Defence Intelligence: Counterspace Analyst

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists to join the Capability Assessment space team, within Defence Intelligence (DI). The successful candidate will be working alongside a high performing team that works on understanding adversary threats from and to the space domain, with a wide range of customers from across Defence and Whitehall.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Defence Intelligence (DI) is a world-class organisation that supports policy and decision-making at the heart of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the cross government national security community. In DI, our people solve problems, create understanding, and give perspective to the diverse and complex Defence threats and challenges in a rapidly changing world. Together our civilians and military personnel inform decision-making in Defence, manage complex programmes, and develop new technology.

DI is a key element of the UK’s national intelligence community, working closely with partners across Defence, Cabinet Office, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the intelligence agencies and other intelligence assessment bodies such as the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and Joint Intelligence Organisation.

The Space Ops 4 role is one of four MOD Civil Service positions responsible for assessing the capabilities of foreign space-related threat systems, including their terrestrial support infrastructure. The Space Team is currently divided into two areas of focus: space utilisation and counterspace capabilities. This role sits within the counterspace team and works closely with the line manager to deliver intelligence assessments, with a particular emphasis on electronic warfare capabilities.

This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with a technical or programme analysis background who is looking to broaden their strategic awareness, leadership, and communication skills. It would also suit an experienced intelligence analyst seeking to expand their knowledge and experience within Defence Intelligence Capability Assessment (DI CA), particularly in the space domain.

This role requires: a proactive, self-driven, scientifically curious individual - ability to collate large data sets and identify key significant findings; excellent presentation and communication skills - especially written assessment; strong organisational skills with ability to prioritise, work under pressure and to meet deadlines; good interpersonal and teamworking skills.

The post holder will be responsible for producing high-quality all-source assessments. It is essential that the postholder can maintain good working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and customers, including experts from academia and industry. The role requires both national and international travel. The post holder will be expected to maintain their skills and an awareness of new developments in their area of responsibility. Ideally the post holder will have some industry experience. This is a new post, and the appointee will be a self-starter able to work on their own developing the post and their intelligence analysis skills.

In DI we believe your unique experiences, view and understanding of the world could provide a vital perspective and contribution to our work. We recognise that great minds do not think alike and are striving to increase our diversity representation at all levels. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire, train and promote people based on merit and aspire to create an inclusive workplace free of discrimination. We also offer flexible working arrangements such as flexitime; job share and compressed hours. All job adverts in DI are subject to fair and open competition.

Responsibilities

• Lead on intelligence analysis of counterspace electronic warfare capabilities and systems.
• Support intelligence analysis across the broader range of counterspace threats and capabilities.
• Manage intelligence requirements, identify capability gaps, and support collection planning opportunities.
• Work closely with the contracted analysis team to coordinate and develop counterspace intelligence outputs.
• Produce written intelligence products, including Threat Web entries, RFI responses, capability assessments, threat statements, and briefings within your area of responsibility.
• Provide support to UK and international conferences, exercises, and wargames as required.
• Identify areas of space threat capability and vulnerability that would benefit from further research and assessment.

Person specification

What are we looking for?

Essential

• Ability to analyse information from a range of sources, identify key findings, and draw clear, evidence-based conclusions.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, building positive working relationships and contributing to shared objectives.
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to non-specialist audiences, including senior decision-makers.
• Ability to approach problems creatively and develop innovative solutions to analytical challenges.

Desirable

• Understanding of the space domain and the challenges and opportunities associated with its use.
• Working knowledge of orbital mechanics, gained through education or relevant experience.
• Working knowledge of radio frequency and electromagnetic spectrum concepts, gained through education or relevant experience.
• Background in, or demonstrated interest in, national security, defence, or international security issues.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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%
• DI aspires to be an exemplar equal opportunity employer creating a workplace which values diversity and is free from any form of unfair discrimination.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements 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.

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 and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability in no more than 500 words.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of suitability and the following Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions

If a large number of applicants are received, the initial sift will be conducted using only your personal statement.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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.

Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) generates and operates specialist capabilities, ready to fight across all domains to make the UK secure at home and strong abroad.

Always on, we are across every UK operation, delivering the capabilities you don’t usually see - or those you can’t.

From cyber warriors and medics to intelligence analysts, special forces, educators, and Defence attachés, our collective expertise delivers the warfighting edge Defence needs to deter threats and secure the nation today and prepare for tomorrow.

CSOC unites Defence’s cyber and specialist capabilities under a single, military command alongside the Royal Navy, British Army, and the Royal Air Force - acting as the UK’s fourth Military Command. For more information, please see here.’

Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to design the way in which the new Military Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, posts within CSOC are/or may become subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 : DI Space Team
• Email : UKStratCom-DI-CA-AandSOpsSpceGp@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

20250919-Candidate Information Pack V8-Accessibility CSOC Opens in new window (pdf, 428kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1563kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 25kB)Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 31kB)