HMS Collingwood, Newgate Lane, Fareham, Hampshire
Job Summary
Do you want to analyse, shape and enhance RN frontline tactics?
The Operational Advantage Centre’s (OAC) – Operational Reconstruction & Analysis (ORA) team is tasked with undertaking scientifically rigorous and objective analysis of Royal Navy Operations, Exercises and Trials.
A blended military and civilian team, ORA’s remit is to analyse, identify and inject lessons and insights to frontline RN units, utilising evidence-based processes with strict adherence to a Just Culture methodology.
ORA promulgates what went well, identifies what could be improved and provides mitigations and recommendations to support the air, surface and subsurface domains. The team also provides evidence towards assurance requirements for Senior Leaders.
The position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
The ORA team is proficient in undertaking operational reconstruction & analysis and each tranche (ORA 1, ORA 2 & ORA 3) has a specialisation. The ORA 1 tranche specialises in operational assurance.
We are looking for enthusiastic, scientifically and technically minded individuals, who are capable of integrating with frontline military colleagues to gather, prepare and analyse a plethora of datasets, fuse findings with additional information streams and impart information to a varied and diverse audience.
The role offers the opportunity to work directly alongside the RN frontline, both ashore and potentially deploying for short periods on RN or Allied platforms.
This role will require development of relationships with Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST), Joint Tactical and Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS), NATO In-stride Debrief Team (NATO IDT) and equivalent organisations across NATO & Allied partners, including AUKUS.
Note - All OAC analysts have the option to deploy with the Royal Navy on exercises and operations. Whether off the coast of Japan or in the Fjords of Norway, our analysts provide key evidence to support military commanders. This aspect of the role is completely optional (requirements apply in some circumstances such as attaining an ENG-1 certificate) however, these are unique & rewarding experiences work that also attract additional allowances.
The ORA team is proficient in undertaking operational reconstruction & analysis and each tranche (ORA 1, ORA 2 & ORA 3) has a specialisation. The ORA 1 tranche specialises in operational assurance.
We are looking for enthusiastic, scientifically and technically minded individuals, who are capable of integrating with frontline military colleagues to gather, prepare and analyse a plethora of datasets, fuse findings with additional information streams and impart information to a varied and diverse audience.
The role offers the opportunity to work directly alongside the RN frontline, both ashore and potentially deploying for short periods on RN or Allied platforms.
This role will require development of relationships with Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST), Joint Tactical and Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS), NATO In-stride Debrief Team (NATO IDT) and equivalent organisations across NATO & Allied partners, including AUKUS.
Note - All OAC analysts have the option to deploy with the Royal Navy on exercises and operations. Whether off the coast of Japan or in the Fjords of Norway, our analysts provide key evidence to support military commanders. This aspect of the role is completely optional (requirements apply in some circumstances such as attaining an ENG-1 certificate) however, these are unique & rewarding experiences work that also attract additional allowances.
Person specification
You will use, understand, modify, and improve software tools to conduct analysis in support of operations, exercises and trials. You will be able to work within dynamic military/civilian teams and be able to operate autonomously with appropriate direction and mentorship. You will be able to link technical capabilities with tactical requirements and be able to clearly articulate this information to a range of academic and military personnel.
The outputs of your work will directly influence operational and tactical behaviours.
Typical Responsibilities Include
- Operational Analysis
- Geospatial Analysis
- Data science/engineering
- Application of scientific knowledge and analytical findings to advise frontline decision makers.
- Communication of sophisticated information to a varied audience.
Skills
We are looking for candidates with academic and/or professional experience of providing analytical output independently or as part of a team. While previous experience in Defence or the maritime domain is not essential, it is expected the applicant will have applicable skills in one or more of the following areas:
- Operational analysis/operational research
- Data science/data engineering
- Trials planning and management
- Intelligence analysis
- Using the scientific process to generate evidence.
- Using evidence to support or make informed decisions.
Essential
Skills and Experience
- A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, or equivalent experience
- High level of IT literacy and data management skills.
- Experience in the application of scientific and/or analytical techniques.
- Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn
Other Desirable Experience
- Experience of technical or scientific work in relation to the maritime domain.
- Knowledge and experience of the MOD and Defence environment.
- Experience in programming in any widely-used programming language. The ORA team’s policy is aimed towards open-source languages).
Further Note
Whilst Operational analysis (OA) / Operational Research (OR), is an applied subject area that draws on scientific and advanced analytical methods to solve military problems, it is recognised that the ORA team’s operating environment is a relatively unique one.
As a result, we are a broad range of scientific, engineering, and analytical practitioners with a range of backgrounds. We celebrate this diversity.
We do not expect candidates to meet all the desirable criteria. We will consider all candidates who meet the essential criteria. We will provide training, tutoring and mentoring to ensure that you can develop your own abilities within the role.
Qualifications
A degree-level qualification in a mathematical or scientific discipline.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Changing and Improving
Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
As a civil servant in Navy Command, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects, and a job that makes a difference. Navy Command prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other Benefits For Navy Command Civil Servants Include
- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service.
- 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.
In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and
you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.
An apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through an apprenticeship you will gain professional knowledge, practical experience, and the broader skills required to up-skill you in your current role and pave the way for your future career. Most of the training will be ‘on-the-job’, with the remaining ‘off-the-job’ training often delivered by a training provider. This means minimal disruption and maximum impact.
Professional qualifications can be achieved through an apprenticeship and range from Level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSEs), Level 3 (equivalent to 2 A Levels), and Levels 4 -7, which can give you a foundation degree, a full Bachelor’s degree, or a Master’s degree.
Apprenticeships normally last between 12 months - 3 years, depending on the level of the apprenticeship.
Anyone can undertake an Apprenticeship and everyone, regardless of age, can benefit from developing their skills in an accredited way.
Successful candidates can discuss their development options with their manager when in post.
Our site in Fareham also offers an impressive range of on-site facilities including a gymnasium, swimming pool, and other sporting facilities, a children’s nursery, a bistro restaurant, a shop, and plenty of car parking spaces.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this 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.
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.
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.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.
Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (750 Words)
If successful at the sift stage, candidates will be invited to a single interview.
The interview will cover Civil Service Behaviours and Experience Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK and will require a short presentation on a question related to analysis in the Maritime Domain (provided in advance of the interview).
The interview questions will be based upon the following four behaviours:
- Working together.
- Communicating and influencing.
- Delivering at pace.
- Changing and improving.
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 Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Dr Aaron Cusack
- Email : aaron.cusack450@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.