About the job

Job summary

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• To represent DI and provide thought leadership on data access, discoverability, interoperability and exploitation in MOD, cross government and international forums;
• To understand and explain the ‘art of the possible’ with data to users and to the business that give us advantage over our adversaries;
• To provide strong data leadership across Defence in the Above Secret tier, driving interoperability between tiers and aligning to and supporting MOD CDO;
• To represent the wider data profession and the MOD CDO in DI;
• To understand the wider data landscape – in use, planned and potential – across MOD, HMG and by our partners and allies, and drive integration and interoperability;
• To advise the Director on capability strategy and investment decisions in the Above Secret tier to enable data advantage;
• Working with policy and legal colleagues, to cohere, adapt and negotiate data policy and agreements for DI, nationally and internationally, to ensure data can be used by the right people;
• To provide insight into the business change needed to make best use of data; and
• To oversee and quality assure a professional cadre of data specialists across DI and advise on data skills in the wider workforce.

Person specification

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following essential criteria

• Have experience of collective leadership across and between organisations to achieved shared outcomes;
• Be a strategic thinker, with experience of successfully building, leading and implementing a data strategy at scale;
• Be a trusted adviser, and have experience of advising senior colleagues, managing complex situations;
• Have experience of leading and managing professional teams during a period of transformation;
• Be a visible, credible leader and have leadership presence in both internal and external contexts; and
• Have an expert understanding of evolving trends in data, particularly in the intelligence context, and what it could mean for the Defence enterprise.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a strong field of candidates when there is a need to distinguish between candidates. This will be as a second sift, after the essential criteria has been considered)

• Digital perspective - with foundational knowledge of the technologies needed to run modern data exploitation services and familiarity with the various network types and security classifications that are used operationally;
• Operational & business improvement experience - understanding how to analyse current or in-development data services and processes and manage advanced and complex situations across more than one operational/business function or programme.

Benefits

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this role. This should be completed no later than 23:55 on Sunday 25th August 2024 and will involve providing the two documents outlined below via the Civil Service Jobs portal:

• A CV (no more than 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
• A Personal Statement (no more than 2 pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

For further information about the role and full application process, please refer to the candidate pack attached below. If you wish to receive any material in a different format for accessibility, then please contact People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Enhanced Developed Vetting, further to the DV as listed below.

Candidate Drop-In Session

We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about the Ministry of Defence and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

This will take place on Friday 2nd August 12:00-13:00 and you can join here

Security

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.