity with the full range of modelling and simulation techniques available.
- Demonstrate professional standing in the field of Aerospace Engineering.
In addition to:
- Experience of operating as a Member of a senior Board or Committee, with an understanding of corporate collegial behaviour and the ability to provide constructive challenge and independent judgement.
- Strong analytical skills with ability to contribute to complex interdisciplinary discussions and make balanced recommendations across the range of technical areas within the Council’s remit.
- Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to communicate within a complex and specialist multidisciplinary team and to generate trust and confidence in a wide range of stakeholders.
Desirable criteria:
- An understanding of the MOD acquisition lifecycle (CADMID cycle: Concept, Assessment, Demonstration, Manufacture, In-Service and Disposal), especially in relation to long-lifetime capability delivery.
- An understanding of re-entry vehicle design.
- An understanding of the UK nuclear deterrent.
Member – Systems Engineering
Essential Criteria
- Significant experience as a Senior Systems Engineer.
- Familiarity with the full range of modelling and simulation techniques available.
- Demonstrate professional standing in the field of Systems Engineering.
In addition to:
- Experience of operating as a Member of a senior Board or Committee, with an understanding of corporate collegial behaviour and the ability to provide constructive challenge and independent judgement.
- Strong analytical skills with ability to contribute to complex interdisciplinary discussions and make balanced recommendations across the range of technical areas within the Council’s remit.
- Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to communicate within a complex and specialist multidisciplinary team and to generate trust and confidence in a wide range of stakeholders.
Desirable criteria:
- An understanding of the MOD acquisition lifecycle (CADMID cycle: Concept, Assessment, Demonstration, Manufacture, In-Service and Disposal), especially in relation to long-lifetime capability delivery.
- An understanding of systems operation and mitigations in high stress environments.
An understanding of the UK nuclear deterrent
Member – Statistics
Essential Criteria:
- An eminent professional Statistician with a clear understanding of statistical terms and concepts, and of modern statistical practice.
- Ability to communicate methods, results and findings to non-statisticians.
- Demonstrate professional standing in the field of statistics.
In addition to:
- Experience of operating as a Member of a senior Board or Committee, with an understanding of corporate collegial behaviour and the ability to provide constructive challenge and independent judgement.
- Strong analytical skills with ability to contribute to complex interdisciplinary discussions and make balanced recommendations across the range of technical areas within the Council’s remit.
- Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to communicate within a complex and specialist multidisciplinary team and to generate trust and confidence in a wide range of stakeholders.
Desirable criteria:
- An understanding of the UK nuclear deterrent.
Additional Information
The Panel Members are:
Panel Chair – Mr Roland Knott – DNO Deputy Director (Warhead Capability)
Panel Member – Chair to NRAC
Independent Panel Member – Professor Sir Peter Knight
All panel members have declared that they have taken no part in any political activity within the last 5 years.
How to Apply
Please complete and return the following documents to DBSCivPers-ResNONSTDAPPTS@mod.gov.uk, (preferred method), quoting reference 20364:
- Expression of Interest Form (attached)
- Diversity Monitoring Information Form (attached)
- An up to date CV
- A supporting letter, (maximum of 2 pages A4 with font size point 12) – see attached Information Pack section ‘how to apply’ for details of information required in letter.
- A Guaranteed interview Scheme declaration form (attached)
All applications will receive an acknowledgement of receipt. If you do not hear from us within a few days or have any questions please contact us on 030679 84917 or 030679 85048 quoting reference 20364 NRAC Members.