Navy Command, Head of Communications and Engagement
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Navy Command Head Quarters, Portsmouth, PO2 8BY and MoD Main Building, London, SW1A 2HB
Job Summary
Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) is the nerve centre of the Naval Service. It supports operations around the globe and provides the ships, people, aircraft and equipment to deliver the UK’s defence policy. Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and exciting jobs in different subject areas.
In Navy Command, our civil servants work alongside their military colleagues in jobs that matter; jobs which often have a direct impact on the quality of the operational capabilities we deliver.
Roles can offer great job satisfaction and there are many opportunities to develop and progress both within the Ministry of Defence and across the wider Civil Service.
The Submarine Directorate in Navy Command is responsible for all submarine in service capability and availability, including oversight of the Submarine Flotilla and Clyde Naval Base.
The Clyde Capital Infrastructure Programmes is responsible for the delivering the major infrastructure and capability investments required to make the vision of "An integrated submarine operating base at Clyde, supporting a Submarine Force that is safe, secure, sustainable and resilient, and ready to excel in operations out to 2067” a physical reality.
The Head of Communications and Engagement is responsible for leading the external communication and engagement with stakeholders across the Royal Navy, and a wide variety of stakeholders within the MoD and across government.
This role is responsible for engagement with UK and Scottish Minister’s, their offices and the programme team.
The Head of Communications and Engagement is responsible for developing and managing the integrated communication plan, identifying key stakeholders, clearly communicating the vision of the programmes while listening to stakeholders and ensuring their voice is heard.
This role will advise and assure projects and Programmes on all internal and external communications, work with the programme directors to ensure we collectively engage in the right way with the right stakeholders at the right time. The successful candidate is responsible for preparing and assuring the high-quality briefing needed by ministers, senior officials, and committees. The role is responsible for all public facing briefings, responses to PQs, Freedom of Information’s, and ministerial correspondence.
There is an expectation for occasional travel to other defence locations.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
Programme Delivery
* Takes personal responsibility for owning and driving delivery of the integrated communication plan.
Business Case
* Support the development, communication, and approval of Clyde Capital programme Business Cases.
Communications & Stakeholder Management
* Identify and independently manage internal and external stakeholder relationships, highlighting where necessary the need for Senior Responsible Officer support
Guidance
* Provide direction and guidance on communication engagement to project team and more broadly across as required across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
Communication
* Clearly communicating the vision of the programme while listening to stakeholders and ensuring their voice is heard.
Risk and Issues
* Proactively identify risk, issues and dependencies, within the programme and across stakeholders.
Governance
* Take responsibility for public facing briefings, responses to PQs, FOIs, and ministerial correspondence.
Programme Performance and Controls
* Preparing and assuring the high-quality briefing needed by ministers, senior officials, and committees to make effective and timely decisions.
Leadership Vision and Objectives
Cascade vision and translate into delivery objectives for the team. Lead the programme to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes.
Relationship management
* Work across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise in a collaborative way with delivery agents and industry partners in the interests of delivering programme outputs in a coordinated and collegiate way.
Programme Delivery
* Takes personal responsibility for owning and driving delivery of the integrated communication plan.
Business Case
* Support the development, communication, and approval of Clyde Capital programme Business Cases.
Communications & Stakeholder Management
* Identify and independently manage internal and external stakeholder relationships, highlighting where necessary the need for Senior Responsible Officer support
Guidance
* Provide direction and guidance on communication engagement to project team and more broadly across as required across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.
Communication
* Clearly communicating the vision of the programme while listening to stakeholders and ensuring their voice is heard.
Risk and Issues
* Proactively identify risk, issues and dependencies, within the programme and across stakeholders.
Governance
* Take responsibility for public facing briefings, responses to PQs, FOIs, and ministerial correspondence.
Programme Performance and Controls
* Preparing and assuring the high-quality briefing needed by ministers, senior officials, and committees to make effective and timely decisions.
Leadership Vision and Objectives
Cascade vision and translate into delivery objectives for the team. Lead the programme to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes.
Relationship management
* Work across the Defence Nuclear Enterprise in a collaborative way with delivery agents and industry partners in the interests of delivering programme outputs in a coordinated and collegiate way.
Person specification
Essential Experience
* Experience of work in a project or programmes in some capacity and or the departmental context within which they are delivered.
* Experience of working with complexity and of managing and delivering in uncertainty and complex environments
* Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and bring together stakeholders from across organisational boundaries to ensure collaborative working.
* Experience of working with Senior Official and Ministers producing and assuring briefings at pace.
Desirable Experience
* Experience of communication in a project or programme environment
* Demonstrable commitment to learning and using established project management methodologies to enable successful delivery.
* Experience of Infrastructure projects or programmes.
* To hold managing successful programmes or APM qualifications or be willing to work towards these.
* Experience of working in or knowledge of the defence sector – either through government or industry
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Leadership
* Changing and Improving
* Making Effective Decisions
* Delivering at Pace
Alongside your salary of £59,690, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,292 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
* Learning and development tailored to your role
* An environment with flexible working options
* A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
* A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
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.
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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Candidates can apply online via the Civil Service Jobs website by completing the application form before the deadline shown. Apply using the Civil Service Jobs apply button, filling in all required details in all sections. Using the Success Profiles link for information on format and style, ensure you provide evidence for all Behaviours and Experience sections requested in the appropriate competency style.
Sift Stage
Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history, full details of education and qualifications and previous experiences and skills. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.
Candidates will be required to complete a Statement of Suitability/Personal Statement of no more 500 words, providing details relevant to the essential and desirable experience in the job advert.
The requirements for the role have been benchmarked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you selected for an interview.
Interview Stage
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Leadership
* Changing and Improving
* Making Effective Decisions
* Delivering at Pace
Further Information
Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit.
You will also be expected to achieve Security Check clearance for this role
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
* Name : navysm-dirclyderesource@mod.gov.uk
* Email : navysm-dirclyderesource@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Not Applicable
Employment type
* Employment type
Full-time
Job function
* Job function
Marketing, Public Relations, and Writing/Editing
* Industries
Defense and Space Manufacturing
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