S&T People Lead

Job summary

The Science & Technology (S&T) People Lead is responsible for leading the team ensuring utilisation of individuals in line with business requirements. This role includes line management, performance management, tasking individuals within their Suitably Qualified and Experienced Person (SQEP) boundaries, and assuring the health, safety, and security of the individuals in the team.

Your primary focus as an S&T People Lead is to lead people to perform which is achieved through managing individual performance by setting clear expectations, using feedback and coaching techniques as part of regular performance conversations, providing honest appraisals, and recognising good performance whilst proactively, confidently, and promptly addressing both poor performance and poor behaviours.

You will have a pivotal role in aligning and balancing the business needs of Dstl against the development and goals of their people to deliver Mission success.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

We have opportunities in the following areas:

• Sensor Mission Systems (SMS)
• AI and Data Systems Foundations
• AI & Data & Networks Analysis
• Forensics & Identity Team
• Hazard Management Team
• Energetic Threat Characterisation
• Maritime Countermeasures Team
• Energy Transfer Technologies
• Deterrence & Strategic Stability
• Offensive Air Team

For more information on the People Lead vacancies, please see the S&T Delivery opportunities document attached below.

In this role you will confidently manage and develop your team, identify and manage risks proactively to ensure the successful realisation of objectives and be confident in your ability to make effective decisions as a leader.

You will have an awareness regarding the technical capability area of your team, whether through prior experience or a commitment to ongoing learning. You will demonstrate an awareness of and maintain a strong appreciation of the relevant disciplines, their practical challenges, associated hazards, and relevant regulatory landscapes.

This technical engagement enables you to contribute directly to delivering safely and securely, reinforcing your leadership through hands on understanding and credibility.

For more information the job responsibilities, please see the job profile attached below.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who demonstrated experience in the relevant technical area providing evidence of technical credibility to effectively lead, support and inspire confidence of a specialist team.

You will have previous experience in managing workload, resources and priorities as well as motivating and developing high performing teams to deliver results against organisational objectives.

For more information on the essential criteria, please see the job profile attached below.

Important Information:

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats.

For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,568, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £14,939 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).

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

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.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

At the application stage, we will assess your submitted application against the essential criteria set out in the job profile.

Sifting will take place week commencing 26th October 2026 with interviews to be held face to face at Dstl Porton Down or Dstl Portsdown West from 9th November 2026.

Your interview will consist of behavioural and technical competency-based questions. You will also be required to deliver a 10-minute presentation. Further details for the presentation will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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 : Dstl Recruitment Team
• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.

Attachments

L6, S&T People Lead, CDO, S&T Delivery. V2 Opens in new window (pdf, 163kB)20261005_S&T_Delivery_Opportunities Opens in new window (pdf, 104kB)Dstl Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 4978kB)