Army - Force Development Senior Analyst

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, with responsibility for an annual budget of over £10bn, the Army is a major part of the Ministry of Defence and one of its largest operating centres who employ around 12,000 Civil Servants located at over 300 locations supporting the 110K regular and reserve soldiers across the Army. This Civil Service workforce is diverse, with many different functions and professions ranging from police officers, security guards, trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff.

The Operational Research Branch (ORB) is part of the Land Warfare Centre (LWC) and manages and delivers a broad range of scientific and analytical support to the Field Army to aid military planning, problem solving and decision making. It has a pivotal input into how the Army fights as well as assisting with the integration of new equipment and capabilities as it modernises.

Making full use of techniques across the Live, Virtual and Constructive environments, the ORB conducts research, studies, wargames, experiments and provides deployed scientific support, driven by endorsed Warfare and Force Development priorities, in both the UK and overseas.

The ORB works closely with stakeholders to support the coordination and execution of scientific and analytical activity and, where required, defines and secures the demand for subject matter expertise and resources. A close relationship with stakeholders and suppliers ensures coherence through increased awareness and sharing and by leveraging, consolidating and exploiting both ORB-funded activities and outputs and wider related efforts.

Coherence with wider Concept and Capability development and integration is maintained through coordination with Army HQ/Field Army, Formations and partnerships with the defence analysis and experimentation enterprise (e.g. Dstl and Industry).

Please note: The post holder will be required to work closely with military partners, within the military environment and occasionally in field conditions (e.g. during military training exercises), and which may include working unsocial hours.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Force Development Senior Analyst will be part of the ORB Experimentation team. The team leads the definition, execution and delivery of analysis and experimentation projects (blending live, virtual and constructive approaches), coordinated across stakeholders (including LWC, Experimentation and Trials Group, Field Army Formations and Army/Field Army HQs), and draws on resources and subject matter expertise across multiple delivery partners to generate knowledge and evidence to optimise and enhance operational capability.

This is a high-profile technical lead and stakeholder liaison role that will represent the interests of the ORB team across its customers and delivery teams. The post holder will be responsible for the development, management and delivery of analysis and experimentation projects in support of Commander Field Army’s priorities.

The team portfolio is diverse and necessarily dynamic in response to Field Army priorities and demand. The role provides unique opportunities to work directly with British Army units and formation Headquarters. It delivers support to military customers from Corps to Unit level, often at military sites throughout the UK and with occasional support to overseas exercises and events.

Key responsibilities:

• Championing awareness of ORB to increase the level of intrinsic knowledge of the branch analysis and experimentation activities and capabilities across the stakeholder community.
• Supports the ORB Operational Analysis team with operations planning, exercise planning and mission rehearsal processes through the provision of wargaming, simulation and operational analysis toolsets. You should also be able to support broader deployed Operational Analysis tasks using traditional OR methodologies.
• Establishing stakeholder partnerships, identifying requirements and initiating tasks/projects to maintain a broad portfolio of analysis and experimentation directed by and in support of Field Army requirements; ensuring robustness and high level of assurance of analysis and experimentation demands.
• Coordinating, leading and managing the delivery of experimentation activities, following project management good practice, including experimental design, formulation of data collection plans, concept of analysis development, execution, data capture/analysis and reporting.
• Overseeing and contributing to multiple inter-related projects, working closely with Subject Matter Experts and external delivery partners.
• Acting as an ORB analysis and experimentation subject matter expert providing guidance, governance and technical assurance for the outputs produced.
• Providing consultation and technical expertise to inform and support the wider ORB team and branch objectives.
• Exploiting emerging analytic and experimentation capabilities (e.g. modelling and simulation) to increase the fidelity, depth and veracity of delivered outputs and evidence.
• Providing subject matter expertise, support and input to wider Field Army experimentation activities (e.g. Experimentation and Trials Group, Field Army Formations and subordinates), ensuring technical oversight and support is available to those planning, conducting and analysing experimentation activity, enabling the Field Army to act as an intelligent customer and advocate of analytical experimentation.
• Helping to leverage and share knowledge and to drive the exploitation of project activities, transforming outputs into outcomes, to deliver benefits and change at the pace of relevance across the Field Army.
• Engaging across Defence analysis and experimentation partner organisations to ensure coherency of approaches, maintain an understanding of their service provision/facilities/delivery mechanisms, champion collaboration to leverage and exploit investment in wider Innovation, Research and Experimentation.
• The post holder may be required to deploy at high readiness (within 30 days’ notice to move) to operational theatres in support of any operational surge and will therefore be required to maintain a basic level of fitness and, once in post, pass a CODA medical and undertake pre-deployment/SAFE training.

Person specification

Essential skills required:

• Experience in analysis and experimentation design, development, delivery and stakeholder/supplier management together with a good level of analytical and technical knowledge.
• A Full UK Driving Licence is required as there is a requirement to travel to military units across the UK and overseas, and attend training exercises and courses.

Desirable skills:

• Experience working in a military environment and/or with a military customer, demonstrating an understanding of military functions, processes and ways of working.
• Experience of applying Operational Analysis techniques and/or planning and using modelling, simulation and wargaming tools to generate data and evidence.

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence is required as there is a requirement to travel to military units across the UK and overseas, and attend training exercises and courses.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Technical - Operational Analysis Functional Competences - Managing OA
• Technical - Operational Analysis Functional Competences - Basic Research

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Army 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 Army civil servants include:

- 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
- Highly competitive pension scheme
- Personal and professional development of skills
- Alternative working patterns for many roles
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
- Enhanced parental and adoption leave
- 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
- Learning and Development

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 a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

At Sift you will be assessed against the following:

Personal Statement - 750 words demonstrating your skills and experience in line with the essential criteria.

Behaviour:

• Making Effective Decisions.

Technical Skill:

Technical - Operational Analysis Functional Competences - Managing OA and Basic Research https://modgovuk.sharepoint.com/sites/IntranetCivilianHRPeoplePortal/Documents/Operational_Analysis.pdf

In the event of a high volume of applications, an initial sift will be based on the lead behaviour which is Making Effective Decisions. Where the required standard for this behaviour is met, you will continue to be sifted on the Personal Statement otherwise your application will be rejected.

Your Personal Statement and Technical evidence will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:

Technical - You will be assessed on Operational Analysis Functional Competences - Managing OA and Basic Research https://modgovuk.sharepoint.com/sites/IntranetCivilianHRPeoplePortal/Documents/Operational_Analysis.pdf

Behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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 : Richard Allen
• Email : Richard.Allen821@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.

Attachments

Defence Civil Service Offer (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Candidate Information (2) Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)20240307-ArmyTLBEVP Opens in new window (pdf, 3932kB)