Navy Command - Visits Liaison Officer

Job description

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 todays challenges and tomorrows opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navys readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navys 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.

You will be based at HMNB Clyde, home to the UK Submarine Service. It sustains the nations continuous at-sea deterrent and supports the Royal Navys fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. As a centre of excellence for submarine operations, Clyde plays a critical role in national security and global stability.

This position is a Reserved Post within the Civil Service, for which only sole UK nationals are eligible. Under the Civil Service Nationality Rules, UK nationals include British citizens, British subjects with the right of abode in the United Kingdom, and British Overseas Territories citizens.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Visits Liaison Officer (VLO) is responsible for project managing, developing, co-ordinating and delivering all 2 Star and above military and civilian bespoke VIP visits to HMNB Clyde on behalf of Naval Base Commander Clyde and Commander Submarine Flotilla.

What you will be doing:

• Produce an initial bespoke outline for all VIP programmes and oversee the outlines from conception to
  completed visit programmes in conjunction with the DVLO.
• Liaise with all 1* Scotland Offices and 2* DSM Office to discuss all new visit requests and review each visit
  programme weekly with NBC and COMSUBFLOT to ensure they are content to host.
• Deliver all 4* and above V/VIP visits, commemoration and commissioning ceremonies as required engaging
  with Base and wider MoD/OGD seniors and units; fully ensuring external stakeholder management and internal stakeholder procedures are integrated into visit planning.
• Ensure where VVIP visits which attract extra safety and security measures for protected persons, the VLO will liaise with Base Security, MDP Clyde and external teams such as Police Scotland and Metropolitan Police Protection Teams to ensure the requisite security measures are in place.
• Use best practice decisions during any discussions on visit programmes to ensure that cognisance is taken of the wider Base Operational tempo to lower the impact of VIP visits on the Base.
• Ensure any financial requirements for VIP visits are discussed and agreed.
• Ensure VIP Visit Policy messaging is fully aligned with HMNB Clyde Communications strategy through close liaison with NBC and SUBFLOT Chief of Staffs.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of planning, coordinating and delivering complex events, visits, programmes or projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience engaging and influencing senior leaders and executives, demonstrating credibility and professionalism when dealing with high-profile audiences.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to build effective working relationships across diverse organisations and levels of seniority.
• Experience of balancing competing priorities and delivering outcomes to demanding timescales.
• Demonstrable ability to assess risk, identify dependencies, and proactively resolve issues.
• Excellent organisational skills with a strong eye for detail and commitment to quality.
• Experience of producing professional written communications, briefing material and programme documentation.
• Strong understanding of confidentiality, discretion and the handling of sensitive information.

Skills and Abilities

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage with senior military officers, civil servants, government officials and external partners.
• Ability to coordinate multiple workstreams simultaneously while maintaining focus on priorities and deadlines.
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills, particularly when operating in fast-paced or changing environments.
• Ability to negotiate and influence effectively whilst maintaining positive working relationships.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to overcoming obstacles.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience supporting senior leadership teams or working in an executive support, protocol, visits, events or stakeholder engagement role.
• Experience within Defence, the Royal Navy, wider Civil Service or a security-focused environment.
• Knowledge of VIP/VVIP visit planning, protocol arrangements or ceremonial events.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

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).

Benefits

• 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)

• Assisted travel scheme

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and youll 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.

Youll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to masters 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.

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.

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 500words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential requirements for the role.

Please note feedback will not be provided on your application.

At Interview, you will be assessed against the following behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Further information:

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.

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 basic (or equivalent) 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 the Civil 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 : [email protected]
• 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].

Attachments Navy Command Submarines Directorate Attraction Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 5577kB) 20260413 - Navy Command Candidate Application Guide-O Opens in new window (pdf, 1595kB) Document in 26-06 Defence Internal Brief notice for inclusion of all adverts and issued alongside Posting Notices_O Opens in new window (docx, 25kB) Defence Civil Service Offer (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB)