About the job

Job summary

SSPAG is part of the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO). The purpose of the DNO is to sustain and renew the nuclear deterrent so that it remains credible, effective and protects the people of the United Kingdom, now and in the future.

We provide independent assessment of the Nuclear Deterrent through a programme of technical studies and audits of key Deterrent capabilities.

Our assessments are central to senior decision making within the Ministry of Defence.

Being at the heart of real Defence issues, we deliver against one of the Department’s top three priorities, in a high-profile area which is rarely out of the news.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

You will be joining a small, highly-specialised and dynamic team of analysts working directly alongside and supporting UK Maritime Submarine Operations and the wider associated Defence Enterprise. In doing so, we apply our specific skills and knowledge in engineering, science and computer programming to add real value to Defence.

We analyse the conduct of UK Royal Navy submarine patrols, in order to ensure the continued delivery of a minimum, assured, credible UK Nuclear Deterrent.

We are looking for someone with a scientific or technical background, interested in taking on exciting and meaningful work, to join our growing team in MoD Main Building, London. The successful candidate will be involved in work with a high profile and distinctive portfolio. The successful candidate will gain an outstanding insight into the world of UK Defence, Maritime and submarine operations.

 This challenging role will offer the successful candidate the opportunity to:

• Further develop their analytical, information management and communication skills.
• Gain knowledge and experience across a wide spectrum of operational analysis.
• Make a genuine contribution to high-priority defence taskings.

Person specification

The successful candidate will manage, analyse and, where necessary, present assessments of operational data relating to submarine performance. This analysis supports current operations and provides assurance that UK submarines remain safe, secure, invulnerable and effective, in order to meet UK Defence requirements.

Responsibilities include:

• Management of operational information data and records
• Supporting the team in the analysis and exploitation of information
• Performing initial analyses of operational data
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant military platforms

The post holder will be expected to use their own initiative and knowledge to develop solutions with limited supervision.

We are based in London, and due to the nature of the work require 60-80% of our time in the office, with some flexible working opportunities.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,641 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.

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

Candidates can apply online via the Civil Service Jobs website by completing the application form before the deadline shown.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include: job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to complete a Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words. Please provide experience relevant to the role.

Candidates will be required to complete an online numerical test.

The Civil Service Judgement Test is not bankable and therefore must be taken on every vacancy where it is applied.

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 test:
• 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.

CSJT scores cannot be banked as each test is generated from the behaviours required for a specific role which will vary between recruitment campaigns.

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

There will be a sift and interview, during the interview you will be required to demonstrate your analytical skills. 

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

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.

This role is available to sole UK Nationals only.

Nationality Requirements - Further Information for Candidates

This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per Civil Service Nationality Rules Section 3. In accordance with these rules, ‘only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service’ (Paragraph. 3.1).

UK National Definition

The definition of a ‘UK National’ can be found at Paragraphs. 1.4-1.8 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Dual Nationals

As per Paragraph. 1.41 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:

‘Candidates with dual nationality are in principle eligible for employment in the Civil Service provided that they meet the requirements in relation to one of their nationalities [i.e. UK National]. They may not be eligible, however, for employment in certain reserved posts where additional nationality requirements are imposed.’

Additional Restrictions for Reserved Posts

As per Paragraphs. 3.10-3.11 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:

‘…departments and agencies are entitled to impose additional

requirements in reserved posts if this is considered necessary. This could include, for example, requirements as to the residency of the applicant or the nationality of one or both parents of the applicant.’

If you are a Dual National who possesses UK Nationality and wish to check your eligibility for the post, please contact our recruiting team at the details below. Please be advised that we will not be able to provide a justification for our decision for security reasons.

DNO External Recruitment

DNO-ExternalRecruiting@mod.gov.uk

Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before, or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996. (Paragraph. 3.1) 

You will also be expected to achieve Developed Vetting clearance, above the normal clearance level expected for the MoD.  

No applications can be accepted after the closing date. 

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 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.