UK Missile Defence Centre: Maritime and Land Support

UK Ministry of Defence; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The UK Ministry of Defence is hiring for a Maritime and Land Support role within the Missile Defence Centre, responsible for overseeing research activities and managing project delivery. Ideal candidates will possess a STEM degree and strong project management skills, engaging closely with military stakeholders to enhance UK's missile defence capabilities.

Benefits

Civil Service pension with employer contribution

Flexible working options

Learning and development tailored to role

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in an appropriate STEM subject.
• Experience in engineering or S&T research role.
• Ability to work with complex information.

Responsibilities

• Provide continuity for the Maritime and Land Theme Lead.
• Maintain Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD S&T roadmap.
• Support engagement with key MDC stakeholders.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Interpersonal skills

Education

Degree in STEM subject

Job description

Cody Technology Park, Ively Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 0LX

This role is based at the MDC, Cody Technology Park, Farnborough but there is no requirement for the post-holder to be in the office every day of the week (this can be discussed and agreed as part of the selection process). The post-holder will be required to regularly travel to MOD Main Building, Dstl sites and MDC industry partner sites. Some international travel in support of collaborative activity will be required.

Job Summary

The UK Missile Defence Centre (MDC) is the UK centre of excellence for Ballistic and Hypersonic Missile Defence and is a unique government-industry partnership within the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The MDC comprises several themes (Threat Reduction and Lethality, Threat Characterisation, Sensors and Architectures, Maritime and Land, Novel Technology, and Scenario Assessment & Wargaming) and commissions Science and Technology (S&T) across industry, Dstl and academia to improve UK understanding of ballistic and hypersonic missile threats, how they may affect UK forces, and how they can be defeated.

This post is responsible to the MDC Maritime and Land Theme Lead and supports delivery of research activities, including at the biennial FORMIDABLE SHIELD exercises. This role works closely with Navy Command, Army Headquarters, Finance and Military Capability (FMC) Complex Weapons, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Defence Science & Technology Directorate Science Advisors and other stakeholders to understand current and future Maritime and Land missile defence requirements (as part of broader Integrated Air and Missile Defence concepts) and to contribute to shaping the MDC Maritime and Land theme activities accordingly. The Maritime and Land Support role will manage delivery of discrete activities and requires project management, communication skills, stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to quickly understand relevant missile defence technologies. Much of the work is collaborative with national and international partners and thus some national and international travel will be required. Strong interpersonal skills are essential to build effective working relationships with MDC industry partners to deliver high-value S&T research.

Job Description

This role is responsible for:

• Providing continuity for the Maritime and Land Theme Lead which is occupied on 2y rotations by a secondee from an MDC Industry Partner.
• Maintaining the Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD S&T roadmap in collaboration with industry partners, and key stakeholders.
• Supporting regular engagement with key MDC Maritime and Land stakeholders (Navy Command, Army Headquarters, 7 AD Gp, FMC Complex Weapons, DE&S) to keep updated on progress, supporting international collaboration, and enhancing the reputation of the MDC as being the UK centre of excellence for ballistic and hypersonic missile defence.
• Defining tasks and developing statements of requirement for research activities to be conducted under the MDC’s Maritime and Land theme.
• Managing, in conjunction with the contracting authority, the delivery of Maritime and Land theme research activities.
• Supporting delivery of the MDC’s activities as part of Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD.
• Liaising with industry partners to develop ideas and concepts, and to ensure tasks are being delivered to time, cost and quality.
• Providing regular (monthly) updates to the MDC management team and contributing to quarterly MDC programme reviews.
• Maintaining awareness of activities undertaken by the Maritime Theatre Missile Defence Forum and seeking opportunities to exploit MDC activities.
• Maintaining engagement with relevant Dstl S&T programmes including the Maritime Systems programme.
• Developing and maintaining an understanding of ballistic and hypersonic missile threats to UK deployed forces in the Maritime and Land domains.
  
  

This Role Is Responsible For

• Providing continuity for the Maritime and Land Theme Lead which is occupied on 2y rotations by a secondee from an MDC Industry Partner.
• Maintaining the Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD S&T roadmap in collaboration with industry partners, and key stakeholders.
• Supporting regular engagement with key MDC Maritime and Land stakeholders (Navy Command, Army Headquarters, 7 AD Gp, FMC Complex Weapons, DE&S) to keep updated on progress, supporting international collaboration, and enhancing the reputation of the MDC as being the UK centre of excellence for ballistic and hypersonic missile defence.
• Defining tasks and developing statements of requirement for research activities to be conducted under the MDC’s Maritime and Land theme.
• Managing, in conjunction with the contracting authority, the delivery of Maritime and Land theme research activities.
• Supporting delivery of the MDC’s activities as part of Exercise FORMIDABLE SHIELD.
• Liaising with industry partners to develop ideas and concepts, and to ensure tasks are being delivered to time, cost and quality.
• Providing regular (monthly) updates to the MDC management team and contributing to quarterly MDC programme reviews.
• Maintaining awareness of activities undertaken by the Maritime Theatre Missile Defence Forum and seeking opportunities to exploit MDC activities.
• Maintaining engagement with relevant Dstl S&T programmes including the Maritime Systems programme.
• Developing and maintaining an understanding of ballistic and hypersonic missile threats to UK deployed forces in the Maritime and Land domains.
  
  

Person specification

The Maritime and Land Support role is key to the MDC’s provision of evidence to support decision making across government, support to relevant capability acquisitions, and the development of international research collaboration. The role requires excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to work at pace whilst managing competing demands.

The ideal candidate will have a good mix of technical and project management skills and experience.

Essential Criteria

• Have a degree or equivalent in an appropriate STEM subject and/or applicable domain experience in an engineering or S&T research role;
• Be able to comfortably work with complex and large amounts of information, and summarise key aspects;
• Have excellent communication and stakeholder management skills;
• Have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to form effective professional relationships;
• Be able to plan and manage their own time and priorities across multiple demand.
  
  

Desirable Criteria

• Understand and/or have experience of British Army and Royal Navy equipment and their air defence capabilities;
• Understand trials planning and execution.
  
  

Qualifications

Have a degree or equivalent in an appropriate STEM subject and/or applicable domain experience in an engineering or S&T research role;

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
  
  

Alongside your salary of £44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 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%
  
  

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.

Please apply using Civil Service Jobs by providing a CV (no more than 2 pages) and a Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1000 words) which should explain how your personal skills, experience and qualities provide evidence of your suitability for this role. A shortlist will be generated based on this information.

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification, and to assess you against the 4 behaviours required for this role.

At Interview, You Will Be Assessed Against The Following

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering At Pace
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
  
  

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.

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: [e-mail] .

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 security check (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 security check (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 : Anthony Wraight
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

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: [e-mail].