SO2 Information Warfare Ops Officer

Place of work. HMS KING ALFRED (60/40 split between KA and home working is anticipated) with some weekend and evening activity in support of Part Time Volunteer Reserve operating model. 

Unit Function    

The Commander Maritime Reserves (CMR) commands the Royal Naval and Royal Marines Reserves, known collectively as the Maritime Reserves (MR). The purpose of the MR as set out in the Command Plan is to provide enough capable and motivated personnel, at readiness, to reinforce Regular Forces.

The Information Warfare (IW) Branch sits within an updated MR Branch structure, which following MR transformation seeks to maximise the delivery of capability to the Regular Forces, specifically the IW Functional Employers (FE). The role of MR IW is to ensure a force of qualified and motivated personnel ready for operations through operational level force development, military exercises, contingency planning, and lessons learnt.  

DACOS IW provides Line Management and Guidance, Leadership, Advice, Direction (GLAD) for MR Information Warfare Branch, consisting Maritime Cyber Unit Reserves (MCSU(R), Information Operations (IO), Maritime Trade Operations (MTO), Media Operations (MOS) and Maritime Reserve Intelligence Specialisation (MRIS).

Position Role    

The SO2 IW (Res) Ops Officer is pivotal in the provision, sustainability and development of IW Generation to enable support to RN and Joint operational outputs and training exercises within the IW sphere. 

Accountable to COS IW the Ops Officer’s primary purpose is to; 

-    Provide direct support to IW IO and MTO specialisation SO1s, 
-    Liaise with and support wider IW Ops Officers, WO IW, KA support staff and CMRHQ,
-    Maintain and build links with Functional Employers and Exercise staffs such as the OAC and JTEPS, and;
-    Maintain close oversight and assurance of IW N1/4 functions. 

Responsibilities

In partnership with relevant Spec SO2’s and CLO track NATO/UK operations & exercise programmes to identify additional opportunities for MTO/IO to participate in. Support the prioritisation of activity within the IO/MTO Specs to allow the allocation of resources to support Capability Delivery.

Assist COS IW and wider IW Spec SO1’s in the alignment of IW MR with other Defence activity and be a member of IW SLT mtgs and wider MR IW Management Boards. 

Be the full-time support to COS IW and Spec SO1’s for engagement/communications with IW Functional Employers and wider Stakeholders, to ensure IW requirements are met. 

Liase with the KA Support Manager and CMR HQ Fin to provide accurate reporting and advice to IW SO1’s in respect to any over or underspend, highlighting any issues as soon as practicable.

Actively pursue courses of action to provide sustained and assured recruitment of IW strengths, engaging with CMR’s Branch Manager as required.

Partner with HMS KING ALFRED operational delivery support staff, Spec Divisional leads and wider IW officers to ensure intelligent service delivery of N1 functions including appraisals process, Leave/Join Well, EoS/CE60, ENs, CoE and PCP process. 

To drive, shape and lead business change.

To promote and enforce MOD/Naval Service policy delivery of Naval Service Core Values, Diversity and Inclusion.

To represent DACOS IW, COS IW and IW SO1’s as required. 

Must be an OF3 of ANY specialisation. OF2 applicants with a recommend for the next higher rank in their most recent OJAR may be considered. 

OF4 applicants, if successful, will only be paid as and normally wear the rank of OF3.

Must be serving as a member of the Reserve Forces or have served with the Regular Forces.

• ICSC or ICSC(Res) 
• Professional Effectiveness  - Grasps emerging concepts and can identify key risks to success, escalating in a succinct and timely manner when necessary.        
  
• Judgement  - Seeks to enhance professional knowledge and understanding of emerging issues impacting IO/MTO.
                      - Demonstrates knowledge of Service matters and military doctrine.
  
• Initiative  - Demonstrates critical application of available information to arrive at sound, timely decisions. Identifying issues at early stage for resolution or escalation.  
                 - Creates and grasps opportunities for improvements.
       
  

  Applicants will undergo an initial eligibility sift. Successful applicants will have their details forwarded to the Post Sponsor to arrange interviews. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised accordingly.

Following interviews; the successful applicant will be informed that they are the Preferred Candidate with details being sent to the CM RES FTRS Cell who will continue the recruitment process. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised accordingly.

Once the recruitment process is complete then the Preferred Candidate will be invited to take up FTRS.

The start date is the anticipated one however, applicants should be aware a number of factors will potentially impact on this including the completion of pre-employment checks, medical category confirmation and the award of a Security Clearance. The start date could therefore be adjusted as appropriate – earlier for a fully qualified person with their and the employers agreement, or later if approvals cannot be immediately completed.

