RNCF SO1 GOVERNANCE

The People and Training Directorate is responsible for delivering the MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces for the Royal Navy, in line with Defence Enabling Objective 11.11. Under the direction of the Director People and Training, with responsibility delegated to Commander Royal Navy Cadet Forces, the Directorate funds, supports and oversees training and activities delivered through the Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, Volunteer Cadet Corps and Royal Navy Affiliated Sea Scouts. Safe and effective delivery depends on clear governance, proportionate assurance and disciplined project management across RNCF, MOD departments, single Service cadet organisations and supporting charities. Memoranda of Understanding, service level agreements and local agreements are tools within this wider framework and must support clear accountability and delivery.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

SO1 Governance is the senior staff lead for delivery governance and assigned project management across RNCF. The post holder designs and maintains the governance framework, provides decision-quality information to the RNCF command team, and leads or coordinates priority projects from initiation through to transition into business as usual.

The role ensures that scope, outcomes, plans, milestones, risks, dependencies, resources, decisions, benefits and assurance requirements are defined and actively managed. It connects RNCF Heads of Department with external stakeholders to ensure work remains aligned with Royal Navy intent, MOD policy, safeguarding requirements and the future operating model. Agreements are developed or updated as required to formalise responsibilities and enable delivery.

Responsibilities

Primary Tasks

• SO1 Governance is responsible for the following:
• Design, maintain and improve the RNCF delivery governance framework, including decision rights, delegations, boards, reporting, assurance and escalation.
• Lead or coordinate assigned RNCF projects from initiation to closure, defining scope, outcomes, benefits, milestones, resources, dependencies and acceptance criteria.
• Maintain proportionate project controls, including integrated plans and logs for actions, risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies, opportunities and decisions, with clear owners and review dates.
• Prepare and quality-assure evidence-based decision papers, recommendations, progress reports and delivery dashboards for the RNCF command team and governance forums.
• Monitor progress against agreed outcomes, milestones and tolerances; challenge slippage or weak evidence; coordinate recovery action; and escalate matters beyond delegated authority.
• Ensure projects and change activity align with Royal Navy intent, MOD policy, legal and safeguarding requirements, assurance expectations and the RNCF operating model.
• Control changes to scope and key documents, assess implementation readiness, manage handover into business as usual, and track benefits and lessons.
• Maintain the stakeholder relationships required for delivery and lead or coordinate Memoranda of Understanding, service level agreements and local agreements where they are needed to define responsibilities, authority, support or performance.
• Respond to additional tasking as required by Comd RNCF.

SECONDARY TASKS

• Provide governance and project management advice, constructive challenge and practical support to RNCF Heads of Department, project leads and workstream owners.
• Promote coherent and proportionate governance across RNCF-sponsored and affiliated activity, simplifying or harmonising arrangements where this improves accountability, assurance or delivery.
• Contribute to growth planning, future operating model development, organisational change and readiness activity so that expansion is safe, affordable, deliverable and properly assured.

ACCOUNTABILITY

SO1 GOV is accountable to DComd RNCF, who is the First Reporting Officer. Comd RNCF is the Second Reporting Officer.

Within the delegated remit, the post holder is responsible for the quality and timeliness of governance advice, project controls and delivery reporting. Project sponsors and functional owners remain accountable for the decisions and outcomes assigned to them.

AUTHORITY

• SO1 GOV is authorised to liaise with the following:
• All RNCF Heads of Department, project sponsors, workstream leads and functional specialists to capture requirements, obtain evidence, align plans and monitor delivery.
• MSSC HQ, Capt Sea Cadets, SCC Area Officers and their staff.
• MOD RF&C staff.
• Royal Navy Establishments and relevant MOD functions.
• Single Service cadet organisations and other external partners, within the authority delegated by DComd RNCF.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

PRE-APPOINTMENT TRAINING BRIEFINGS AND VISITS REQUIRED

As directed by DComd RNCF.

AUTHORITY AND COMMITTEES

The post holder is authorised to convene working groups, request information and progress updates, coordinate cross-functional activity, and liaise directly with internal and external stakeholders on behalf of DComd RNCF within the scope of these responsibilities. Decisions remain subject to the delegated authority of DComd RNCF, Comd RNCF or higher authority as applicable.

Must be an OF4 of ANY specialisation. OF3 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.

Competencies

• SC
• Driving Licence:

  Full UK Driving Licence and willingness/ability to self-drive a Service vehicle to locations around the UK)

• Change Programme Delivery

• Desirable - ACSC/ Masters Level Qualification.

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

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. Applications from those above normal FTRS/ADC retirement age (67) will only be considered by exception.

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 apply 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.

Rank/Rate

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 if they are suitable, qualified, meet current promotion regulations in all respects and are selected to do so. Otherwise, they 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.

Medical/Dental

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.

Applicants must be medically fit for the FTRS role they are undertaking and when required by their commitment level, be medically fit to undertake the same range of duties and worldwide deployment as Regular SP. Minimum medical categories are contained in BR3(2) Ch 11 (FTRS) & Ch 12 (ADC). 

FTRS (FC) - Medically Limited Deployable (MLD)*

FTRS (LC) - Medically Limited Deployable (MLD)*

FTRS (HC) - Medically Non-deployable (MND)

*Personnel with a category of MLD will need to be able to meet the full range of the ToRs for the role and if applying for FTRS FC need be able to meet the trawl and deployable element of FC. JMES limitations will be assessed to confirm suitability for FTRS(FC) commitments.

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.

Previously Medically Discharged

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.

Pension

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. 

Pay

Pay will be in accordance with the pay scales published for the Armed Forces annually, and as governed by JSP 754. 

Officers – if it is a CAPPS role, the selected applicant will be paid from the Main Officers Pay Spine and not any Specialist Pay Spine such as Aviator, Medical/Dental or SF. This applies to both RFR and PTVR applicants.

Allowances

Entitlement to allowances is in accordance with JSP 752.

Pay, Allowances & Entitlements Table

*Unless serving in Inner London, defined as working within a 5-mile radius of the King Charles I statue at Charing Cross.

**Unless on qualifying temporary duty iaw JSP 754 07.0412.

***Travelling from a WFH address back to an Assigned Unit does not qualify for GYH(T) or MMA, these journeys are at personal cost.

****On qualifying duty trips away from Assigned Unit.

*****Are NOT entitled but can occupy SURPLUS accommodation and pay entitled rates if not entitled to an accommodation waiver.

Leave

Leave entitlement is detailed in JSP 760. Note, you cannot carry forward leave from a Regular commission/engagement when commencing an ADC/FTRS Commitment or from one ADC/FTRS Commitment role to another ADC/FTRS Commitment role.

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 eligible to occupy surplus Single Living Accommodation (SLA) at entitled rates.

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

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

Personnel on FTRS commitments are required to maintain currency in NCL, 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. 

Royal Marine Fitness Test (RMFT)/Royal Naval Physical Employment Standard (RNPES)

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

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