STAR – Homeland Security Analysis and Insight – Higher Operational Research Analyst (GORS)

London – 2 Marsham Street (2MS)

The first duty of the government is to keep citizens safe and the country secure. The Home Office is the lead government department for national security and counter-terrorism, and is therefore at the front line of this endeavour.

Over the last few years the threat posed by terrorism has changed. The UK has experienced several terrorist attacks, while foiling many others. The nature of the threat has changed, with an increase in Right Wing Terrorism globally. The counter-terrorism (CT) system has also had to respond to non-terrorist national security incidents, such as the Salisbury attack, Gatwick drone incident and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Homeland Security Group (HSG) is responsible for developing and coordinating the government’s policy on a wide range of national security issues. Roles within HSG are fast-paced, high profile and impact daily on the safety and security of the UK.

As a result of increased demand, the unit is significantly growing. As such, we are recruiting a Higher Operational Research Officer to join the Homeland Security Analysis and Insight (HSAI) Unit: a multi-disciplinary team of around 90 social researchers, economists, statisticians and operational researchers embedded within HSG. Our work covers large-scale research projects to provide evidence and inform strategic thinking, as well as responsive analysis and briefing for policy teams. As a result, there will be a lot of scope to shape the role and the work of the team.

The Home Office is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. The HSAI Senior Management Team would like to encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, as they are underrepresented across the analytical community.

Successful candidates will need to hold SC clearance prior to starting work, and will be required to apply for DV clearance after beginning the role.

The analysis of HSAI is largely driven by the overarching government strategy for counter-terrorism, CONTEST.

The aim of CONTEST is to reduce the risk to the United Kingdom and its interests overseas from terrorism so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence. This is based on principles that reflect the UK’s core values, the lessons we and others have drawn from the experience of terrorism to date, and the broader security principles set out in the National Security Strategy. The CONTEST strategy is based around four work streams:

• Pursue: to stop terrorist attacks;
• Prevent: to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism;
• Protect: to strengthen our protection against terrorist attack; and
• Prepare: to mitigate the impact of a terrorist impact.

The post provides an exciting opportunity to deliver analysis on the threats from terrorism, and the government’s response to it. 

Hybrid working enables employees to work partly in their workplace(s) and partly at home.  A hybrid working pattern may be available, where business needs allow.  Applicants can discuss what this means with the Vacancy Holder if they have specific questions.

Responsibilities

The role will include the following responsibilities: 

• Working with the team’s Senior Statistical Officers to conduct ‘hands-on’ OR work. This will include working directly with colleagues from across government and the private sector to deliver impactful analysis on a range of CT-related topics.
• Working with non-OR colleagues/customers to identify and address their problems.
   
  Taking responsibility for developing project plans and developing good working relationships with colleagues and managers.
• Producing high-quality and robust analysis that has the maximum impact and influence across the CT system. 
• Delivering presentations of OR and analytical work, appropriately tailored to a range of internal and external audiences, in order to promote the use of operational research within the Home Office and OSCT.

As a member of HSAI’s dedicated OR team, this role offers lots of opportunities to contribute to the CT evidence base and develop your OR skills within the unit. Analytical tasks in this area are often performed under high pressure, with significant impacts to national security policy, and it is important to be able to deliver convincing analysis rapidly and to explain the insights of your work to non-technical policy colleagues.

This role will be ideal for someone looking to strengthen their analytical skills and ability to deliver complex projects. It will also hone skills in problem structuring, building relationships with customers, as well as to give opportunities for project management.

Eligibility

This role is open to both external candidates who meet the requirements and existing Government Operational Research Service (GORS) members. If the latter, please indicate clearly on your CV that you are a current badged member of GORS and for which department you currently work. 

For external applicants, civil service badging is used to designate people presently employed in the Civil Service who meet the criteria for that profession at a particular grade level. If you have analytical skills but no formal Civil Service analytical profession badging, you are most welcome to apply. Successful applicants will become badged members of the profession. Applicants must meet the qualification requirements for the profession as set out below.

Essential criteria

Candidates must meet the qualification requirements for GORS (see ‘qualifications’ section below).

• Knowledge and understanding of a wide range of problem archetypes expected of OR professionals, structuring and modelling approaches, and solution techniques and their appropriateness in different situations.
• Experience of producing analysis in high pressure environments.
• Ability to explain clearly and convincingly to senior officials the implications of analytical evidence for projects, and to clearly communicate the strengths and limitations of the techniques used to produce it.
• Willingness to undertake DV clearance.

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrating clarity about project objectives, managing expectations, establish timescales, and managing project resources.
• Promoting OR team’s reputation for professionalism and good service, and suggesting novel areas where OR can make a contribution.
• Quality assuring professional work and ensuring that products are fit for purpose and used to best effect.

Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA)

Successful candidates will be eligible for an annual RRA of £1,600. This allowance is subject to review and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.

To be eligible to apply to GORS, you should have at least a 2:1 in a numerate degree (the rule of thumb is that at least 50% of the studied modules must have mathematical content). Applicants with a 2:2 degree may be accepted, but they must show wider skills and experience relevant to government OR, or for instance, a Masters qualification in OR.

Applicants should provide details of the module titles and grades, and any research elements for qualifications.

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

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

• GORS: Knowledge and Application of OR Skills and Techniques
• GORS: Achieving Impact with Analysis

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

• GORS: Knowledge and Application of OR Skills and Techniques

• 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%

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : Home Office Resourcing Centre
• Email : HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk