UK Ministry of Defence
Navy Command - King's Harbour Master - Port Conservancy Officer
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HMNB Portsmouth, Naval Base Headquarters, Portsmouth, PO1 3LS
Job Summary
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 today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.
As the authority responsible for generating the Royal Navy’s operational capability, Director Force Generation ensures ships, submarines, aviation, commando forces, and supporting elements achieve the required levels of readiness. By balancing capability, risk, and operational demand, the directorate provides assured force output and acts as the Fleet’s scheduling authority, ensuring the Royal Navy can deliver whenever and wherever required.
You'll be based at HMNB Portsmouth, one of the oldest and busiest naval bases in the world. It is home to the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers (HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales) alongside destroyers, frigates, and specialist squadrons. As a vibrant hub of maritime power and innovation, Portsmouth sustains the Fleet and supports thousands of personnel.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
Are you a dedicated professional passionate about maintaining navigational safety and operational excellence? Navy Command invites you to take on the vital role of Port Conservancy Officer, where you will lead port safety initiatives, oversee critical dredging and mooring activities, and manage key stakeholder relationships. Join us to ensure the safe and efficient movement of Royal Navy vessels at HMNB Portsmouth, safeguarding personnel and assets while supporting the seamless delivery of naval operations. Step into a role where your expertise makes a tangible difference to the Royal Navy’s mission readiness and resilience.
The Port Conservancy Officer (PCO) leads all port conservancy matters, playing a pivotal role in maintaining navigational safety, overseeing dredging and mooring licensing, and managing key relationships with government agencies and stakeholders.
The PCO is responsible for the regular inspection and maintenance of all MOD-owned navigation buoys and lights, ensuring their correct positioning, material condition, and operational functionality. This includes arranging timely rectification of defects and ensuring that all navigational hazards—such as wrecks and obstructions—are accurately charted and promulgated through official channels like NAVWARN and Local Notices to Mariners. Maintaining an up-to-date portfolio of navigation charts and publications is also a core duty, underpinning safe navigation within the port.
In addition, the PCO oversees dredging activities to maintain navigable depths, advising on quality and managing related contracts in collaboration with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. The role also manages the port’s mooring licensing regime in partnership with Crown Estates, ensuring orderly and compliant use of moorings within the DPP.
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.
Person specification
What you'll be doing
- Ensure navigational safety by inspecting and maintaining all MOD-owned aids to navigation, and managing the accurate charting and notification of hazards.
- Oversee and manage dredging operations and mooring licensing within the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency.
- Maintain and update navigation charts, publications, and tidal data to support safe and effective port operations.
- Liaise with government agencies, including the General Lighthouse Authority and UK Hydrographic Office, to coordinate marine data and navigational information.
- Monitor harbour developments and environmental issues, providing expert advice and ensuring alignment with MOD interests and regulations.
- Support departmental projects and attend key meetings to drive continuous improvement and effective port management.
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To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
- Demonstrable experience or education in maritime-related fields such as Environmental Science, Hydrography, Oceanography, Conservation, Navigation, or Surveying.
- Proven ability to manage navigational safety tasks, including inspection and maintenance of navigation aids and accurate reporting of hazards.
- Experience in overseeing port operations such as dredging activities and mooring licensing, with effective stakeholder and contract management skills.
Essential Qualifications
- STCW Officer of the Watch (OOW) Unlimited (Reg II/1) Certificate of Competency or Royal Navy Charge Hydrographer or BSc (Hons) Hydrography or BSC (Hons) Ocean Exploration and Surveying
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Salary and benefits
Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%
- Personal & professional development
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to a confidential, professional support service
- Discount schemes
- Bicycle / season-ticket loans
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
- Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)
About working at HMNB Portsmouth
HMNB Portsmouth combines strong community spirit with convenient facilities. Enjoy on-site parking, a shuttle service between HMS Excellent and the Naval Base, and the chance to join the HMS Excellent Wardroom. Stay active with a free fitness suite and unwind at the on-site bistro or Barbers. Nursery provision and access to places of worship ensure a supportive and inclusive environment.
In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.
You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
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The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Important notices
- Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
- Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
- Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
- MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
- Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
As part of Defence Reform, Navy Command continues to review and evolve its Target Operating Model to support more agile ways of working. In this context, the role and responsibilities of this role may develop over time to reflect changing business priorities and opportunities.
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