RNCF SO1 GOVERNANCE
Vacancy summary
Recruiting Service
Royal Navy
SERVE Ref/JPAN/URN
2292394
NATO Rank(s)
OF-4 – Cdr – Lt Col – Wg Cdr
UK Rank(s)
Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel (RM)
Closing date
16/08/2026, 23:55
Anticipated start date
September 2026
Engagement type
FTRS – Limited Commitment
Commitment length
2 YEARS
Open to personnel from
Royal Navy, Royal Marines
Branch/Trade/ Profession
Any
Specialisation
Any
Location
HQ Cadets and Youth – HMS Sultan
Country
United Kingdom
City
Portsmouth
Vacancy detail
Job Description
BACKGROUND
The People & Training Directorate is responsible for delivery of the MOD Sponsored Cadet Forces for the Royal Navy (RN), iaw Defence Enabling Objective 11.11. Operating under the direction of Director People & Training (Dir P&T), who in turn delegates to Commander Royal Navy Cadet Forces (Comd RNCF), the responsibilities encompass the funding, support and management of training and activities delivered to RN recognised Youth organisations, collectively known as Royal Naval Cadet Forces (RNCF) which incorporates the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), Sea Cadet Corps (SCC), Volunteer Cadet Corps (VCC) and the Royal Navy Affiliated Sea Scouts (RNAffSS). Central to successful and safe delivery is the governance and associated agreements across all elements, MOD departments, sS cadet organisations, and supporting charities, to meet Government policy.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
SO1 Governance is responsible for managing the governance framework, agreements and alignment mechanisms between the RNCF and its associated elements. This includes, but is not restricted to, the Marine Society and Sea Cadets, the Volunteer Cadet Corps, Combined Cadet Force RN/RM, Royal Navy Affiliated Sea Scouts, single Service cadet organisations and relevant MOD stakeholders.
The post supports the development of a coherent, safe and growth-ready Royal Navy cadet ecosystem by ensuring that governance, agreements, stakeholder relationships and supporting processes enable cadet growth, development activity, project delivery and alignment across the wider cadet landscape.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Primary Tasks
- Reviewing, rewriting and supporting the implementation of a revised Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Navy and the Marine Society and Sea Cadets.
- Leading the review and update of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Navy and the Volunteer Cadet Corps.
- Acting as the primary RNCF lead for engagements with RF&C and single Service cadet organisations on emergent agreements, ensuring collaboration, consistency and the application of best practice.
- Supporting the development of MOUs, SLAs and local agreements between SCC, VCC and RN Establishments to ensure safe, coherent and value-for-money delivery.
- Developing and maintaining networks and relationships with key stakeholders including, but not exclusively, RF&C, MSSC, VCC, CCF RN/RM, Royal Navy Affiliated Sea Scouts, single Service cadet organisations and relevant MOD departments.
- Providing governance support to RNCF growth and development projects, ensuring that proposed activity is aligned to RN intent, MOD policy, safeguarding requirements, assurance expectations and the wider cadet operating model.
- Supporting cadet ecosystem alignment by identifying where governance, agreements, policy, operating models or stakeholder expectations need to be harmonised across RNCF activity.
- Contributing to the development of future operating model work, growth planning, organisational development activity and transition projects where governance input is required.
- Supporting the capture of lessons, risks, dependencies and opportunities arising from cadet growth and development activity, ensuring these inform future agreements, policy development and decision-making.
- Responding to additional tasking as required by Comd RNCF.
Secondary Tasks
- Provide governance advice and support to cadet growth planning, development projects and wider cadet ecosystem alignment.
- Support cross-cadet-force coherence by identifying opportunities to simplify, harmonise or improve governance arrangements across RNCF-sponsored and affiliated activity.
- Contribute to the development of a growth-ready RNCF operating environment by ensuring that governance arrangements enable safe expansion, clear accountability, appropriate assurance and consistent stakeholder understanding.
Accountability
SO1 GOV is accountable to DComd RNCF who is also the First Reporting Officer; Comd RNCF is the Second Reporting Officer.
Authority
SO1 GOV is authorised to liaise with the following:
- All RNCF HODS to ensure coherency and capture of requirements.
- MSSC HQ, Capt Sea Cadets and SCC Area Officers and their staff.
- MoD RF&C staff.
- sS Cadet organisations.
PRE-APPOINTMENT TRAINING/BRIEFINGS/VISITS REQUIRED
As directed by DComd RNCF.
AUTHORITY AND COMMITTEES
The Post Holder is authorised to liaise directly with internal and external stakeholders as necessary on behalf of the DComd RNCF for the delivery of these responsibilities.
Essential Skills
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 Skills
- Desirable – ACSC/ Masters Level Qualification.
Selection Process
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.
Additional information
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 (67) 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 . 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 . 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.
Pay.
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 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 eligible to occupy surplus Single Living Accommodation (SLA) at entitled rates.
Personnel serving on VeRR TCoS are not entitled to service accommodation.
Candidate Pack
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