About the job

Job summary

Do you have a background in Behavioural or Social Sciences and a passion for applying your expertise in real world decision-making? Are you keen to play an active role in leading and applying social science understanding to help in approaching future UK Defence and Security challenges?

If so, we have exciting opportunities for Behavioural and Social Scientists to join our Behavioural and Social Science group within Dstl's Exploration Division.

This exciting role will see you preparing and delivering high quality research and experimental activities to address and provide solutions to real-world problems. In this role you will be encouraged to take on the role of Technical Partner; working with the wider UK Science and Technology community to provide 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:

• Take a leadership role, delivering and developing a variety of work packages using a range of research techniques, allocate work and mentor others with less experience.
• Work collaboratively as part of interdisciplinary teams and with our academic, industry, government and international partners.
• Provide technical oversight to externally delivered research.
• Provide timely, impartial, evidence-based advice to our customers to enable them to make informed decisions.
• Support colleagues  and suppliers in improving research through the application of best practice in science design and assurance.
• Work as a technical partner, delivering work through industry and academia and ensuring quality outputs and solutions for defence. 

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has:

•    Behavioural or Social science expertise, and a passion to apply their knowledge, skills and practical experience to help overcome UK Defence and Security challenges.
•    The ability to deliver impactful research for our customers.
•    The ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously and show adaptability in the face of changing requirements.
•    Self-motivation and is comfortable working under their own initiative and delivering through others.
•    Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams.
•    A sharp, enquiring mind, and the qualities of judgement and probity to provide sound impartial advice.
•    A curiosity about new, emerging and next generation technologies. 
•    Self-awareness and a willingness to act upon their own development needs.
•    The ability to craft technical outputs in various formats tailored to audience need.

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 £35,970, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £9,711 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.