SO2 J3 OPS CONTROLLER 1

Vacancy summary

Royal Navy
2031996
OF-3 - Lt Cdr - Maj - Sqn Ldr, OF-4 - Cdr - Lt Col - Wg Cdr
Lieutenant-Commander, Major (RM), Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel (RM)

17/05/2026, 23:55 

November 2026
FTRS - Full Commitment
2 YEARS
Royal Navy, Royal Marines
Any
Any
NORTHWOOD (SANDY LANE)
United Kingdom
London

Vacancy detail

Unit & Position Role

 

Unit Function

 

Act as the 24 hrs point of contact at PJHQ for all operational matters, operations and deployed personnel acting on behalf of CJO. Take immediate action on behalf of ACOS J3 and OTs in the event of an incident or emerging crisis any operational theatre, including a Personnel Recovery (PR) event.

 

Responsibilities

 

 

  • Monitor all UK and multinational secure communications systems within J3 and ensure that it is speedily directed to the relevant Ops Team, PJHQ Division, FLC deployed HQ and OGD as required

 

  • Provide the Chief of Defence Staff Duty Officer with updates on operational and major incidents as they occur

 

  • Act as J3 POC for all UKLO's stationed at Allied Commands, JFHQ and for all other small or recce detachments under PJHQ command

 

  • Responsible to the J3 Ops Co-ord for coordinating of activities in the OCR, including OCR briefs. Maintaining security within the OCR and J3

 

  • Responsible for activating the Alternative OCR as part of the PJHQ BCP or in the event of a major incident affecting the OCR

 

  • Act as the DO during the transition of period when a crisis passes from a CPT to an OT and be prepared to form part of the Crisis Operational Planning Team in the event of an unforeseen crisis

 

  • Coordinate key CSG/J3 battle rhythm events

 

  • Command and management of Ops Controllers and Ops Control Assistants

 

  • Due to the restrictions in the alternate BC location the SP must be a sole British National
  • Pre-Employment Training

 

  • One-week training at PJHQ J3 Ops C – High Priority

 

Local Considerations

 

Domestic:

 

Hours are unsociable during the night shift and the shift patterns make it challenging to become involved in normal unit events and social life.

 

Employer Comments:

 

Individual must arrive in post with DV clearance. Individual must be comfortable working a shift system which includes unsociable hours and from potentially being separated from family or friends for 2 weeks at a time every 2-3 weeks. The Individual must be confident briefing Senior Officer up to 3* level on a regular basis.  Due to the restrictions in the alternate BC location the SP must be a sole British National.

Must be an OF3 - OF4 of ANY specialisation. OF2 applicants with a positive recommendation in their most recent annual OJAR/SJAR may be considered for the role and the award of Acting Higher Rank (AHR). It is stressed that whilst a single positive recommendation will make you eligible for consideration, your entire OJAR/SJAR dossier will be considered for AHR in line with the principles of BR3(1) Part 8 and approval is not guaranteed.


OF5 applicants, if successful, will only be paid as and wear the rank of OF4.

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

Must Hold a DV

Must hold a ICSC and ACSC

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 Reserves (RNR, RMR) or the Royal Fleet Reserves (RFR) (Ex-Regular Reserve) may volunteer to undertake a period of FTRS/ADC in accordance with the following:

Maritime Reserves:.

Members of the Maritime Reserves require a Final Date in Service beyond the expected period of the commitment they are applying for. Applicants who do not have sufficient service remaining are to submit an application for EOS with transfer to List-4 status prior to applying for the role, iaw CMR TM 35/24.  FTRS applications received from SP whose MR Tx date is not beyond the expected period of the job opportunity and who do not have a concurrent EOS with transfer to List 4 application in progress will be rejected during the initial sift process.

Applications for EOS with transfer to List 4 status will not be accepted within 8 weeks of the applicant’s current Final Date in Service.

RFR (Ex-Regulars):

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, may 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.

Applications from those above normal FTRS/ADC retirement age (60) will be considered by exception.

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. Minimum medical categories are contained in BR3(2) 1107.

 

  • 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) with a JMES contained either L6 or M6, do not have a RFR liability and are therefore unable to be considered for any FTRS/ADC/VERR role. Those discharged with a lower JMES will be considered on a case by case basis.

 

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/PES

    Personnel on FTRS Limited/Home/ADC/VERRs commitments are exempt the RNFT/PES, 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 752 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), and those on FTRS(LC), (HC) and ADC are eligible to HDT if they are assigned to Inner London (defined as a five mile radius of Charing Cross). 

    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.