Navy Command-Business Administrator -

Portsmouth

Job Summary

Interested in current and international affairs? Want to further your own knowledge of strategy within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Royal Navy (RN), whilst delivering real-time outputs?

This is a unique role providing support and enablement to the Navy's internal think tank: the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre (RNSSC). A small and dynamic team, the RNSSC brings external thinking to the RN's senior management, challenging orthodoxy and developing future strategic leadership. As the Business Manager and Administrator, you will contribute to and facilitate the work of the team, playing a vital role in liaising with academics, universities and research institutions, stimulating learning and critical thinking within the RN.

Under the strategic direction of Director for Strategy and Policy (DSP) and the leadership of the Head of the RNSSC, the job holder will be based in HM Naval Base Portsmouth. However, the role includes opportunities to attend events around the UK and potentially abroad.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

The successful candidate will:

• Support and enable the main business function of RNSSC in formulating points of liaison between the RN, academic bodies, and independent think tanks.
• Act as a first point of contact for enquires into the RNSSC, signposting, forwarding and replying as appropriate.
• Assist in the organisation of lectures, seminars, and discussions as directed.
• Actively monitor and track external academic and think tank activity and circulate relevant material to the RNSSC team.
• Develop and maintain efficient ways of working, exploring the use of applications such as Microsoft Teams to aid productivity and collaborative working.
• Maintenance and upkeep of the RNSSC team SharePoint, intranet page, and internet page.
• Ensuring the team has the necessary resources (IT and otherwise) available to enable it to achieve its strategic objectives.
• Manage the day-to-day financial arrangements of the RNSSC, liaising as required with the Business Administrators in the Naval Staff, and otherwise with Navy Finance to prepare the RNSSC’s budget bids.
• Book travel and make logistical arrangements for lectures and events in support of RNSSC activity as required.
• Maintain an up-to-date record of all mandatory and further training and continuous professional development across the RNSSC team.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining smooth communications between the RNSSC, the Naval Staff, and NCHQ.
  
  

The Successful Candidate Will

• Support and enable the main business function of RNSSC in formulating points of liaison between the RN, academic bodies, and independent think tanks.
• Act as a first point of contact for enquires into the RNSSC, signposting, forwarding and replying as appropriate.
• Assist in the organisation of lectures, seminars, and discussions as directed.
• Actively monitor and track external academic and think tank activity and circulate relevant material to the RNSSC team.
• Develop and maintain efficient ways of working, exploring the use of applications such as Microsoft Teams to aid productivity and collaborative working.
• Maintenance and upkeep of the RNSSC team SharePoint, intranet page, and internet page.
• Ensuring the team has the necessary resources (IT and otherwise) available to enable it to achieve its strategic objectives.
• Manage the day-to-day financial arrangements of the RNSSC, liaising as required with the Business Administrators in the Naval Staff, and otherwise with Navy Finance to prepare the RNSSC’s budget bids.
• Book travel and make logistical arrangements for lectures and events in support of RNSSC activity as required.
• Maintain an up-to-date record of all mandatory and further training and continuous professional development across the RNSSC team.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining smooth communications between the RNSSC, the Naval Staff, and NCHQ.
  
  

Person specification

The Ideal Candidate Will Meet The Following Essential Criteria

• Interest in current, international, and strategic affairs.
• Possess good written communication skills.
• Have a growth mindset - willing to learn and develop themselves and others.
• Motivated self-starter.
  
  

Whilst it may be desirable for applicants to be educated to a degree standard in a related field, this is not essential; the RNSSC actively seeks voices from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
  
  

Alongside your salary of £26,235, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,600 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%
  
  

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 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.

It is strongly recommended that potential candidates familiarise themselves with the relevant Behaviours, and the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method of writing competency statements.

When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.

Sift and interview to be held at HMNB Portsmouth.

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours/Experience:

• CV
• Personal Statement (250 words)
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
  
  

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
  
  

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: [email protected] .

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

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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 : Andrew (Andy) Young
• Email : [email protected]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]
  
  

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: [email protected].