Royal Navy – Operational Reconstruction Analysts

Do you want to analyse, shape and enhance RN Operations and front line tactics?

The Operational Advantage Centre’s award winning – Operational Reconstruction & Analysis (ORA) team is tasked with undertaking scientifically rigorous and objective analysis of Royal Navy Operations, Exercises and Trials.

A blended military and civilian team, ORA’s remit is to analyse, identify and inject lessons and insights to front line RN units, utilising evidence-based processes with strict adherence to a Just Culture methodology.

ORA promulgates what went well, identifies what could be improved and provides mitigation’s and recommendations to support the air, surface and subsurface domains in ensuring Operational Advantage.

The team undertakes analysis and provides evidence towards assurance requirements for Senior Leaders.

The position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

The ORA team is proficient in undertaking Operational Reconstruction & Analysis and each tranche (ORA 1, ORA 2 & ORA 3) has a specialisation.

ORA 1 specialises in Tactical Analysis & Assurance.

ORA 2 specialises in Operational Analysis & Assurance.

ORA 3 specialises in Exercise Analysis & Assurance.

All three ORA tranches are trained to be expert Operational Analysts at their core but can work dynamically across the three tranches.

We are looking for enthusiastic, scientifically and technically minded individuals, who are capable of integrating with front line military colleagues to gather, prepare and analyse a plethora of datasets, fuse findings with additional information streams and impart information to a varied and diverse audience.

The role offers the opportunity to work directly alongside the RN front line, both ashore and potentially deploying for short periods on RN or Allied platforms. This often involves travel to five-eyes partner nations (AUS, CAN, NZ, UK & USA).

You will use, understand, modify, and improve software tools to conduct analysis in support of operations, exercises and trials. You will be able to work within dynamic military/civilian teams and be able to operate autonomously with appropriate direction and mentorship. You will be able to link technical capabilities with tactical requirements and be able to clearly articulate this information to a range of academic and military personnel within UK and Allied organisations.

The outputs of your work will directly influence operational and tactical behaviours, with a focus on Safety & Security.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Operational Analysis
• Geospatial Analysis
• Data science/engineering
• Application of scientific knowledge and analytical findings to advise front line decision makers.
• Communication of sophisticated information to a varied audience.

We are looking for candidates with academic and/or professional experience of providing analytical output independently or as part of a team. While previous experience in Defence or the maritime domain is not essential, it is expected the applicant will have applicable skills in one or more of the following areas:

• Operational analysis/operational research
• Data science/data engineering
• Trials planning and management
• Intelligence analysis
• Using the scientific process to generate evidence.
• Using evidence to support or make informed decisions.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject, or equivalent experience
• High level of IT literacy and data management skills.
• Experience in the application of scientific and/or analytical techniques.
• Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

Other desirable experience:

• Experience of technical or scientific work in relation to the maritime domain.
• Knowledge and experience of the MOD and Defence environment.
• Experience in programming in any widely-used programming language. The ORA team’s policy is aimed towards open-source languages).

Further note:

Whilst Operational analysis (OA) / Operational Research (OR), is an applied subject area that draws on scientific and advanced analytical methods to solve military problems, it is recognised that the ORA team’s operating environment is a relatively unique one.

As a result, we are a broad cadre of scientific, engineering, and analytical practitioners with a wide range of backgrounds. We welcome and celebrate this diversity.

We do not expect candidates to meet all the desirable criteria. We will consider all candidates who meet the essential criteria. We will provide training, tutoring and mentoring to ensure that you can develop your own abilities within the role.

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

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

As a civil servant in Navy Command, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects, and a job that makes a difference.

Navy Command prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Navy Command civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service plus Bank Holidays
• A very competitive pension scheme
• Personal & professional development tailored to your role
• Access to a confidential, professional support service
• Discount schemes
• Cycle to work scheme/season ticket loans
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Special paid leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year

In Navy Command we understand the everyday commitments both inside and outside the workplace, so our aim is to provide the flexibility to maintain a great work-life balance. We also offer an impressive range of on-site facilities including a gymnasium, tennis courts and other sporting facilities, a children’s nursery, a handy shop, and plenty of car parking spaces.

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.

An apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through an apprenticeship you will gain professional knowledge, practical experience, and the broader skills required to upskill you in your current role and pave the way for your future career. Most of the training will be ‘on-the-job’, with the remaining ‘off-the-job’ training often delivered by a training provider. This means minimal disruption and maximum impact.

Professional qualifications can be achieved through an apprenticeship and range from Level 2 (equivalent to 5 GCSEs), Level 3 (equivalent to 2 A Levels), and Levels 4 -7, which can give you a foundation degree, a full bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree. Apprenticeships normally last between 12 months – 3 years, depending on the level of the apprenticeship.

Anyone can undertake an Apprenticeship and everyone, regardless of age, can benefit from developing their skills in an accredited way. Successful candidates can discuss their development options with their manager when in post.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. 

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.  

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. 

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.  

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. 

Job contact :

• Name : Dr Aaron Cusack
• Email : aaron.cusack450@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk