About the job

Job summary

Do you have a background in Computational Linguistics? Are you passionate about applying your expertise in real world settings? Do you care about delivering high impact research which makes a difference? Are you keen to play an active role applying linguistic analysis to help in tackling current and future UK Defence and Security challenges?

If so, Dstl’s Exploration Division want to hear from you.  

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Computational Linguist to join our Behavioural and Social Science group within Dstl’s Exploration Division.

This role will see you working within a team to prepare and deliver focused research and experimental activities, identifying and incorporating the lessons learnt. A key part of the role is taking a driving role in nurturing a linguistics capability within Dstl and supporting wider capability development with our external academic, industry and wider government partners. The successful applicant will be expected to take on the role of Technical Partner; working with wider UK Science and Technology community to provide advice and technical oversight to externally delivered research and ensuring it is integrated into Dstl’s wider research programme outcomes.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

In this role you will:

• Lead and conduct high quality and technically robust research activities drawing on your computational linguistics expertise ensuring its technical quality and maximising value added.
• Work collaboratively as part of multi- and inter-disciplinary teams and with partners (e.g. within industry, academia and on an international scale) to deliver innovative and effective solutions to our customers’ problems and to ensure analytical products and outputs are fit for purpose.
• Manage and review technical work conducted by our suppliers to deliver high technical quality research.
• Lead / provide support to planning and conducting trials and experimentation, as well as analyse language related data produced.
• Provide timely, impartial, evidence-based advice to projects, across Government and MoD, this may include briefing senior officials to ensure robust decision making within Government.
• Align your research with overall programme objectives and seek opportunities for collaboration and exploitation with complementary research being conducted elsewhere in the research programmes; ensuring coherence of advice to customers and maximum value for money for Defence and Security.
• Though this role has no formal line responsibility, you will also lead staff at all levels of seniority in the successful delivery of products, as well as provide technical or professional guidance and mentorship. 
• Work with internal and external customers to identify requirements and opportunities for computational linguistics.
• Report results of analysis in different formats and styles according to audience requirements, including verbal briefings to customers and partners at all levels of seniority.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has:

• Internationally recognised expertise within computational linguistics with substantial experience of applying their knowledge and skills to real-world problems. 
• A strong background in Linguistics theory and the ability to champion linguistically grounded computational solutions. 
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work collaboratively and in multi- and inter-disciplinary teams.
• The ability to build strong working relationships with a broad range of individuals including military and non-military stakeholders.
• Experience of using technical consultancy skills to successfully scope, manage and deliver against customer requirements.
• Experience in leading the delivery of technical work, this may include assuring and overseeing the work of others, to ensure high impact research is delivered.
• The ability to adapt to changing requirements.
• A sharp, enquiring mind with the ability to think laterally, and the qualities of judgement and probity to provide sound impartial advice.
• A desire to share their enthusiasm for, and knowledge about, language and play an active role in capability development initiatives.
• Experience in developing and delivering training to a range of audiences.
• Good sense of self-awareness and preparedness to act on their own development needs and a willingness to up-skill in emerging areas.
• The ability to prepare and deliver different types of technical documents tailored to audience need, e.g. technical reports, summary reports; highlights; and presentations, drawing on  written and verbal communication skills, with clear and persuasive explanation of complex processes to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Leadership

As a leader in Defence you will help shape, role model and bring to life the ‘One Defence’ mindset that will enable us to deliver our vision and strategic objectives. Your leadership style must be inspiring, confident and empowering. Working at every level of our organisation to break down silos, unite teams and create a culture that is trusting, collaborative, innovative, diverse and inclusive. Enabling us to deliver with pace and agility through the skills, commitment and empowerment of our employees and military colleagues.

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,667, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £12,060 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.

Sifts will take place on Friday 12th January with interviews happening approximately 2 weeks later.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

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 security check (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.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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.