Quality Assurance - Analyst

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to work as a Quality Assurance Analyst within the Maritime Data Assessment Centre (MDAC), part of the Defence Intelligence organisation, supporting key MOD operational outputs. This role is suited to an individual with experience in Quality Assurance. Experience in defence, intelligence, or acoustics analysis is preferable; however, if you have an assurance background, enjoy working as part of a team, and are skilled in problem-solving, this could be the role for you.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. The unit supports flexible working with core hours set Monday to Friday; however, it is not suitable for home or hybrid working. This is an in-person role.

In Defence Intelligence (DI), our people solve problems, create understanding, and provide perspective on the diverse and complex Defence threats and challenges in a rapidly changing world. Together, our civilian and military personnel inform decision-making in Defence, manage complex finance programmes, and develop new technology.

At DI, we believe your unique experiences, views, and understanding of the world can provide vital perspectives and contributions to our work. We recognise that great minds do not think alike and are striving to increase diversity representation at all levels. As an equal opportunities employer, we hire, train, and promote people based on merit and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace free of discrimination.

All job adverts in DI are subject to fair and open competition.

Job description

You will be responsible to the Head of QA for conducting comprehensive analysis and validation of output data from the MDAC Watch floor and the training function. This role involves daily scrutiny of Watch floor performance, ensuring appropriate processes, policies and dissemination methods are followed. You will audit performance through direct observation and validation of data, consolidating findings for leadership review and supporting process improvement recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed analysis and validation of data produced by the MDAC Watch floor and training function.
• Scrutinise daily Watch floor performance, checking dissemination methods, protective markings, and caveats; audit performance through observation and data validation; consolidate findings for leadership review and process improvement .
• Collect and maintain databases including acoustic intelligence data, performance metrics, and metadata; share relevant information with the Head of Training.
• Assist the Head of QA with assurance checks, building and analysing data to ensure compliance across all departments.
• Qualify as a Watch Co-ordinator and provide day shift cover within the watch team approximately once every two months to maintain proficiency.
• Act as the MDAC Data Protection Officer, supporting the Information Manager with all MDAC information management functions.
• Complete mandatory non-functional training and other administrative tasks as directed by the Head of QA, commensurate with the role and grade.

Person specification

This is a reserved post, and is only open to sole UK Nationals

• Previous experience working within an intelligence facility or with an acoustic analysis background is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience of ISO 9001:2015 is desirable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks effectively.
• Resilience to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, exercising sound judgement on when to progress tasks or seek guidance.
• A committed team player.

Essential Criteria

You will be required to qualify as an Acoustic Analyst. For applicants not already qualified, there is the requirement to become qualified within the first 12 months of employment.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Furthermore, we offer a range of excellent benefits, including but not limited to the following:

• Leave entitlement – 25 days annual leave per year, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30 days. In addition, 8 statutory Bank Holidays and 1 privilege day per year.
• 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, staff have access to the exceptional on-site gymnasium facilities.
• Family-friendly benefits – We offer an excellent range of family-friendly benefits, including enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Special Paid Leave – Up to 6 days per year to volunteer.

Please note: Interview travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is currently reviewing all pay-related allowances, which may impact the allowances associated with this post.

This post does not offer any assistance with relocation allowances.

Discover My Benefits
Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site, which showcases the benefits and discounts available to civilians working for the MOD: https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

Any move to the MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. However, you may 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. This includes educating employees on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, and supporting those who wish to quit smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco) are not permitted anywhere within the Defence working environment. Some exemptions apply; please refer to local guidance. This Whole Force policy applies to 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, which 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 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 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.

Applicants must submit a CV using the template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard (Part Two of the application), detailing job history, qualifications and experience and skills.

You must also provide a personal statement (maximum 750 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the job advert. Review the Person Specification carefully, as your statement will be assessed against these requirements.

You may use any layout—narrative, bullet points, or a mix—and choose whether to address each criterion individually or combine examples. Focus on evidencing what you have done, the skills and experience applied, and why you are suited to the role. Highlight technical and behavioural competencies, relevant achievements, and any life experience or passion that aligns with the position.

At sift, applicants will be sifted against their CV, Personal Statement and following Civil Service Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together

If we receive a high number of applications the sift will take place using the CV, Personal Statement, Making Effective Decisions Behaviour and prior intelligence and analytical experience.

At Interview, you will be assessed against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership

Candidates will be required to complete an online Numerical test.

Should you be invited to complete the online tests, please allow sufficient time to complete the tests and the remainder of the full application form; only candidates who are successful at the test stage will be invited to complete the remainder of the application by clicking ‘Submit Application’. Your application must be completed by 23:55 on the closing date of the vacancy. Late submissions cannot be accepted. The tests are not timed, as they work by giving you harder questions if you answer the previous question correctly, and easier if you get it wrong. You should allow up to an hour for each test, and each test must be completed before you will be invited to complete the second part of your application. Internet access will be required for the duration of the test. Please refer to the attached Candidate Guidance for further information.

Candidates that reach the minimum required pass mark will have their results saved as a banked score against the following tests:

• New Civil Service Numerical Test

When a candidate has a banked score they’re not asked to re-take the same test providing it is set at the same level. Scores will be banked for a 6 month period from the date of test completion. If a candidate is invited to take the same test against multiple vacancies, the banked score will be recognised against all vacancies and all active applications will progress.

If you require any particular arrangements (for example due to a disability or health problem) to be made in order for you to complete the online test you MUST contact the DBS Enquiry Centre on 0800 345 7772 BEFORE accessing the online test.

Opening times Mon -Friday 0800- 1600 hrs.

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

Candidates should be aware that their office-based workplace will only have stair access and is underground with no windows. The use of Personal Electronic Devices within these workplaces, will align with MOD policy.

Successful candidates will be subject to a 6-month probation period.

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 : MDAC Executive Team
• Email : navysm-mdac@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

20241122-Candidate Information Pack V5-Accessibility-O Opens in new window (pdf, 469kB)Document in 26-06 Defence Internal Brief notice for inclusion of all adverts and issued alongside Posting Notices_O Opens in new window (docx, 25kB)CSOC Candidate Pack 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 1777kB)EXTERNAL PACK Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)