About the job

Job summary

Founded in 1927 and based in the heart of London, the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) is the senior college within the UK Defence Academy and educates circa 100 high-ranking military officers, diplomats and civilian officials (mainly at OF5-7 and Grade 7 to SMS 1 level) in the art and science of strategy making and leadership by means of its 11-month Global Strategy Programme (GSP). Students on the course - known as Members - are drawn from 50+ countries to study international affairs, security and strategy at postgraduate level. The course concentrates on the wide range of factors that relate to national, regional and global stability, security and prosperity at the grand strategic level, the level at which governments take decisions about their instruments of power as they relate to the sustainment, if not promotion, of their national interests. The purpose of the course is to provide graduates who understand the international strategic context, are skilled in strategic analysis and strategy formulation, and are able to work intuitively across national, cultural and ideological boundaries to lead or contribute to developing strategy at the highest level.

The GSP Directing staff is a growing team (c.10 people) working across the College’s output areas, led by the Head of the GSP. We are responsible for designing a fascinating and stimulating programme and we work closely across Whitehall, externally and internationally, to deliver world-renowned strategy education. If you are a team player, intellectually curious, highly organised and collaborative, and enjoy working in a fast-paced, cosmopolitan environment, this role could be for you.

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be 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. 

This position is advertised at 36/37 hours per week TACOS Dependant.

Job description

As part of team of six Directing Staff (DS), each DS has a variable and interchangeable portfolio, which covers the detailed design, delivery and programming of all elements of the GSP across an academic year.  The portfolio includes direct responsibility for designing major course components including seminars, lectures, strategy case studies, strategic leadership talks, study visits both in the UK and overseas, and strategy exercises (week-long dynamic role-play political simulation events).

 You will undertake independent research, analysis and engagement across Whitehall and academia to identify new intellectual approaches, build new partnerships and drive innovation in the design of course components. You will lead on the detailed drafting of lecture specifications and the identification and arrangement of suitable external expert speakers from the world’s best universities, think tanks, journalism, NGOs, international organisations, governments and the private sector. You will oversee those course elements you design and be responsible for administration and logistics for the day-to-day running of the course, and you will assess feedback from Members (students) and staff to inform future planning.

Working closely with external organisations such as NGOs, private sector companies, military units, local government, embassies and high commissions, you will have a leading role in the planning, project management, governance, practical organisation and delivery of educational study tours that include:

 Brussels (EU and NATO).

• Geneva (UN).
• UK industry and technology centres.
• One UK Study Tour.
• A three-week overseas study tour (OST) to 2-3 different countries in specific regions (e.g. Middle East, West Africa, Northern Europe or East Asia).

In executing an OST, you will undertake three weeks of detached duty each May/June, working very long days, which could be in a challenging or austere environment. The OSTs are one of the most rewarding aspects of the GSP.

Main Responsibilities

• Under the guidance of the Head-GSP, lead on the delivery of a course module of the GSP. Draft the relevant documentation for Course Committee approval, plan the structure of the modules and produce the module programme, being cognisant of emerging trends and issues that need to be covered. You will also liaise with the Course Committee and the Director of Academic Studies to agree seminar topics and questions.
• Research, identify and engage high-calibre subject matter expert speakers to meet the objectives for the term/module lectures, panels and case studies. Ensure seamless delivery of these serials. Proactively build and maintain a network of contacts and work collaboratively and inclusively.
• Agree questions for the weekly Member surveys and, on completion of the surveys, review and assess Member feedback to inform the continuous improvement process of the entire course.
• Plan, deliver and accompany UK external activities. Programme all serials and appropriate travel, logistics and accommodation, liaising with the Tour Leader and the regional hosts to ensure seamless delivery of the tour programme within the allocated budget.
• Plan, deliver and accompany one of the three-week Overseas Study Tours to a specific region (two or three countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Europe) of the world. Work closely with embassies and high commissions to develop the visit objectives, intellectual content and programme, project manage and accompany the tour to meet learning objectives, acting as the focal point with all external organisations. Identify potential costs and ensure the tour remains within the agreed budget.
• Other responsibilities as required. These could include developing and ensuring the successful delivery of Strategy Case Studies, Strategy Exercises or additional classroom or visit-based learning for the current GSP and future iterations.

Person specification

The post holder will require the following attributes and abilities:

· Excellent interpersonal skills to liaise with course members, lecturers (academics and high-profile speakers), defence attachés, diplomats and external organisations, both within the College and when representing the RCDS during external visits.

· The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, maintaining positive working relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders.

· Strong communication skills with the ability to negotiate and influence stakeholders to help shape GSP outputs and outcomes.

· Knowledge of (and a keen interest in) the wider government, military and geopolitical landscape.

· Strong administrative, organisational and planning skills with a demonstrated ability to deliver outcomes on time, to the required standard, in a fast-paced environment.

· A proven ability to write effectively, and clearly present complex information for non-technical audiences.

· Good cultural awareness and sensitivity.

· A commitment to undertake continuous professional development relevant to the role, and contribute to the learning and development of the team as a whole.

· The ability to travel nationally and internationally for up to three weeks at a time.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes £11,631 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using the Success Profile elements that have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability (max. 500 words) and a CV with job history, qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Applications will be sifted against:

CV and Personal Statement

Behaviours: Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions and Managing a Quality Service

Interviews will be based on the following behaviours: Leadership, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions and Seeing the Big Picture

Sift & Interview: sift to take place within 5 days and interviews to take place within 2 weeks of closing date. Interview travel expenses will not be reimbursed.

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

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 into 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.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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.

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 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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.