Navy Command - Knowledge, Information and Engagement Officer

Job summary

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week

Job description

The role has two distinct strands:

An engagement and communications strand, focused on supporting the delivery of these activities, maintaining digital channels and SharePoint areas, running the events calendar, supporting Town Hall planning, managing feedback loops, producing analytics and supporting focus group and peer network activity. The postholder will also develop video capture and editing skills to enhance the team's multimedia capability.

An information and knowledge management strand, focused on supporting the implementation and continuous improvement of Information Management (IM) and Records Management (RM) practices across the Directorate. This includes ensuring compliance with statutory and departmental requirements, supporting IM engagement and awareness activity, maintaining information structures and records, and building organisational capability in information governance.

What you will be doing:

• Day-to-day ownership of DSM Teams and DSM Hub SP areas, ensuring content is current, accurate, accessible and engaging. Conducting regular content audits, refreshing pages and proactively introducing new ways to present information to staff audiences across all four sites. Maintaining the overall look, feel and navigability of the team's digital presence in line with organisational standards.

• Analytics and insight monitoring engagement metrics across DSM internal communications channels and producing regular, simple summaries for DSM Engagement Lead. Identifying trends, flagging underperformance and suggesting adjustments to support continuous improvement. Contributing evidence to the broader effectiveness review of communications and engagement across the Directorate.

• Supporting the design, administration and analysis of pulse surveys, polls and other staff feedback tools. Collating and summarising responses clearly and accurately to inform the SEO's analysis and recommendations to senior leaders. Helping to embed a listening culture across the Directorate's communications activity.

• Providing practical coordination and logistics support for focus groups, engagement sessions and engagement peer network activity. This includes scheduling, participant communications, preparing materials, note-taking and summarising outputs. Representing the team at the engagement peer network as required and feeding back key themes and actions to the SEO.

• Owning and maintaining the Directorate's engagement and communications events calendar. Horizon-scanning for key milestones, awareness campaigns, People Survey windows, leadership events and other significant dates, and proactively flagging to SEO where communications or engagement activity may be needed. Ensuring the calendar is live, accurate and accessible to relevant stakeholders.

• Support with the end-to-end planning and delivery of Town Halls for DSM. This includes logistics coordination, run-of-show documentation, audience question management, slide coordination and post-event follow-up communications.

• Providing advice and support on IM policies, standards and best practice, ensuring alignment with departmental and cross-government frameworks. Supporting the design, implementation and maintenance of information structures, taxonomies and metadata to enable efficient storage, retrieval and lifecycle management. Acting as a point of contact for IM queries, offering practical solutions to operational challenges. Monitoring compliance with IM requirements and identifying risks, gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Supporting the creation, classification, retention and disposal of records in line with the Public Records Act, GDPR, FOI legislation and departmental policy. Maintaining and updating retention schedules to reflect current business needs and legal obligations. Supporting the preparation and transfer of records to The National Archives where required. Conducting regular audits and assurance activities to ensure RM compliance and identify areas for corrective action. Supporting teams in managing records during organisational change, including restructures, system migrations and programme closures.

• Developing and delivering engagement plans to promote good IM and RM practices across the Directorate. Producing clear, accessible communications — such as newsletters, guidance and intranet content — to raise awareness of responsibilities and upcoming changes. Facilitating workshops, briefings and drop-in sessions to support behavioural change and embed best practice. Building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, acting as an advocate for effective information governance. Collaborating with HR, IT and Communications colleagues to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with wider organisational priorities.

• Providing regular updates to senior leadership on IM/RM risks, issues and progress against objectives. Maintaining risk registers and contributing to audit responses. Supporting the development of policies, procedures and governance frameworks that strengthen information assurance. Ensuring alignment with Data Protection, Security and Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) standards.

Person specification

Experience:

• Experience of managing and updating digital content, including SharePoint or intranet platforms.
• Experience of using M365 tools confidently, including SharePoint, Teams, Forms and Outlook.
• Strong written communication skills with an eye for detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, prioritise effectively and meet deadlines.
• Experience of supporting events, meetings or engagement sessions, including logistics coordination.
• Knowledge of, or experience in, Information Management and/or Records Management policies, standards and best practice.
• Experience of supporting compliance or governance activity, including audits or assurance work.
• Ability to communicate complex or technical information clearly to a non-specialist audience.

Desirable

• Experience of working within or alongside a communications or engagement function
• Some familiarity with data and analytics tools, or a willingness to develop these skills
• Experience of or interest in video capture and editing
• Experience of working with IM/RM systems and document management tools.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation including GDPR and the Public Records Act.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Personal & professional development
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to a confidential, professional support service
• Discount schemes
• Bicycle / season-ticket loans
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.

You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements 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.

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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of Defence Reform, Navy Command continues to review and evolve its Target Operating Model to support more agile ways of working. In this context, the role and responsibilities of this role may develop over time to reflect changing business priorities and opportunities.

At Sift, you will be assessed against the following;

• Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and qualification details.

• Candidates will be required to provide a personal statement. This should be a maximum of 500 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential requirements for the role.

At Interview, you will be assessed against the following;

Behaviours:

• Communicating & Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into 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.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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-DirWorkforceMgmnt@mod.gov.uk
• Email : NavySM-DirWorkforceMgmnt@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.

Attachments

Navy Candidate Information Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 1513kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Navy Candidate Attraction Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 7954kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)