About the job

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced analyst, policy or intelligence professional to join the JIO Assessments Staff. The Senior Editor is the Lead Intelligence Analyst responsible for JIO’s short-form assessment and the development and application of editorial standards across the organisation. You will be ready to work in a high-tempo environment across a range of cutting-edge issues, helping to ensure the high levels of quality and rigour that underpin JIO’s work.

Job description

About the JIO: 

The Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO) primarily supports the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) and the National Security Council, the Prime Minister and other key decision-makers by providing authoritative, robust all-source intelligence assessment on a vast range of national security and foreign policy priorities.

Our work covers, and goes beyond, ‘traditional’ national security topics such as geopolitical issues and threats to British interests. We apply a national security lens to issues such as emerging technology, economic and health security, climate change and horizon scanning (for example, identifying and monitoring countries at risk of instability).

The JIO is a great place to work, with team ethos and mutual support being at the core of how we work and deliver.

You can read more about working for the JIO in the information pack attached at the bottom of this advert.

Role and Responsibilities:

The successful applicant will be responsible for the production of Prime Minister’s Daily Highlights (PMHL). The post holder will lead other JIO analysts in: reviewing and prioritising reporting across all areas of interest; working across the community to produce short-form intelligence assessment at a rapid pace; and curating highlights into a high-quality product that adheres to PHIA standards. You will provide frequent support and advice to the JIC Chair and Directors in all aspects of selection, preparation and presentation of PMHL.

The post holder will also lead and develop editorial standards for the JIO, ensuring products adhere to the JIO style guide and PHIA standards. You will help develop and improve the JIO suite of products, work closely and flexibly with Directors to review and edit papers, and work with authors to improve the drafting and presentation of products and to support analysts’ skills development.

You will also manage and lead the JIO Domestic Impact and Delivery team, including direct line management of a Grade 7 and countersigning responsibilities for the wider team which provides mission critical services on a daily basis. You will provide a clear and compelling vision for the team, ensure the delivery of a high-quality publishing service for the JIO, and support colleagues in their development and wellbeing.

You will work closely with the new G6 Chief of Staff to provide leadership to the wider Impact and Delivery function, of which publishing and editing teams are a part, and which aims to improve the quality, reach and impact of JIO’s products. You will also play a broader leadership role as part of JIO’s G6 cohort, proactively shaping an organisational culture which fully embraces diversity and inclusion and the benefits they bring to our organisation.

Person specification

The ideal candidate should:

• Have excellent drafting and editorial skills, and an ability to translate between deep/technical detail and strategic implications;
• Be familiar with common research methodologies and structured analytical techniques;
• Have strong ability to collaborate with partners inside and outside HMG;
• Have Experience of leading teams in fast-paced environments;
• Have a strong track record of delivery, and the ability to prioritise and manage a broad portfolio to deliver high quality outcomes at pace;
• Be able to communicate effectively with a full range of stakeholders (internal and external); 
• Have a Well-established resilience and flexibility to work in a fast-moving and unpredictable environment, particularly during national security crisis events;
• Be able to identify the right formats to make content engaging for different audiences;

 Applications from candidates with the following would be desirable:

• Experience of intelligence assessment.

We invest in up skilling our team members to enable them to thrive once they start working with us. As such, if you don’t quite match these desirable skills, don’t let it put you off applying as we will equip the successful candidate with them once you are in post.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £68,790, Cabinet Office contributes £18,573 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a name blank CV, 250 word Behavioural Statements and 750 word Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your Personal Statement must outline your experience relevant to the role, including where you can demonstrate meeting the criteria listed for this position (750 words).

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

High-Side Evidence

Community colleagues wishing to submit evidence holding a higher classification are permitted to do so, although are requested to get in touch with the Recruitment Team on R28918 where they will be provided with appropriate instructions for doing so. The recruitment team must ensure that any supporting evidence submitted on alternative systems are redacted to remain compliant with name blind recruitment principles. Applications submitted directly to recruiting managers will not be considered.

Selection Process

Candidates successful at the application stage will be invited to a formal interview focused on the behaviours listed on the vacancy advert, this could either be face to face/online video interview. Further details will be shared to candidates if invited to proceed to this stage.

Candidates who are invited to interview will be asked to prepare a presentation, details will be shared in the interview invite. Candidates will be assessed on verbal communication and presentation technique, while giving a 5 minute presentation to the panel on a topic given to them.

This will be scored and further information will be provided to those candidates for which it applies.

Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Further Information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Further details will be shared to candidates if invited to proceed to this stage.

This post is only open to British Citizens. Some dual nationals may be ineligible. The successful candidate must obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance if not already held. As they will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process.  Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment.  Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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.