Royal Navy Domestic Engagement Team Leader

Job summary

Defence’s mission is to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad, and the Royal Navy (RN) plays a leading role in protecting our interests. As an island nation, the UK’s maritime domain is vital for its way of life, economy and ecology, with the sector facilitating 95% of UK trade and 97% of internet data provided via underwater cables.

The RN Director Strategy & Policy (DSP) is responsible for leading the development of RN strategy, coordinating corresponding policy, history and heritage work, internal and external communications, and conducting RN engagement with foreign navies, Parliament, and key domestic audiences. Engagement teams seek to build and maintain relationships with influential individuals and organisations across a range of priority areas, demonstrating the RN’s crucial role in enabling our island nation to thrive.

DSP, or the Naval Staff, as often referred, is the RN’s presence in MOD Main Building, both directing the wider naval organisation and working to support the Department of State and the Military Strategic HQ. Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel work side by side.

The directorate is split between MOD Main Building in London and Naval Command headquarters (NCHQ) on Whale Island in Portsmouth, with four RN headquarters covering the regional and devolved footprint.

This position is based in Navy Command HQ, Portsmouth with regular time spent in MOD Main Building, London and across the UK delivering engagement activity. It is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This is an exciting and varied leadership role that will see you working across all areas of the RN, and back into the Ministry of Defence, in a dynamic, friendly and supportive directorate.

RN Domestic Engagement works to build and maintain relationships with influential individuals and organisations, helping to explain the importance of the RN’s role and relevance to the wealth, prosperity and security of the UK, seeking to develop or enhance enduring positive relationships and foster advocates.

The C1 Domestic Engagement Team Leader manages a mixed civilian and military team that plans and delivers national level domestic engagement activity to key audiences across a range of priority areas.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivery of the RN Engagement Programme of Activity;
• Organise and lead on events including The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Mountbatten Festival of Music, Beating Retreat, Admiralty Service and more;
• Produce bespoke guest lists for engagement events in line with the current priorities of the RN and the DSP;
• Oversee the support to the Regional HQs, providing direction and guidance on engagement opportunities where appropriate and ensuring support to these opportunities is on track;
• Oversee the RNs affiliations programme:
  • Understand, record and make best use of the network for the purposes of engagement activities;
  • Deliver periodic reviews following annual submissions by ships and establishments;
  • Handle emerging requests from the Regional HQs and other single Services for new affiliations;
  • Produce submissions to the Ships’ Names and Badges Committee, including ships’ sponsor research for new nominations.
• Management of the annual budget for core Domestic Engagement Activity;
• Work closely with RN Communications and Influence:
  • Identify and develop engagement opportunities around comms milestones, such as International Women’s Day;
  • Ensure comms support to engagement opportunities is appropriate and in line with the objectives of the events, both regionally and those planned by the Domestic Engagement Team.
• Evaluate the outcomes of engagement activities to inform future planning and commitments;
• Line management of 1 x RN Lieutenant Commander and 1 x C2 Civil Servant.

At 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.

Person specification

Essential skills:

• Strong communicator, verbally and with excellent written work, with an ability to engage successfully with a range of stakeholders at all levels
• Ability to work across a broad range of activities and topics, managing simultaneous delivery deadlines.
• Experience of delivering a wide range of events and engagement activity.
• Awareness of the current political and strategic context and how this might impact upon the Royal Navy, wider defence and x-Whitehall.
• Experience of managing teams.
• Ability to think and work in an agile way.
• Approachability, enthusiasm and a commitment to the development of team members.

Desirable skills:

• An understanding of defence and how large government departments operate.
• Experience of working with communications teams.
• Awareness of Agile ways of working and use of JIRA (though training will be given).

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

As a civil servant in Navy Command, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects, and a job that makes a difference. Navy Command prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Navy Command civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service.
• 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 will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role. An apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through an apprenticeship you will gain professional knowledge, practical experience, and the broader skills required to up-skill you in your current role and pave the way for your future career. Most of the training will be ‘on-the-job’, with the remaining ‘off-the-job’ training often delivered by a training provider. This means minimal disruption and maximum impact. Professional qualifications can be achieved through an apprenticeship and range from Level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSEs), Level 3 (equivalent to 2 A Levels), and Levels 4 -7, which can give you a foundation degree, a full Bachelor’s degree, or a Master’s degree. Apprenticeships normally last between 12 months - 3 years, depending on the level of the apprenticeship. Anyone can undertake an Apprenticeship and everyone, regardless of age, can benefit from developing their skills in an accredited way. Successful candidates can discuss their development options with their manager when in
post.

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 bistro restaurant, a shop, and plenty of car parking spaces.

Other benefits:

• 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 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.

Application & Interview

Candidates will be required to provide CV (no more than two sides) and a statement of suitability (750 words max) should be submitted via Civil Service jobs by 13/05/2026.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Statement of suitability.

Interviews will be scheduled thereafter in Portsmouth. Reasonable adjustments will be considered.

Candidates who are successful at the sift stage will be assessed at a panel interview around the following behaviours:

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

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.

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 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 : Jessica Mckeever, Assistant Head of Domestic Engagement
• Email : Jessica.Mckeever100@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

Candidate Information updated (1) Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)EXTERNAL PACK (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)22_0656 Navy Applicant guide A4 - Digital (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 2922kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)