Principal Operational Research Analyst

Dstl Portsdown West, Fareham, Hampshire

Are you passionate about delivering high impact analytical research? Do you want to make a difference to the way Defence and Security operates and how it protects the UK, and our armed forces, from real world threats, both at home and abroad?

Dstl’s Land Analysis Group supports the Army, the Ministry of Defence and wider Government through the delivery of impartial evidence-based studies, ensuring intelligent decision-making is at the heart of UK Defence and Security. You will be part of a team that works with industry, academia and international partners to develop and evaluate exciting new force and system capabilities. Our analysis primarily helps the Army in designing its future force, developing and testing new capabilities, and informing major equipment investment decisions.

We are looking for two Principal Analysts (Dstl Level 6) within the Combat Support and Combat Engineering areas. 

These roles sit within the Combat Support Analysis Team.  It provides expertise and Operational Research for all aspects of combat support, which encompasses the capabilities required to allow the warfighter to deliver their role, safely, effectively and successfully. Combat support includes all of those areas that influence the front line battle:

• Artillery support (Indirect Fires);
• The ability to cross and terrain obstacles and continue advancing on the enemy, often via unexpected routes (Manoeuvre Support);
• Improving our force’s ability to cross terrain (Mobility);
• Preventing enemy forces from bringing the fight to us at a place and time of their choosing, thus shaping the battlefield to our advantage (Counter-mobility);
• Enabling systems. 

Our analysts use and develop Operational Research techniques, such as simulation and modelling, wargaming (manual and computerised), optimisation, data analysis, statistics, and facilitated workshops, in order to analyse the impact and effectiveness of different technologies, concepts and policies.

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.

We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.

In this role you will:
•    Autonomously guide and direct the work of others, through technical leadership, in order to ensure delivery of high impact science and technology advice.
•    Provide rigorous review of process and outputs to ensure the robustness of the research delivered to customers.
•    Inform across Government, including potentially briefing senior officials to ensure robust decision making within Government.
•    Create impact through supporting strategic and operational decision-making.
•    Provide timely, impartial, evidence-based advice to customers to enable them to make informed decisions representing “best value” and a return on investment.

We are looking for someone who has:

•    Experience of leading project teams to deliver analytical studies.
•    Experience of developing the technical skills of project team members.
•    Experience of applying a variety of quantitative and/or qualitative analysis/research techniques to solve complex problems and large volumes of information.
•    A proven track record of delivering high-quality technical work on a timely basis, particularly to tight deadlines.
•    An ability to convey complex issues in a clear and concise way, including relevant caveats, both verbally and in written form.
•    Experience of presenting to a range of audiences, both military and civilian.
•    A proven record as a good team player (even when working to tight deadlines and under pressure).
•    An ability to effectively organise/prioritise their workload and, where appropriate, to provide assistance to others to do the same.
•    Capability in handling large volumes of all-source information and be able to form balanced and appropriately-caveated assessments.

Desirable:

•    Knowledge/appreciation of Combat engineering or Combat Support roles within the British Army and types of equipment currently in service.

For full details please see the attached role profile.

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.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Please describe your experience of Operational Research and analysis.

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.

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours (e.g. working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).
• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.
• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

The information pack can be found attached to the job specification on Civil Service Jobs. 

Our Diversity Networks

We have a number of support networks to ensure all employees feel supported at work. These include the following:

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Network
• Race, Faith and Culture Network
• Parents and Carer Support Network
• Alternative Working Network
• Gender Equality Network
• New Starters Network
• Enabled Network, for people with visible and non-visible disabilities.

Open to UK nationals only.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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Job contact :

• Name : Dstl Recruitment Team
• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk