Army - Wargaming 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 Field Army Operational Research Branch (ORB), which is part of the British Army’s Land Warfare Centre (LWC), uses analytical techniques to support better decision making. We manage and deliver research, studies, wargames, experiments and deployed scientific support. The branch delivers experimentation and exploration activities support of Field Army and NATO formations, operating at the most suitable location, whether that be in the UK or overseas.

The team employs analytical approaches to aid in military planning, problem solving and decision making. It makes full use of the analytical options presented in the Live, Virtual and Constructive environments to support senior officers in decision making. The role has a pivotal input into how the Army fights and assisting the Army in integrating new equipment and capabilities as it modernises.

Please note: You will be required to meet and maintain pre-deployment training standards, which includes a requirement to pass a medical and maintain a basic level of fitness. You will need to have or attain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. There will be a regular requirement to travel, including overseas, to attend training exercises and courses, therefore there is an expectation that you will be able to facilitate this.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

As the Wargaming Senior Analyst, you will be responsible for development, management and delivery of wargaming within the Field Army for the purposes of training and Warfare Development.

This is an exciting role which provides unique opportunities for you to work embedded within British Army units and formation Headquarters. You will deliver wargames to military training audiences from Corp to Unit level at military sites throughout the UK, with occasional support to overseas exercises.

Your time will be split between desk based and deployed on training exercises or activities with the Army. You may be required to deploy on operational theatres in support of any required operational surge requirement of Operational Analysis.

Key responsibilities:

• Coordination and management of all aspects of manual wargame support, design, analysis and execution using standard project management methodology.
• Acting as the Branch subject matter expert for manual wargaming as an analysis methodology, managing the use and development of these tools.
• Lead as wargame facilitator for manual wargames, including coordination with game customers, briefing leadership on each wargame and overseeing the execution of each wargame on location and as hosted by Field Army units.
• The management of the LWC Wargaming Facility and the Op Research wargame library, this includes maintaining an awareness of Commercial-Of-The-Shelf wargames and their applicability in a military environment.
• Growing the manual wargame capability of the branch, through the adoption of new wargaming systems e.g RCAT
• Assists in identifying customer (Field Army formations and units) requirements and designing war-games for analysis and training purposes.
• Provide consultation and technical expertise to inform studies, experimentation and wargaming activity in support of Op Research programme objectives. Oversee the use of wargaming used by Contractors to deliver Op Research Branch outputs.
• Develop the Branch capability to design, test, and deliver bespoke wargames to support analysis tasks.
• Contribute to the development and sharing of wargaming best practice, this may include producing guidance documentation, training, information, and communications.
• Supports Director Land Warfare with the Army Wargaming Community of Interest, including coordination of events, wargaming training, education and professional development.
• Support other Branch Senior Analysts with the delivery, management and facilitation of digital wargaming tools.
• Supports Operational Analysis Team with Operations Planning, Exercise Planning and Mission Rehearsal processes through the provision of wargaming and simulation support, this includes the use of CIRSIUM. You should also be able to support broader deployed Operational Analysis tasks using traditional OR methodologies.
• Exploits emerging data analytic capabilities to improve wargaming and simulation capabilities and improve fidelity for wargame customers.
• Contributes to the development of Army wargaming doctrine and policy, and of technical and non-technical tools to support wargaming.
• Engage with other Defence Wargaming organisations to ensure continuity of approach and maintaining an understanding of their service provision, facilities and delivery mechanisms.

Please note: You will be required to undertake a CODA medical as part of your Pre-Deployment Training. This will be undertaken once you have taken up the post.

Person specification

Essential skills required:

• You must have extensive experience in professional wargaming development, management and delivery together with a good level of analytical and technical knowledge OR a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) degree with some experience of professional wargaming.
• Experience of modelling, simulation and experimentation.
• You must hold a valid UK driving licence as you will be required to visit Field Army barracks and locations throughout the year. Many Field Army sites are in rural locations so public transport is not always a viable method of transport.

Desirable skills:

• Experience of working in a military environment and/or with a military customer.
• Experience of applying Operational Analysis techniques.
• Experience of planning and conducting non-military wargames or simulations.

Licences

A Full UK Driving Licence is required as you will be required to visit Field Army barracks and locations throughout the year. Many Field Army sites are in rural locations so public transport is not always a viable method of transport

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• 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:

• Operational Analysis Functional Competences – Use and development of tools & techniques

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.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

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.

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 application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Personal Statement - 750 words highlighting relevant experience against the essential criteria
• Behaviour - Making Effective Decisions
• Technical - You will be assessed against Operational Analysis Functional Competences – Use and development of tools & techniques (framework PDF attached)

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Making Effective Decisions. 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:

Behaviours

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

Technical - You will be assessed against Operational Analysis Functional Competences – Use and development of tools & techniques (framework PDF attached)

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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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 : Harry Thomas
• Email : Harry.Thomas100@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

Operational_Analysis Opens in new window (pdf, 263kB)20240307-ArmyTLB doc Opens in new window (pdf, 3932kB)Candidate Information updated Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)