INITIAL COMMITMENT LENGTH WILL NORMALLY BE 24 MONTHS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO EXTEND

NB: Where the Anticipated Start date has already passed, the start date will be ASAP

Eligibility for FTRS/ADC

Any member of the Maritime Part Time Volunteer Reserves (RNR, RMR) or the Royal Fleet Reserves (RFR) (Ex-Regular Reserve) may volunteer to undertake a period of FTRS/ADC. Ex-Regular personnel whose RFR liability has run out will be re-instated in the RFR to take up FTRS/ADC.

Applicants undertaking a period of FTRS/ADC must be suitably qualified by rank/rate, specialisation, qualifications and experience to fill the posts for which they apply.

Applications will be accepted from reservists who hold a rank/rate one or more above the advertised rank/rate or hold a rank/rate one below the advertised rank/rate.  

• Applicants one rate below may be interviewed at the discretion of the FTRS Cell/Line Manager and may be employed in the acting higher rate (excluding the advertised rate of WO2 or WO1) if they are suitable, qualified, meet current promotion regulations in all respects and are selected to do so. Otherwise, they will be given the opportunity to carry out the role in their substantive rank/rate; the payment of Substitution Pay (SUPA) may be considered by the employer.
• Applicants of a higher rank/rate prepared to serve in a position at a lower rank/rate than their current or former substantive rank will wear uniform, and be paid, at the Upper Rank/Rate’ level appropriate to that of the position on JPA. Exceptions will not normally be considered.

Ex-Regular Reserves of an equivalent rank from the Army or Royal Air Force are required to join the Maritime Reserves (RNR/RMR) before being eligible to apply.

Medical/Dental

Applicants must also be medically fit, and meet the minimum medical category required for the level of commitment, to fulfil the duties which their Commitment will require them to undertake.

• A medical form to confirm MedCat and suitability to be employed is required to be returned within 2 weeks of commencing the role, or the commitment may be revoked.

Personnel who have been discharged via the RN Medical Board of Survey (MOBS) or the RN Medical Employability Board (MEB), do not have a RFR liability and are therefore unable to be considered for any FTRS/ADC/VERR role.

Only personnel on FTRS(FC) commitments will be entitled to the full range of Service Medical and Dental support. Those on lower levels will be entitled to emergency medical support whilst on duty.

Pension Issues. 

Personnel who qualify for a service pension should take financial advice from Defence Business Services (DBS) Reserves/Re-employment Pensions Department on the effect that undertaking FTRS service has on their pension, EDP, Resettlement Grant or Terminal Benefits.

Additional guidance can also be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans. Of particular note is reference to the ‘Effect of Re-employment’ on Commutation and, for those leaving on a ‘preserved’ pension, the Resettlement Grant. Other organisations such as the Armed Forces Pension Society or the White Ensign Association may also be able to offer advice, but it is stressed that only DBS can provide an authoritative answer.

Transition between TCoS. 

Personnel taking this appointment from other TCoS should consider the impact on any accrued entitlements, such as leave, resettlement etc and should seek specialist guidance where required as certain entitlements are TCoS specific and may not be retained or transferred on transition between TCoS. 

Naval Core Training (NCT), Individual Training Requirement (IRT) and Defence Mandated Training (DMT)

 Personnel on FTRS commitments are required to maintain currency in NCT, IRT and MDT in alignment with the rest of the RN/RM. The successful applicant will be expected to complete all modules and have them recorded on JPA within 2 months of commencing employment. This is an employer’s responsibility to monitor. 

• RNFT

Personnel on FTRS Limited/Home/ADC/VERRs commitments are exempt the RNFT, unless they are a member of the RNR/RMR who should remain in date.

 Annual Salary and Leave. 

Pay will be in accordance with the pay scales published for the Armed Forces annually, and as governed by JSP 754.  Leave entitlement is detailed in JSP 760. Note, you are not able to carry forward leave from a Regular commission/engagement when commencing an FTRS Commitment or from one FTRS Commitment role to another FTRS Commitment role.

Allowances.

Entitlement to allowances is in accordance with JSP 754 however the following should be noted:

Get you Home (Travel)                  Only paid to qualifying personnel on FTRS(FC)

Home Duty Travel                          Only paid to qualifying personnel on FTRS(FC)

Accommodation.

Personnel serving on FTRS(FC) TCoS are entitled to Single Living Accommodation (SLA) and Service Families Accommodation (SFA) as per Regular entitlements. 

Personnel serving on FTRS(LC/HC)/ADC TCoS are only eligible to occupy surplus Single Living Accommodation (SLA), at non-entitled rates.

Personnel serving on VeRR TCoS are not entitled to service accommodation.

Applications for this job are to be submitted via SERVE please click the APPLY button below.