Navy Command - Navy Approvals Secretariat Manager

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for todays challenges and tomorrows opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navys readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the Royal Navys lead for financial and commercial strategy, the Navys Director Finance & Commercial provides the analytical insight and oversight that ensure resources achieve the greatest operational effect. Through robust financial management, commercial assurance, and long‑term investment planning, the directorate enables the Service to operate with clarity, confidence, and value for money.

You'll be based at HMS Excellent on Whale Island in Portsmouth, home to the Naval Headquarters and front-line training units. NCHQ is the nerve centre of the Naval Service. It supports operations around the globe and provides the ships, people, aircraft and equipment to deliver the UKs defence policy. It is a hub of leadership, coordination, and expertise at the heart of Navy Command where Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and challenging jobs in different disciplines, from finance; legal services; personnel and HR; project planning and managing contracts, to media and communications. Roles can offer great job satisfaction and there are many opportunities to develop and progress both within the Department and across the wider Civil Service.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. We value flexible ways of working. This role requires regular onsite attendance (around 60% of the working week) to benefit from face-to-face collaboration, while offering flexibility of hours to support work life balance and business needs. During the initial period, you may be asked to attend more frequently to get familiar with the site, team, and responsibilities.

Are you seeking a new opportunity to advance your career while making a real difference? At Navy Command, we recognise and value your abilities and potential. Join us in a role where youll lead, inspire, and contribute to the delivery of the UKs most diverse and advanced maritime assets. Together, well ensure the Royal Navy continues to protect our nation and shape the future of global defence that also deliver value for money solutions

We are looking for a capable and motivated professional to join our Navy Approvals Secretariat Team as a Higher Executive Officer. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys delivering to tight deadlines, applying analytical thinking, and driving continuous improvement. The team provides the governance and assurance framework to ensure that underpins major Royal Navy investment decisions. We work with project and programme teams to guide them when developing investment proposals (business cases) and ensure that senior leaders have the information they need to make informed decisions at Investment Decision Panels.

In this role, you will work closely with project and programme teams from the earliest stages of development, advising on effective and appropriate approval strategies and will be guiding them through the Business Case approvals journey from conception to the point of financial approval. You will play a key part in ensuring that robust, high-quality business cases are developed by project teams and to be presented to senior decision-makers at Investment Decision Panels.

You will lead the coordination and delivery of Investment Decision Panels, providing clear advice and well-evidenced recommendations to senior leaders. Alongside this, you will help ensure that investment decisions are made in line with established policy frameworks and best practice, maintaining strong governance, auditability, and transparency.

The role offers exposure to a diverse portfolio of projects, typically ranging from 10M to 400M, and provides the opportunity to work with a wide range of stakeholders across Navy, MoD, delivery organisations, and with colleagues across the wider MOD Approvals and Scrutiny community.

What you'll be doing:

In support of the Head of the Approvals Secretariat (SEO) to support the Commands project and programme leads in obtaining approval for complex and high value business cases, and to support the Investment Decision chairs so that they are able to make effective evidence-based decisions.

Providing policy guidance support to the Business to assist them in correctly following the approvals process and undertaking the review of cases where the value, complexity and potential implications are appropriate to this grade. Initiating Scrutiny Reports to provide a balanced and impartial view on Business Cases. Explaining the required processes, providing guidance and support within your knowledge base. Providing secretariat support to internal investment decision panels and ensuring the required documentation is provided to them in a timely manner. (The Treasury's Green Book on Appraisals, and Business Cases structured in the 5 Case Model (Strategic, Economic, Commercial, Financial & Management) is the standard approach used across government to assess major investments). On the job training will be provided to the successful candidate regarding the MOD policies and processes which underpins this role after starting in post.

Providing services as the Subject Matter Expert

• Providing support, advice, building and promoting knowledge of the 5 Case model within the Business Case and Investment Appraisals within the Business area and finance workforce, escalating where issues are complex.
• Providing surge capacity in undertaking the scrutiny of Business Cases / Investment Appraisals to support the Head of Navy Scrutiny and your line management.
• Ensuring adherence to standards as outlined within internal MOD guidance which aligns to the HM Treasury Green Book. This knowledge can be developed on-the-job.
• Clearly explaining the required Business Case approvals processes, ensuring they are understood by all stakeholders to support compliance and meeting the required standards.
• You will be responsible for supporting a portfolio of investment proposals but will also be required support the wider Approvals Secretariat Team during surge and absence gapping.
• You will support the Chair of the Investment Decision Panels to ensure that they are considering cases appropriate to their Letters of Delegation. Providing written and verbal briefings to the Panel chair ahead of the meeting, drafting and issuing approval decision letters to formally record the outcome.

Stakeholder engagement and collaboration

• Remaining coherent with the expectations of the Department of State as the Head Office and MOD policy owners, engaging with them as required.
• Engaging and collaboratively working with Finance budget teams, communicating on key aspects of financial scrutiny and approval activity in support of their area(s) of responsibility.
• Recognising when to seek further expertise and consulting other Specialist Services and Centres of Excellence.
• Building and maintaining working relationships with Business areas, building your understanding of how the Business operates, seeking to support their needs in the approvals journey.

Continuous improvement

• When required, provide awareness training to business areas on the approvals process and to share best practice guidance.
• Seeking feedback on the services provided and continuously strive to improve the service provided by the Approvals Secretariat.
• Ensure misinterpretation of guidance is understood and shared in a timely manner with team members.

Fulfilling your area of responsibility

• Whilst this post does not have Line Management responsibilities, you will be motivating and leading Scrutiny colleagues and other SMEs to enable effective and timely delivery of scrutiny reports.
• Support your own personal development and knowledge.
• Being open to challenge and new ideas, sharing of knowledge and experience, encouraging others through building a supportive team environment.
• Supporting development and embedding the use of standardised processes to deliver a consistent output to customers
• Working within set parameters, dealing with, and taking decisions on day-to-day issues. Referring to senior staff on matters of policy or novel, complex issues.
• Maintaining efficient and effective audit records.

We are looking for someone who is confident working in a fast-paced environment, able to manage competing priorities, and comfortable engaging with stakeholders at all levels. You will bring a proactive mindset, a willingness to challenge and to improve existing processes, and a strong attention to detail to ensure high standards are consistently met.

To be successful ...