About the job

Job summary

A rare opportunity for a talented scientist to utilise their specialist skills in applied physics and general science within Defence. The successful candidate will deliver specialist scientific advice and solutions for complex problem sets; as well as planning, preparing, and undertaking experimentation and field trials in direct support of specialist military users directly involved in global operations.

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 37 hours per week. 

Job description

Are you a scientist looking for wide ranging daily challenges that require scientific analysis and inventive options that culminate in operational solutions?

Do you want to put your scientific skills into action to deliver direct advice, guidance, effects, analysis and solutions to an operational military user community?

Emerging and future threats to our armed forces require novel technical capabilities to solve a new problem set. You will be joining a unique unit that comprises of scientists and engineers who provide direct technical support to specialist military users. As a senior science expert in the team, you will provide a pivotal role in solving current and future technical problems by delivering novel solutions that will have a direct impact to success on military operations.

To become a part of this unique organisation, you must be a talented scientist who can manage multiple complex projects through trials, tests and experimentation whilst dealing directly with the specialist military users to find solutions to real-world challenges. Information that you will handle will be sensitive and you will draw on your impeccable people skills whilst maintaining the highest integrity.

You will also bring experience in an appropriate field and proven expertise in areas such as the following: application of optical technologies, including sources (e.g. lasers), sensors and exploitation of optical phenomena across the spectrum; materials properties and applications; working in a military environment.

You will have an OfQual level 6 qualification in a relevant scientific discipline with relevant work-related experience.

Person specification

As part of the embedded technical support team, you will hold the primary management position for the development, experimentation, concept delivery and project management of Physical Sciences and Technologies. This will involve providing specialist scientific advice and undertaking development and testing of a range of solutions based on the user’s requirements. These solutions may be ‘ground up’ design deliverables or adaptions of Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) products for specific operational taskings.

You will be required to lead with trials and experimentation, provide regular feedback within the team and user community, and ensure you liaise with the wider scientific community. You will work well under pressure and be able to provide solutions that are demanded in short time frames and under rapid delivery timelines.

You will be someone who ensures that projects and tasks remain on track, relevant and deliver high quality results. You will be involved in cross-government projects and work with industry, academia and defence scientists to find solutions to real-world challenges.

To achieve this, you will need to demonstrate your specialist skills in applied physics and general science whilst being self-motivated to seek and develop opportunities on your own initiative. You will need to possess excellent problem-solving and team working skills to tackle complex challenges for which there is no precedent, requiring creative thinking and collaboration.

Using your sound and practical knowledge of physics and related disciplines, you will deliver solutions (in areas such as signature management, multi-spectral imaging, and laser-based technologies) in the form of experimental prototypes, adaptations of COTS equipment, reports, and briefings.  

Drawing on your strong communication and influencing skills, you will need to be confident at presenting your work in person and have an ability to tailor your presentation to different audiences. You will need to produce technical reports and documentation describing project work undertaken as well as producing summary reports for non-technical customers.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

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

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability of no more than 1000 words. Please provide experience relevant to the role.

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours/Technical Skills: (delete as appropriate!) 

• Communicating & Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Once you have applied, your responses, (CV, personal statement and qualifications) will be subject to a sift by a pre-selected panel. If you are successful at the sift you will be invited to attend an interview and an 'on-site' assessment. In the event of a high volume of applications we will sift applications on CV/Statement of Suitability' only.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours/Technical Skills: (delete as appropriate!) 

• Communicating & Influencing
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

At sift and interview, you will be assessed against the following Technical Skills:

• Applying Scientific and technical knowledge (The MOD Science and engineering professional framework)
• Securing, maintaining and developing relevant technical expertise (The MOD Science and engineering professional framework)

The assessment will consist of a scenario-based problem-solving exercise that requires a scientific solution. You will be asked to present your options in front of the panel and you will be subsequently marked on your findings. Details concerning this assessment will be presented to you on your arrival for your interview, no prior preparation. Your Interview conduct as well as your output and delivery of your 'on-site' assessment will be marked by the same panel that conducted the sift. You will be told within 10 days or so of the interview and assessment whether you met the required standard or not. If you are successful, you will be offered the position (not withstanding achieving successful security clearance requirements).

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.