Navy Develop Directorate - DCTO Experimentation Officer

UK Ministry of Defence; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity to join the Royal Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities & Technologies Office, focusing on maritime unmanned systems and operational experimentation. The role involves planning, coordination, and execution of innovative projects to maintain military advantage. Candidates should have strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams. Opportunities for travel and flexible working are available.

Benefits

25 days paid annual leave

Personal and professional development

Access to confidential support service

Discount schemes

Bicycle / season ticket loans

Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave

Special paid leave to volunteer

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work without supervision.
• Attention to detail and critical evaluation skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop options to address complex OPEX issues.
• Manage industry and media elements during exercise planning.
• Draft high-quality reports including lessons and recommendations.

Skills

Communication

Resilience

Judgement

Organisation

Adaptability

Innovative Thought

Education

Maritime/defence trials experience

Knowledge of structure of Royal Navy

Tools

MS Office Applications

Job description

NCHQ, HMS Excellent, Whale Island, Portsmouth, PO2 8BY

Job Summary

Would you like to be part of an innovative, mission driven and fast-paced organisation, working to develop the Royal Navy’s future warfighting capabilities? If so, read on, as now is an exciting time to join DCTO. As a newly founded organisation, we have the opportunity to shape direction, share ideas and identify solutions to solve key operational problems, ensuring that the Royal Navy retains its competitive edge in the maritime domain.

The Disruptive Capabilities & Technologies Office (DCTO) is the Royal Navy’s Technology and Innovation team who cohere/coordinate the Royals Navy’s Trials and Experimentation (T&E), research and ideation programs. It facilitates solution engineering and scaling in an accelerated environment, in order to deliver new and disruptive capabilities into the war fighting environment in a coordinated, safe and time critical manner to maintain military advantage and to deliver lethality into the future.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

The Royal Navy conducts Operational Experimentation (OPEX) alongside Allies and international partners, in support of the intent of the Integrated Review, Integrated Operating Concept and Maritime Operating Concept among other key driving policy directives, as well as in support of specific commitments such as to the NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative (MUSI).

Maritime Unmanned/Autonomous Systems Operational Experimentation (MUS OPEX) is activity to plan, design, conduct and analyse experiments in support of new concepts and capabilities development, related in whole or in part to the employment and integration of Maritime Unmanned/Autonomous Systems. MUS OPEX incorporates Experimenting in Exercises (EiE), typically at Joint and Combined scale.

OPEX is the intersection between Operators and Innovation. With an operational bias, in representative settings and against operational problem sets in a typically Joint and Combined Allied collaborative environment, OPEX brings together Operators, niche experts and innovators (military, civilian, academic, industry and others) to enable a better understanding of what works, what does not, and why. OPEX uses controlled investigations to gain evidence in support of developing new concepts, ideas and capabilities.

The Royal Navy is rapidly evolving – deciding to prioritise autonomy in everything we build - and is at the forefront of requirement setting for UK Science & Technology. Against this exciting and cutting-edge backdrop which seeks to enhance and accelerate our future autonomous and uncrewed capabilities, the purpose of this role is to support the coherence, co-ordination, planning, generation, execution and benefits management of this activity to maximise UK advantage.

Working to Senior Executive Officer leads, and with working pattern flexibility and opportunities for travel, the successful candidate will:

• Require the ability to work well with a diverse group of colleagues across traditional team boundaries, with adaptability, resilience, proactivity, and innovative thought. This role will suit an individual who is interested in developing Autonomous future capabilities and in helping the RN seize and maintain the initiative in this fast-developing area.
• Support the co-ordination, planning and delivery of a coherent programme utilising the drumbeat of MUS OPEX opportunities / commitments to enhance and accelerate gathering of evidence across all DLODs, leading in some cases.
• Work across Navy Command, the wider RN/RM and MOD, DE&S, Dstl and industry as well as international allies, thinking innovatively to identify opportunities that can be exploited through MUS OPEX activities.
• Collaborate with Develop and Navy Safety teams, ensure exercise safety aspects are managed for the UK component of allied collaborative operational experimentation. Ensure effective UK exercise safety orders are produced.
• Work with colleagues both pan-UK and Allies, support planning and delivery of MUS OPEX
  
  

Responsibilities

• Develop options to address complex OPEX issues and manage through to resolution. Develop new approaches to address newly identified challenges.
• In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, draft industry calls and convene selection panels as required.
• Manage Industry and Media elements during exercise planning, deployment and execution, both internal to the RN and external media capture companies.
• Act as Deputy UK Exercise lead during exercise planning / deployment / execution.
• Manage exercise benefits management tracker and lessons log.
• Draft Exercise Admin orders.
• Draft high-quality reports including as appropriate lessons, recommendations, and observations after exercises.
• Deputise as required, including at planning conferences and the NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative.
• Act as Secretary of the DCTO OPEX Management Working Group.
• Maintain OPEX tracker. Populate RN experimentation activity in Project Orchard.
• Identify opportunities for exploitation of activity e.g. through the generation of Capability Mandates or Concept Cards
• When required to provide a surge capacity in support of Agile methodologies, in order to accelerate a Develop priority.
  
