Defence Intelligence Geospatial Intelligence Operations Centre (DIGOC) Foundation Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) Lead

Job summary

As an important part of the Ministry of Defence, Defence Intelligence (DI) provides intelligence analysis, specialist outputs and advice that supports decision making across government. At the heart of DI is the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI).

As part of the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI) the Defence Geographic Centre (DGC) provides geographic information, services and liaison to UK Defence and the wider Intelligence Community. It has comprehensive production, collection, information management and dissemination capabilities staffed by specialist geospatial analysts.

This is an exciting opportunity for a driven and hardworking individual to join our fast paced, friendly team as the Foundation Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) lead. You will predominantly work within the DI Intelligence Geospatial Intelligence Operations Centre (DIGOC) and be responsible for proactively coordinating and planning Foundation GEOINT requirements between customers, Defence Specialist Geospatial Centres and NCGI.

This role is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The post will advise staff in identifying where Geospatial, Hydrographic, Meteorological and Oceanographic foundation Geospatial information capabilities can best support requirements as stated in Requests for Information (RFI) or standing Intelligence Requirements (IRs) or Defence Geospatial Management Board (DGMB) longer term requirements. The post provides DIGOC and customers with subject matter expertise on Foundation GEOINT products and data, where they might be produced and how they may be utilised to meet Defence and DI customer requirements

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Develop Foundation GEOINT planning utilising Defence planning assumptions, strategies, etc and engaging with Front Line Commands and other key customers across Defence.
• Conduct liaison across wider NCGI, Joint User and wider DI to ensure effective Specialist Geospatial Centre (SGC) representation. SGCs are comprised of DGC, No 1 Aeronautical Information Documents Unit (No 1 AIDU), UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and UK Meteorological Office (UK Met Office) and provide Foundation GEOINT across domains.
• Deliver briefs to, and respond to questions from, Dep Hd Ops and Analysis, senior stakeholders and leaders.
• Widen the knowledge and understanding of Foundation GEOINT capabilities within NCGI, DI and across the customer community.
• Foundation GEOINT function lead for the Intelligence Requirements Management and Collection Management processes as well as the Defence Geospatial Management Board (DGMB) process to enable long term requirements management as well as associated production planning.
• Engage with the Intelligence Requirements Managers (IRM) and SGCs to ensure that Defence's intelligence and information gaps are minimised.
• Support SGCs Task Management by using SME knowledge to ensure RFIs are monitored with a view to coherently directing SGCs and other DI Mission Teams, ensuring the customer is engaged and receives a timely response.
• Provide advice and support as required to Head DIGOC to support decision making.
• Routinely report to line manager as required.
• Lead GEOINT working groups to coordinate foundational data requirements for operations and exercises

Travel to other UK MOD sites will be required approximately twice a month.

This role has line management responsibilities for 1 staff.

Please note: DGC, MOD Feltham is permanently closing and relocating to RAF Wyton, in line with the scheduled site closure, 31 October 2026. Existing DGC MOD Feltham candidates that currently have a permanent duty station at MOD Feltham applying on level transfer or promotion will be entitled to relocation allowances. If the successful candidate is non-mobile, a request must be submitted to the PRIDE2 Change Panel before accepting any provisional offer made.

This position does not come with relocation allowances / support for any non-DGC, MOD Feltham based candidates, or Cross Government candidates or External candidates.

Please be advised that the permanent duty station for this role is RAF Wyton. As part of the PRIDE 2 initiative, MOD Feltham is relocating to RAF Wyton, with the relocation process ongoing until 31 October 2026. All successful candidates are expected to start their positions at RAF Wyton on their agreed start date. For those from DGC MOD Feltham who are successful and eligible for relocation allowances, the business will agree on a start date with you between now and 31 October 2026. However, please note that you must complete your relocation to RAF Wyton by 31 October 2026

All jobs advertised in DI are subject to fair and open competition.

Person specification

We are seeking individuals with excellent communication, verbal and written, and collaboration skills to enable effective requirements capture. Individuals should be able to work to strict timeframes and be proficient at prioritising tasks.

Essential criteria:

• A broad knowledge of Foundation Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) data, as defined in the Defence Geography Functional Competence Framework, and their application to customer requirements.
• An understanding of the type of Foundation GEOINT requirements placed on DGC and its capabilities.
• Confident in collaborating and building relationships with a range of stakeholders (including military) to support the requirements process.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong organisational skills along with the ability to work flexibly and prioritise tasks to meet agreed deadlines.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Defence Geographer 1 - Understanding Foundation GEOINT – Practitioner
• Defence Geographer 2 – Geospatial Community – Practitioner

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

• Defence Geographer 1 - Understanding Foundation GEOINT – Practitioner

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.

• We offer a range of excellent benefits including but not limited to the following:
• All successful candidates will be eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Leave entitlement - 25-day annual leave allowance per year increasing by 1 day per year (maximum 30 days per year). In addition, 8 statutory Bank Holidays and 1 privilege day per year.
• Complementing our generous annual leave allowance, we also have a flexible working scheme.

Additional working pattern options – we have a strong culture of flexible working and encourage all employees to have a healthy work/life balance. We offer a wide range of potential working patterns, including part time, job share and compressed hours. These need to be balanced with business needs so they will vary from job to job. If you would like to know more, please speak to the Recruiting Line Manager.

Professional Development - We are committed to your continued professional and personal development with learning as one of our core values.

Health and Wellbeing – for a small fee we offer the staff the use of the exceptional site gymnasium facilities.

We also offer an excellent range of family-friendly benefits, for example, enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

Special Paid Leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year

MOD Feltham and RAF Wyton have free car parking; and other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club, Gym and onsite shop.

Discover My Benefits
Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD.

https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

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.

Applicants should apply for this role online, via the website.

Assessment at sift and interview will be based on meeting any defined skill/qualification requirements along with a Success Profile element assessment, as detailed in the job advert. The Success Profile elements to be assessed will be outlined within the job advert. The Civil Service Success Profile Framework is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (500 Word count)

At sift, you will be assessed against your Personal Statement and the following:

Technical Skill:

Defence Geographer 1 - Understanding Foundation GEOINT – Level Practitioner

At interview, applicants will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Communicating & Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Leadership

Technical skill:

Defence Geographer 2 – Geospatial Community – Level Practitioner

Should there be a large number of applicants the sift will be based on the personal statement only.

We would generally expect Behaviour examples to follow the STAR structure and encourage candidates to use this throughout their application.

The sift should take place within two weeks of the job closing and candidates will be informed of the results, at all stages, via the website. Interview dates are to be confirmed.

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

If the successful candidate does not hold the necessary clearances, they will be made a provisional job offer and asked to undergo our vetting procedures. Once the relevant clearances have been obtained a formal job offer will be made and start dates can be discussed. Should the candidate fail to obtain the relevant clearances the provisional job offer will be rescinded. It should be noted that this process can take several months.

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.

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 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 : NCGI Recruitment
• Email : UKStratCom-DI-NCGI-Recruitment@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 Geography Competency Framework 2019v1 Opens in new window (pdf, 2531kB)NCGI Candidate Information Pack - NCGI STN Opens in new window (pdf, 437kB)Candidate Information (1) Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)DD Candidate Pack 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 2123kB)