HERA SO2 Project and Change Support

A vacancy will arise for a Sqn Ldr (Any Profession) to serve as SO2 Project & Change Support within the Project HERA Team based at RAF Cranwell on Full Time Reserve Service (Limited Commitment) Terms and Conditions of Service with an initial proposed start date of 04 May 2026 (or earlier/later subject to candidate status). Alternative Working Arrangements (AWA) may be available to allow Remote Working from a location other than RAF Cranwell but the successful applicant will be expected to regularly attend meetings and workshops face-to-face with the rest of the team; AWA will be open to negotiation depending upon the needs of the Service and the individual.

Over the last three decades the RAF has elected to out-source a variety of support service functions on stations through different contractors via Multi-Activity Contracts (MACs). These were consolidated through programme HADES 3 enabling and support services contracts to 15 RAF (and one Army and 2 CSOC) units. The remaining MAC was replaced by the RAF Brize Norton Support Contract (BSC); both HADES and BSC contracts are due for reprovision by 2028.

The role of Project HERA is to replace the HADES contracts and the BSC. It also provides the opportunity to broaden and deepen the scope of current services and expand the number of locations where they are delivered.

HERA is a complex project: individuals will be expected to grasp this complexity and rise to the challenge of delivering an enduring value for money solution that is both robust and supports the RAFs operational outputs.

As a staff officer role SO2 Project & Change Support will be responsible to the Project HERA Team Leader and will be involved with developing solution options and for supporting the compilation management scrutiny and staffing of the HERA Full Business Case (FBC). Activities may also include the production of Information Notes and Review Notes as required engagement with the relevant Scrutiny and Approvals organisations and supporting evidence collation.

To enable the selected individual to perform this role involvement in a wider set of project activities will be crucial. This will include direct involvement in the preparation and execution of all aspects of HERAs tendering and negotiation phase and is likely to include direct involvement in the evaluation of industry bids for HERA.

Throughout the progressing phases of the procurement process SO2 Project & Change Support will variously be responsible for:

1. Leading the compilation management scrutiny and staffing of the HERA FBC; including the production of Information and Review Notes as required as well as planning activity leading to the submission of the FBC;
2. Tailoring of the Generic Evidence Table for the Project to produce the Specific Evidence Table;
3. Liaising regularly with the Air Scrutiny and Approvals Team (ASAT) and the Defence Portfolio and Approvals Secretariat (DPAS) for Business Case (BC) staffing and review this will include effective and timely management of all meetings agenda preparation and production of the Record of Decisions for approval by the Project Team Leader;
4. Liaising with appropriate SMEs for input into the relevant case sections of the BC (e.g. Strategic Economic Financial Commercial Management);
5. Setting up and leading regular BC Working Groups as required;
6. Supporting the delivery of a new Service Delivery (performance assessment and management) Data tool;
7. Managing the development of the Mobilisation Transition and Implementation Plan;
8. Supporting the identification of further Unit-level technical and enabling services functions and locations suitable for outsourcing consideration;
9. Wider involvement in the preparation and execution of the HERA tendering and negotiation phase will be crucial to enable SO2 Project & Change Support to perform the tasks detailed above.
10. Any other Project related tasks as directed by the Project HERA Senior Military Advisor and/or the Project HERA Team Leader.