About the job

Job summary

As an important part of the Ministry of Defence, Defence Intelligence (DI) provides intelligence analysis, specialist outputs and advice that supports decision making across government. At the heart of DI, is the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI).
 
Everything happens somewhere. NCGI produces intelligence that is referenced in time and space to help decision makers to understand, plan, navigate, and target.

We are the primary provider of geospatial intelligence advice and expertise, comprising imagery intelligence, geospatial analysis, geospatial services, foundation data and military mapping and, in partnership with the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and the Meteorological Office, assured data for safety of navigation. We are a national capability, recognisably operating alongside other national intelligence agencies and are the UK’s primary interface for international geospatial intelligence partners.
 
You may think you need to be an analyst or have an intelligence background to work for NCGI; this is not true. There is a wide range of exciting roles available. Without our highly dedicated teams of enabling staff, such as IT support, finance, security, and facilities management, our critical outputs would just not be possible. We employ many Civil servants who play a pivotal role in Defence, nationally and internationally, and we are proud to be part of a diverse, forward thinking, broad organisation.

The Technology branch of NCGI (NCGI-T) is one of the enabling teams, providing and supporting IT infrastructure, Communication and Information Systems (CIS) services and project support, enabling NCGI staff to work efficiently with the appropriate resources whilst assuring the delivery of new technology solutions.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Defence Intelligence and work within the NCGI–Technology (NCGI-T) Department as a Specialist Support Team Engineer. You will lead a small team to deliver and maintain several bespoke and specialist CIS capabilities. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

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. 

Job description

Key responsibilities include the following:

• Line management including both Civilian and Military personnel.
• The provision of Specialist Windows / UNIX / Linux operating system support.
• Developing and enhancing existing systems to ensure the meet customer expectations.
• Helping the organisation to utilise new technologies such as, virtual environments and cloud.
• Collaborating customers to understand their requirements.
• Planning, designing, and delivering new systems and providing expert support to the customer.

In DI we believe your unique experiences, view and understanding of the world could provide a vital perspective and contribution to our work. We recognise that great minds do not think alike and are striving to increase our diversity representation at all levels. As an equal opportunities’ employer, we hire, train, and promote people based on merit and inspire to build an inclusive workplace free of discrimination. We also offer flexible working arrangements such as flexi time, job share and compressed hours.

Person specification

The key to this role is the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written to internal and external stakeholders and customers. The ideal individual would be someone who seeks to understand and develop how the services and activities provided by their team come together to enhance the end users experience. All the while, encouraging collaborative working within their team and across the team. This individual should be able to plan and prioritise tasking if the situation changes.

Essential Criteria:

• Understanding of Microsoft Windows Workstations & Servers.
• Understanding of Red Hat Enterprise LINUX Systems Administration (or equivalent).
• Understanding of Virtual Environments such as VMWare or equivalent.
• Awareness of Kubernetes & containerisation.
• Awareness of NetApp storage.
• Awareness of Networks & Network Equipment such as Cisco or equivalent.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,528 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Applicants should apply for this role online, via the website.

Assessment at sift and interview will be based on meeting any defined skill/qualification requirements along with a Success Profile element assessment, as detailed in the job advert. The Success Profile elements to be assessed will be outlined within the job advert. The Civil Service Success Profile Framework is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

At sift, applicants will be sifted against the following Technical Skills and Experience:

Technical skills:

SFIA Incident Management – USUP – Level 4

Experience:

Candidates will also be sifted against the following experience criteria:

• All applicants will need to provide a personal statement, of no more than 500 words, including evidence of the essential criteria requested within the job advert.
• CV
• Previous Skills and Experience

At interview, applicants will be sifted against the following Civil Service Behaviours and Technical skills

Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills:

SFIA Problem Management -PBMG – Level 4

A CV will be required for this position, this cannot be uploaded to the advert. You will submit using the CV template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard in part two of your application, detailing job history, previous experience, and skills.

Should there be a large number of applicants the sift will be based on and the personal statement and CV.

We would generally expect Behaviour examples to follow the STAR structure and encourage candidates to use this throughout their application.

Application/Interview Scoring System

NCGI adopts a scoring system of 1-7 for Behaviours, Technical skills, and Experience.

7- The evidence provided wholly exceeds expectation at this level

6 - Substantial positive evidence; includes some evidence of exceeding expectations at this level

5 - Substantial positive evidence of the competency or behaviour

4 - Adequate positive evidence and any negative evidence would not cause concern

3 - Moderate positive evidence but some negative evidence demonstrated

2 - Limited positive evidence and/or mainly negative evidence demonstrated

1 - No positive evidence and/or substantial negative evidence demonstrated

The sift will take place within two weeks of the job closing and candidates will be informed of the results, at all stages, via the website. Interview dates are to be confirmed.

The Personal Statement and CV will be assessed together to produce one overall score. 

If the successful candidate does not hold the necessary clearances, they will be made a provisional job offer and asked to undergo our vetting procedures. Once the relevant clearances have been obtained a formal job offer will be made and start dates can be discussed. Should the candidate fail to obtain the relevant clearances the provisional job offer will be rescinded. It should be noted that this process can take several months

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.