Navy Command - Vessel Traffic Service Operator

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 ourfuture.

As the authority for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

You'll be based at HMNB Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe and a powerhouse of Royal Navy capability. It is home to amphibious ships, survey squadrons, submarines, and two-thirds of the frigate force. With its unique nuclear refitting facility, Devonport ensures the Fleet remains ready to support operations worldwide.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Are you ready to take control of a busy, high-profile maritime environment and play a vital role in keeping one of the UK’s most important ports safe and operational?

The King's Harbour Master (KHM)provides a specialist Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) for the Dockyard Port of Plymouth to oversee the movements and afloat operations/activities within the port of military, RFA, commercial and recreational vessels.

The Vessel Traffic Services Operator regulates shipping movements and associated activities to facilitate the efficient/effective running of the port. The Vessel Traffic Services Operator’s key tasks are to assist the Vessel Traffic Services Supervisor (VTSS) in the provision of VTS services, to all users of the Dockyard Port of Plymouth including Nuclear Powered Vessels, to co-ordinate sonar transmissions and diving operations for vessels berthed alongside the Naval Base and to provide communication and message handling support.

The successful candidate must be prepared to undertake and pass the IALA C0103-1 qualification at an external marine college in South Shields for 2 to 5 weeks dependent on maritime qualifications held and obtain VHF GMDSS Restricted Operators Certificate (unless C0103-1 or GMDSS ROC already obtained).

The successful candidate once qualified will be expected to work 12 hour shifts, 0630-1830 or 1830-0630, on a continuous roster pattern of 2 days, 2 night, 4 rest days at FLAG and LONGROOM Port Control Stations. Whilst working at Flag, the position may be required to lone work.

What you will do:

• Provide a Vessel Traffic Service to aid the safe, expeditious movement of Military/Commercial Vessels within the Port of Plymouth.
• Use VTS IT Technology (including Radar displays)
• Co-ordinate Sonar/Diving Operations within HM Naval Base.
• Maintain live documentation and react to port incidents as required.
• Liaise with local authorities, Coastguard, Emergency services, Local Harbour Authorities, Government Agencies and Shipping Agents as required.
• Liaise with other Naval Base departments, Babcock and SERCO.
• Provide general assistance to enquiries from members of the public via VHF and telephone
• Be prepared to undertake afloat tasks subject to appropriate training
• Any administrative task or duty as delegated by VTSM

Open to UK nationals only.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), 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.

At Sift, you will be assessed against the following;

• Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and qualification details.
• Candidates will be required to provide a personal statement. This should be a maximum of 500 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential requirements for the role.

At Interview, you will be assessed against the following success profiles:

Behaviours:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Further information:

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.