Royal Navy Policy Secretariat

Job summary

This role forms sits within the Naval Staff, headed up by the Director of Strategy and Policy. The Naval Staff leads on the development of strategy and policy; engagement with Ministers, the wider MoD and other Front-Line Commands; international and domestic engagement ( allied Navies, events like the Mountbatten Festival of Music) and thought leadership on maritime issues in partnership with academia and think tanks.

This role is an exciting opportunity to coordinate and advise on the full breadth of Royal Navy relevant policy issues, as well as leading a team of Secretariat officers to ensure excellent and timely responses to Parliamentary Questions, Ministerial Correspondence, Parliamentary Committee hearings, and enquiries from the public and the media. The political context, as well as the profound transformation that the Royal Navy is undergoing, will make it a fascinating time for the successful postholder.

The successful candidate will be able to deliver high quality outputs in a fast paced environment, rapidly getting to grips with complex and sensitive issues, coordinating views from a broad range of stakeholders and communicating advice clearly and articulately. They will have line management responsibility for two HEOs, providing their pastoral support and performance management, while managing the parliamentary function (nine staff in total) alongside two other SEOs.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week and will include hybrid working.

This role is available at either Navy Command Headquarters, Portsmouth or Ministry of Defence, London.

If successful, for those applicants who are London based, it is expected that they will travel to Portsmouth around once a month for team meetings and engagement with relevant Navy subject matter experts. All travel costs will be remunerated.

Job description

The Policy Secretariat ensures that the RN fulfils its obligations to Ministers, Parliament and the public. It is a busy environment where we handle a diverse range of issues with much direction from, and engagement with, senior personnel and Ministers, often working to tight deadlines. We lead on all aspects of Parliamentary Business including drafting and submitting parliamentary questions, ministerial correspondence, provision of briefings and draft speeches for Defence debates and advice for Defence Select Committee and other Parliamentary enquires. We also provide support to Ministers, Directorate of Defence Communications and the RN Reactive Communications team on media lines to take. The Secretariat leads on the provision of advice to Ministers on the size, shape, activity and structure of the RN, including wider reputational matters.
This position provides a great development opportunity working within a very busy environment handling multiple subjects, with senior level oversight.

Person specification

Responsibilities �

As a Senior Executive Officer, you will deliver effective Policy and Secretariat advice on behalf of Navy Command and produce high-quality products to Ministers, Senior Officials, Parliament, the General Public and Navy Command Business Partners. Strong engagement with subject matter experts is essential to this role and an understanding of Navy Command business would be beneficial.Provide sound and timely advice to Ministers private offices, using judgement and networks. Ensure all submissions sent, including Ministerial Submissions, are drafted in accordance with established policy, to deadline and business requirement, and to Ministerial satisfaction determined through feedback with Private Offices.Line management of two C2 Parliamentary Officers. Providing guidance and support in regards to their work and broader support across the Parliamentary team. Providing advice and opinion on complex or high-profile matters to Assistant Heads of Secretariat for consideration and to support decision making.Utilising relationships inside Navy Command & Head Office to build trust in the teams� capabilities and outputs. Ensuring the policy and secretariat team are visible and valued, and that their judgement is sought as default. Leading as a business partner for select areas of the RN. Working in close co-ordination with Departmental subject matter experts, Media and Communications staff and Defence Press Officers, you will produce briefing material and Lines to Take, ensuring that the key messages and lines are consistent with Departmental Policy and Naval Communication Strategies. You will ensure that Navy Command, and the wider MOD, are engaged on the role and value of the Policy Secretariat team by building strong working relationships at all levels. This post requires an on-call commitment (around 1 in every 7 weeks) for which an allowance is payable. As a result of this requirement, the post is not suitable for part-time or job share working arrangements. We are advocates of a healthy work-life balance and flexible working, ensuring hours worked are not excessive. However, extended hours may be necessary at limited times to meet ministerial/parliamentary deadlines.

Behaviours

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

Communicating and InfluencingMaking Effective DecisionsLeadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes �11,070 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Learning and development tailored to your roleAn environment with flexible working optionsA culture encouraging inclusion and diversityA with an average employer contribution of 27%

Career Development

From the very first day you will be supported by your manager and colleagues to understand your role and how it supports the RN. You will be encouraged to develop your existing abilities and learn new skills, and we will invest in your continued professional development as part of our ongoing commitment to developing our employees.

We offer support and development in your career, including apprenticeships, that you can undertake while in your role. Successful candidates can discuss their development options with their manager when in post.

As a member of the MOD Policy profession, you will also have the opportunity to a attend a one-week training programme which will provide you with an understanding of what the profession means in MOD, familiarisation with key areas of the business in which the profession works, an overview of the key skills needed for policy roles in MOD, and the context that we work within.

Benefits we offer�

The MOD provides an excellent opportunity to develop skills through personal development and offers flexible working, excellent annual leave and maternity allowances, and a very competitive pension scheme.

In Navy Command we understand the everyday commitments both inside and outside the workplace, so our aim is to provide the flexibility to maintain a great work-life balance. Our headquarters in Portsmouth also offers an impressive range of on-site facilities including a gymnasium, tennis courts and other sporting facilities, a children�s nursery, a caf�/restaurant, a handy shop and plenty of car parking spaces.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at .

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey � we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.� This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

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