Joint Intelligence Organisation - Principal Intelligence Analyst, Science & Technology

Job summary

We are looking for someone with demonstrable expertise in Science & Technology (S&T), who is able to synthesise a wide-range of sources into robust assessment which can meaningfully inform decisions on national security, resilience and economic growth. You will be capable of producing high-quality assessment to tight deadlines, with a track record of working closely with senior customers and subject matter experts. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of HMG’s national security machinery, helping to inform the UK’s response to priority national and international issues.

Job description

About the JIO

The Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) primarily supports the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) and the National Security Council, the Prime Minister and other key decision-makers by providing authoritative, robust all-source intelligence assessment on a vast range of national security and foreign policy priorities.

Our work covers, and goes beyond, ‘traditional’ national security topics such as geopolitical issues and threats to British interests. We apply a national security lens to issues such as emerging technology, economic and health security, climate change and horizon scanning (for example, identifying and monitoring countries at risk of instability).

You can read more about working for the JIO in the information pack attached at the bottom of this advert.

The Role

As Principal Analyst in JIO’s S&T team you will deliver strategic national security assessments across a range of thematic areas including AI, quantum, space and engineering biology – responding to policy requirements and emerging threats. You will also be assigned a geographic area of responsibility and have a cross Whitehall coordination role.

Person specification

You will produce all-source strategic assessments that help to inform a range of policy decisions. Working closely with other experts across HMG, JIO’s role is to present a single, agreed view on HMG priority issues, as well as writing intelligence highlights for the Prime Minister. The successful candidate will need to be prepared to work flexibly during a crisis to support teams in wider JIO as required.

If your application is successful, you will:

• Analyse information from a range of sources to produce timely, robust and policy-relevant assessments, supporting your colleagues to do the same.
• Take the lead in authoring a variety of short and long-form products read by senior customers, including the Prime Minister.
• Develop deep subject-matter expertise, including an understanding of policy requirements.
• Establish strong working relationships with HMG stakeholders and customers and international allies. You will also consult academic, think-tank and private sector analysis.
• Routinely use structured analytical techniques in your own work, and facilitate multi-agency and international workshops, including ‘challenge’ sessions.
• Provide visible leadership across JIO by working collaboratively with JIO's economy team and geographic teams to ensure that S&T considerations are routinely factored into load-bearing assessment.
• Contribute to the wider team’s work or to wider JIO work, both to support colleagues and for your own development.
• You may occasionally be asked to support crisis working or work unsociable hours, often with little or no notice.
• There are currently no line management responsibilities attached to this role, but there may be future line or matrix management opportunities.

Skills and Experience Required

The successful candidate will:

• Be a proactive self-starter, able to produce evidence-based assessment for a senior audience;
• Have experience in gathering and analysing information from diverse sources;
• Have strong written and oral communication skills. This includes excellent drafting skills and the ability to draw key conclusions from a large volume of (sometimes conflicting) evidence;
• Be organised, possess well-honed critical thinking skills and be able to work across several different work strands at any given time;
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and be a team player, able to develop and manage close working relationships with colleagues across organisational boundaries, leveraging your network to deliver;
• Have experience of having worked either in an analytical role or on S&T or security issues.

Essential skills and experience:

• Experience working in analysis, intelligence or national security
• Background or demonstrable expertise in science, technology, maths or engineering related fields

We invest in upskilling our team members to enable them to thrive once they start working with us. As such, if you don’t quite match all these requirements, don’t let it put you off applying as we will equip the successful candidate with them once in post. The application process will seek to gauge potential just as much as current performance.

To note, the subject matter in intelligence assessment roles within JIO can occasionally be distressing, we have various support options available to our analysts including access to the employee assistance programme.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Gathering, Organising and Evaluating Intelligence and Information (Practitioner)
• Analysis, Tradecraft and Assessment (Practitioner)
• Communication of Intelligence Assessment (Practitioner)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,988, Cabinet Office contributes £18,247 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Annual salary increases will depend upon individual performance and contribution to the organisation’s success. In addition, there will be the opportunity to earn performance related bonuses.

Existing civil servants can take up the post on loan from their parent department for the duration advertised (permission from their parent department would need to be secured in order to take up the post). Those joining on level transfer will retain their current salary. Staff joining on promotion terms will receive up to a 10% increase of their current basic salary or the pay band minimum whichever is the greater. Staff joining on promotion will adopt the modernised terms and conditions of employment which came into force in 2013.

Pension: There is a choice of excellent pension schemes. More information about pension provisions can be found at www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions.

Flexible Working: Flexible working including job-share arrangements may be considered for this role.

Leave allowances: 25 days' paid leave per annum rising to 30 days after five years' service. In addition, full-time staff receive eight public holidays and the King's Birthday privilege day as well as competitive maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave.

Crisis working: As the JIO and PHIA are at the heart of national security function for the UK, there are occasionally times where we need to respond to incidents of crisis or critical importance. Staff in any role may be asked to work extended or anti-social hours with little or no notice on such occasions.

Probation: Staff new to the Civil Service will be required to serve a six-month probationary period.

Location: The post will be based in Westminster, London. No relocation costs will be available.

Equality and Diversity: The Cabinet Office is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. We will not discriminate on grounds of gender, gender identity, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, those with caring responsibilities, part time workers or any other factor irrelevant to a person’s work. We encourage a diverse workforce and aim to provide a working environment where all staff at all levels are valued and respected, and where discrimination, bullying, promotion of negative stereotyping and harassment are not tolerated.

Civil Service Code: All civil servants are subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Code which details Civil Service values, standards of behaviour, rights and responsibilities. Go to http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk for more information.

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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:

• A CV
• A Personal Statement - Please outline your experience and suitability for the role, including where you can demonstrate meeting the essential criteria listed for this position (750 words).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Those successful at sift will be invited for an interview along with a written test which may be for either a full day or half day.

Behaviours based on CS success profiles will be assessed at interview stage. Technical skills will be assessed by means of a written test.

We will assess Technical Skills (See PHIA Professional Development Framework, linked below) as part of a written test exercise.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/intelligence-analysis-professional-development-framework/the-professional-development-framework-for-all-source-intelligence-assessment

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

High-Side Evidence

Community colleagues wishing to submit evidence holding a higher classification are permitted to do so, although are requested to get in touch with the Recruitment Team on R28918 where they will be provided with appropriate instructions for doing so. The recruitment team must ensure that any supporting evidence submitted on alternative systems are redacted to remain compliant with name blind recruitment principles. Applications submitted directly to recruiting managers will not be considered.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Further information

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This post is only open to British Citizens. Some dual nationals may be ineligible. The successful candidate must obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance if not already held. As they will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process. Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

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 : Vacancy Enquiries
• Email : info.applications@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)2023 Working in the JIO (5) Opens in new window (pdf, 7067kB)Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)