  

Incumbent must be able to travel within the UK and overseas (indicatively, approximately 6 times a year for periods not exceeding 1 week) and for up to four weeks duration on 1-2 occasions. During these periods, work and travel outside of normal working hours may be required (in accordance with extant Policy, Rules and Guidance).

The Royal Navy conducts Operational Experimentation (OPEX) alongside Allies and international partners, in support of the intent of the Integrated Review, Integrated Operating Concept and Maritime Operating Concept among other key driving policy directives, as well as in support of specific commitments such as to the NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative (MUSI).

Maritime Unmanned/Autonomous Systems Operational Experimentation (MUS OPEX) is activity to plan, design, conduct and analyse experiments in support of new concepts and capabilities development, related in whole or in part to the employment and integration of Maritime Unmanned/Autonomous Systems. MUS OPEX incorporates Experimenting in Exercises (EiE), typically at Joint and Combined scale.

OPEX is the intersection between Operators and Innovation. With an operational bias, in representative settings and against operational problem sets in a typically Joint and Combined Allied collaborative environment, OPEX brings together Operators, niche experts and innovators (military, civilian, academic, industry and others) to enable a better understanding of what works, what does not, and why. OPEX uses controlled investigations to gain evidence in support of developing new concepts, ideas and capabilities.

The Royal Navy is rapidly evolving – deciding to prioritise autonomy in everything we build - and is at the forefront of requirement setting for UK Science & Technology. Against this exciting and cutting-edge backdrop which seeks to enhance and accelerate our future autonomous and uncrewed capabilities, the purpose of this role is to support the coherence, co-ordination, planning, generation, execution and benefits management of this activity to maximise UK advantage.

Working to Senior Executive Officer leads, and with working pattern flexibility and opportunities for travel, the successful candidate will:

• Require the ability to work well with a diverse group of colleagues across traditional team boundaries, with adaptability, resilience, proactivity, and innovative thought. This role will suit an individual who is interested in developing Autonomous future capabilities and in helping the RN seize and maintain the initiative in this fast-developing area.
• Support the co-ordination, planning and delivery of a coherent programme utilising the drumbeat of MUS OPEX opportunities / commitments to enhance and accelerate gathering of evidence across all DLODs, leading in some cases.
• Work across Navy Command, the wider RN/RM and MOD, DE&S, Dstl and industry as well as international allies, thinking innovatively to identify opportunities that can be exploited through MUS OPEX activities.
• Collaborate with Develop and Navy Safety teams, ensure exercise safety aspects are managed for the UK component of allied collaborative operational experimentation. Ensure effective UK exercise safety orders are produced.
• Work with colleagues both pan-UK and Allies, support planning and delivery of MUS OPEX
  
  

Responsibilities

• Develop options to address complex OPEX issues and manage through to resolution. Develop new approaches to address newly identified challenges.
• In collaboration with relevant stakeholders, draft industry calls and convene selection panels as required.
• Manage Industry and Media elements during exercise planning, deployment and execution, both internal to the RN and external media capture companies.
• Act as Deputy UK Exercise lead during exercise planning / deployment / execution.
• Manage exercise benefits management tracker and lessons log.
• Draft Exercise Admin orders.
• Draft high-quality reports including as appropriate lessons, recommendations, and observations after exercises.
• Deputise as required, including at planning conferences and the NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems Initiative.
• Act as Secretary of the DCTO OPEX Management Working Group.
• Maintain OPEX tracker. Populate RN experimentation activity in Project Orchard.
• Identify opportunities for exploitation of activity e.g. through the generation of Capability Mandates or Concept Cards
• When required to provide a surge capacity in support of Agile methodologies, in order to accelerate a Develop priority.
  
  

Incumbent must be able to travel within the UK and overseas (indicatively, approximately 6 times a year for periods not exceeding 1 week) and for up to four weeks duration on 1-2 occasions. During these periods, work and travel outside of normal working hours may be required (in accordance with extant Policy, Rules and Guidance).

Person specification

Essential

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work without supervision
• Demonstrate resilience, exercise judgement and good organisation skills
• Show determination in the pursuit of objectives
• Attention to detail and the ability to critically evaluate information gathered across multiple sources, recommending improvements as necessary
• Demonstrate attention to detail whilst maintaining an overview on the wider perspective
• MS Office Applications
  
  

Desirable

• Maritime/defence trials experience or maritime warfare/weapon engineering experience
• Knowledge of structure of Royal Navy
• Leadership/decision making in complex and pressurised environment
• Awareness of Government Security requirements
• Experience managing stakeholder working groups
  
  

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
  
  

Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 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 and 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 combined package of work and training. Through an apprenticeship you will gain professional knowledge, practical experience, and the broader skills required to upskill 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 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 offer 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.

The post does not offer any assistance with relocation expenses.

Please note: expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

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.childcareoptions.gov.uk/ .

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 will be required to complete a Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words. Please provide experience relevant to the role

Candidates will be required to provide Statements against the Behaviours of no more than 250 words per behaviour.

At sift, you will be assessed against your Statement of suitability and the following:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
  
  

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.

At Interview, You Will Be Assessed Against The Following:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
  
  

Application online, sift of application & interview if successful through sift.

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: [e-mail] .

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 : Charles Thomson
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

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: [e-mail].