Head of Digital Capability

About the Role

As Head of Digital Capability – Submarines, you will lead and develop a digital team to meet current and future business needs, deploying staff to approved programmes and owning a defined segment of the RRSL Digital strategy. You will ensure process compliance throughout the digital lifecycle and align activities with business operating principles and other capability leads. • Provide technical leadership to the Digital resource group and ensure lifecycle compliance. • Create and maintain resource plans to meet delivery commitments. • Secure sufficient resources through subcontracting and recruitment, aligned with the Digital supply chain model. • Own a segment of the business strategy/program and identify required capabilities and resources. • Drive effective performance management via the Business Plan Deployment Process. • Lead and develop team members across disciplines, covering training, performance, reward, HSE and security. • Maintain staff qualifications and sustainable skill sets through multi‑skilling, rotation, and competency frameworks. • Contribute to business strategy and support budgeting, load and capacity planning with Digital Business Managers. • Act as the focal point for communication within the Resource Group. • Manage functional interfaces and ensure appropriate engineering lifecycle reviews with specialists. • Uphold professional standards using corporate methodology and ensure regulatory compliance. • Promote knowledge management via capture, lessons learned, best‑practice guides, and sharing. • Drive efficiency through process review, teamwork, continuous improvement and operational best practice. • Own the relationship between digital and the supply chain where appropriate, ensuring integration. • Apply Health, Safety and Environment policy with a focus on continuous improvement. • Lead the Digital communication strategy in partnership with the business communication team.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸technical leadership
• ▸resource planning
• ▸strategic ownership
• ▸performance management
• ▸team development
• ▸process improvement

What You Bring

The ideal candidate holds at least a BEng degree (higher degree preferred) and demonstrates a solid understanding of digital technologies with the ability to influence decisions. You should possess sound engineering judgment, strong leadership skills to build high‑performing teams, familiarity with quality policies, and experience applying process‑improvement techniques within a digital organisation, while maintaining a business‑centric focus on delivery, cost and quality. Rolls‑Royce is committed to diversity and inclusion, supporting a workforce that reflects varied backgrounds and perspectives. The role requires UK Security Check clearance (or eligibility) and is open only to UK nationals or MoD‑approved dual nationals; the company will assist with the clearance process, and candidates may be asked to complete online cognitive and behavioural assessments as part of selection. • Hold a degree (minimum BEng) or equivalent; higher degree preferred. • Demonstrate understanding of Digital Technology and influence key decisions. • Exhibit sound engineering judgement and knowledge of sector customers and programmes. • Show effective leadership skills and ability to build high‑performing teams. • Understand Company Quality policies and processes within the resource group. • Experience applying process improvement techniques and driving business improvements. • Proven experience working in a Digital team or organisation. • Possess a business‑centric mindset focused on delivery, cost, quality and solution value. • Must hold or be eligible for UK Security Check clearance; only UK nationals or MoD‑approved dual nationals can be considered.

Requirements

• ▸beng
• ▸digital
• ▸leadership
• ▸process improvement
• ▸quality
• ▸security clearance

Benefits

Employees enjoy excellent development prospects, a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that includes bonuses, employee assistance, and discounts. The role operates on a hybrid model, with an expectation to be on‑site in Derby about three days a week for collaboration while allowing flexibility to work from home or elsewhere.

Work Environment

Hybrid