About the job

Job summary

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity and partnerships to identify, analyse and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks and espionage. At GCHQ you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

Job description

As an Intelligence Data Analyst at GCHQ, you’ll work right at the heart of our mission, supporting real-world events and gaining a unique insight into what goes on behind the news headlines. Previously our analysts have helped prevent multiple terrorist attacks in a single year, halted a major cyber-attack from North Korea, and helped strengthen Ukraine’s cyber capabilities. So, joining us means being part of something truly impactful. 

 In this role, working with bespoke technology, you’ll gather information from different sources, including a high volume of data generated by many internet-connected devices. Using your analytical and interpretive skills, you’ll piece everything together to make sense of it. It’s like putting together a puzzle, with pieces scattered across the digital landscape. Sometimes, you’ll discover the answer you’re looking for. Other times, you’ll have to go down a few rabbit holes to find out more; but that’s where the interest lies. It’s an exciting opportunity to work in a rapidly changing technological environment, where no two days are the same. 

 There’s no set formula for good analysis, so you’ll have the freedom to take responsibility for your work and try out fresh approaches. Whether you’re involved in short or long-term projects, this role offers the unique and ongoing task of finding and tracking adversaries,and using your analytical skills to help stop them causing harm. Your analysis could also help inform foreign policy, law enforcement and national security. 

 Starting out, you won’t be expected to know it all. That’s why we’ll provide you with comprehensive training to help you grow. During this period, you’ll need to commit to full-time hours to immerse yourself, though it may be possible to adjust your hours later on if you request to. Once you’ve completed the training phase, you’ll be able to flex your hours, so whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, there’s something for you. Working with classified materials and systems means you’ll need to be in the office every day. But that also means you can leave work behind when you head home, with no expectation of working weekends or shifts. 

Person specification

You’ll be someone who enjoys making sense of complex information and asking questions as much as finding answers. Your curiosity leads you to investigate things further, and sometimes, the outcome is not what you want, but there’s always something that can be gained. That’s where your resilience and perseverance come into play.  

 As someone keen to learn new things, you’ll be interested in emerging technologies, though we don’t expect you to have a technical background. We have a welcoming and supportive environment. We want a mix of minds, including people of all ages and backgrounds from across our society, who can see and understand things from different perspectives. 
 
You don’t need a degree or previous experience to apply for this role. All that’s needed is a Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) qualification in English Language and Maths at Grade 4/C or above. Your skills and mindset are key. If you have a degree or another higher qualification, we welcome your application and you’ll be just as engaged in exciting work you’ll not find anywhere else – your qualifications are just the starting point! 

Benefits

Training and Development 

You will be automatically placed onto our comprehensive Analysis Development Programme, which you will begin directly after induction to the organisation. This is an outstanding bespoke training and development programme, tailored to new entrants with no previous intelligence data analysis experience. You’ll learn alongside other new analysts in the training room, virtually and in the workplace. You’ll be guided by knowledgeable tutors and supported by analyst mentors every step of the way. In the workplace, you’ll soon be dealing with real-life problems with support from colleagues too. Continuous professional development is also a key aspect of the analyst role. 

 

Rewards and Benefits 

You’ll receive a starting salary of £34,663 plus other benefits including: 

• 25 days annual leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays 
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme 
• Opportunities to work flexibly, subject to business needs 
• Interest-free season ticket loan 
• Excellent pension scheme 
• Cycle to work scheme 

• Facilities such as a subsidised gym and restaurant, and on-site coffee bars at some locations 
• Paid parental and adoption leave 

 

Equal Opportunities 

At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. 

 Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website https://www.raw-careers.co.uk/life-at-raw/diversity-inclusion.html 

 

We’re Disability Confident 

West are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are: 

• We require you to hold a GCSE (or equivalent Level 2 qualification) in English Language and Maths at Grade 4/C or above 
• You will need to pass our assessment sift of two questions on the application form 
• You will also need to pass our online bespoke analysis tests prior to being invited to interview 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Our recruitment selection process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order: 

• An initial, short, online bespoke analysis test
• A sift, assessing answers to three questions on the application form. (Sifting is conducted without any knowledge of an applicant’s personal information)
• A longer, online bespoke analysis test
• Virtual interview 

 Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 10 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer. 

 

Before You Apply 

To work at GCHQ you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here https://www.raw-careers.co.uk/how-to-apply.html 

 

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here https://www.raw-careers.co.uk/how-to-apply.html 

 

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage. 

 

Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more discretely.  

 

The role is based in either Cheltenham or Manchester, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs. 

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.  

Right to Withdraw Statement:  

Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date, at either location,  once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment. 

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.