Army - Approvals and Scrutiny Manager

Job summary

This post sits within Task Force RAPSTONE, based at Army Headquarters in Andover. RAPSTONE delivers transformative capability change through rapid and innovative project delivery, addressing critical capability shortfalls and supporting the Chief of the General Staff's (CGS) intent to triple the Army's fighting power by 2030.

RAPSTONE works at pace to turn urgent operational needs into frontline capability, delivering solutions such as tactical uncrewed systems, counter-UAS technology, electronic warfare, dispersed sensing and mobility platforms. The team works closely with frontline users, industry and Defence partners to deliver modern capability quickly and effectively.

This role focuses on approvals, scrutiny and governance across the RAPSTONE portfolio. Working closely with the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO), project teams, Army HQ staff and corporate functions, you will provide assurance, challenge and decision support to ensure business cases, investment submissions and rapid delivery approaches are robust, proportionate and ready for senior decision-making.

This is a unique opportunity to join a high-performing team at the forefront of Army modernisation, offering exposure to senior leaders, strategic decision-making and innovative capability development.

The post is 37 hours per week.

Job description

Task Force RAPSTONE accelerates the Army's ability to identify, develop and field modern capability against urgent operational needs. Operating across warfare development, rapid acquisition and frontline delivery, RAPSTONE is a key driver of Army modernisation.

As part of a lean, collaborative and high-performing team, you will work alongside military personnel, civil servants, industry partners and senior Defence leaders to support capability decisions that directly impact the Army.

This role sits at the heart of RAPSTONE's approvals and governance activity. You will provide scrutiny, assurance and decision support for business cases, investment submissions and rapid delivery proposals, ensuring they are robust, proportionate and ready for senior decision-making.

Working with Senior Responsible Owners, project teams, finance colleagues and assurance bodies, you will review risks, affordability and deliverability, coordinate governance processes, and translate complex information into clear, decision-ready advice.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a fast-paced, mission-focused organisation tackling some of Defence's most pressing capability challenges. RAPSTONE values initiative, collaboration and continuous improvement, embracing modern ways of working and the effective use of digital tools and emerging technologies.

Key responsibilities:

• Business Case Development and scrutiny
  • Provide rigorous, proportionate scrutiny of outline and full business cases, testing strategic alignment, value for money, deliverability, realism of timelines and the adequacy of risk identification and mitigation

• Governance and approvals management
  • Lead the coordination of approvals across the full P3M lifecycle, acting as the single point of control to ensure submissions are coherent, compliant, and ready for senior decision. Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in approval timelines, recommending and implementing improvements that support rapid capability delivery without weakening governance or control.

• Approvals assurance and delegated authority control
  • Provide independent scrutiny of business cases and investment submissions, ensuring compliance with policy, strategic intent, delegated authorities, and governance requirements prior to consideration by senior boards and committees.

• Delivery acceleration
  • Lead efforts to identify and remove obstacles within approvals, scrutiny and governance processes that could delay capability delivery. Working across stakeholders, develop and implement proportionate, risk-based solutions that improve efficiency, accelerate decision-making and enable the delivery of operational capability at pace while remaining compliant with Defence policy and governance requirements.

• Communications and stakeholder management
  • Identify and manage stakeholder relationships, highlighting the need for senior-level support. Communicate the outcomes of independent assurance activities to relevant stakeholders.

• Guidance
  • Provide direction and guidance on development to the team and more broadly across the departmental profession. Where applicable, ensure adherence to P3M best practice and recognised frameworks (e.g. PRINCE2/MSP where applicable), promoting consistency in governance, controls, templates, and reporting across the portfolio.

• Resource management
  • Scrutinise the use of accelerated or non standard approaches, ensuring deviations from standard process are justified, proportionate, documented, and formally approved, balancing urgency with legal, financial, and reputational safeguards.

• Risks and issues oversight
  • Review and challenge programme and project risk registers, identify cross portfolio dependencies, and escalate systemic or strategic risks to senior leadership with clear analysis and recommendations.

• Audit Readiness
  • Maintain clear audit trails, approvals trackers, and decision logs, ensuring documentation, assurance evidence, and governance records are accurate, traceable, and audit‑ready.

• Leadership and objectives
• • Cascade vision and translate it into delivery objectives for the team. Assist in leading the programme to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes.
    

The successful applicant will be supported to maintain or further develop relevant professional accreditation or qualifications aligned to governance, project delivery, assurance, or investment appraisal.

Person specification

Essential skills required:

• Proven experience leading projects and working within governance, assurance, approvals, or scrutiny functions.
• Demonstrable experience reviewing and challenging business cases or investment submissions, including assessment of strategic fit, value for money, affordability, deliverability, risk, and principles aligned to the HM Treasury Green Book or equivalent frameworks.
• Experience managing or supporting formal approval processes, including submissions to boards or committees and maintaining governance records and audit trails.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to scrutinise complex information, challenge assumptions, and assess affordability, realism, and deliverability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience providing concise, decision-ready advice to senior leaders.
• Sound judgement and confidence to provide constructive challenge in complex or time-critical environments.
• Proficient in project management tools and software.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple submissions, deadlines, priorities, and stakeholder requirements simultaneously.

Desirable skills:

• PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner, and APM Project Fundamentals and Project Management Qualification (PMQ).
• Equivalent industry experience in digital transformation, project management, or related fields is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with government procurement projects, infrastructure, business change, or IT projects is advantageous.

Behaviours

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

• C