Defence Intelligence (DI) Socio-Cultural Analysts

Wyton, East of England, PE28 2EA : City of Westminster, London (region), SW1A 2HB

Defence Intelligence (DI) is a world-class organisation that supports operations, policy development, and decision-making in the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and across the government’s national security community. Our people develop understanding, solve problems, and give perspective to the diverse and complex Defence threats and challenges in a constantly evolving world. Together our civilians and military personnel inform decision-making in Defence, manage complex programmes, and develop new technology.

The Behavioural and Social Science (BSS) section of LaBSS is federated to work within the regionally focused analytical centres in DI, supporting key Defence priorities and injecting vitally important socio-cultural context and foundational understanding into the intelligence, Defence and policy community. 

The Socio-Cultural Assessment Team (S-CAT) within LaBSS applies expertise drawn from specialist areas such as anthropology, sociology, social / political psychology, human geography and political and behavioural science to provide unique insights into the social, cultural and interpersonal dynamics and behaviours impacting upon real world situations of strategic interest. Products pertain to the behaviour, motivations, and intent of a variety of groups and populations. The work supports a wide range of actions and provides customers across government with insight into the worldview of the UK’s adversaries and competitors so that it can be influenced or countered across a spectrum of activities. Socio-cultural analysts can also work closely with the LaBSS Psychological Assessments Team to deliver an understanding of current and future behaviour.

We believe your unique experiences, view and understanding of the world could provide a vital perspective and contribution to our work. We recognise that great minds do not think alike and are striving to increase our diversity representation at all levels. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire, train, and promote people based on merit and aspire to create an inclusive work environment free of discrimination. We also offer flexible working arrangements such as flexitime, job share and compressed hours. All job adverts in DI are subject to fair and open competition.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. 

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities.  Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

• Apply social and/or behavioural science theories and frameworks to understand complex issues and answer intelligence questions, delivering high quality, impactful socio-cultural intelligence assessments, both verbal and written, that adhere to professional and ethical standards. 
• Build and maintain subject matter expertise in social and/or behavioural science theories, methodologies, and frameworks. Contribute to the cross-government development of these methodologies with international partners, supporting LaBSS’ leading role in their practical application. Act as a socio-cultural expert in your region across the community.
• Develop regional expertise in your area of responsibility, coordinating with other regional intelligence analysts to respond to tasking requests, produce joint assessments and contribute to analysis workshops. 
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with key customers and stakeholders and ensure intelligence output is aligned to their requirements, decision-making processes, and timelines.  
• Ensure intelligence gaps are identified; actively seek to fill gaps through conducting research and tasking collection following the relevant guidance, processes and legislation. Engage with efforts to innovate data exploitation and development of relevant methodologies, supporting LaBSS’ leading role in their practical application by MOD and OGDs.
• Organise information systematically in accordance with best practice and relevant IKM policies on all IT systems. Maintain robust audit trails for intelligence product.
• Critically evaluate information and intelligence. Apply a range of critical and creative approaches and techniques to process information and answer customer intelligence requirements. Maintain and develop analytic skills. Promote good socio-cultural and all-source tradecraft and give and accept constructive challenge.
• Participate fully in relevant national and international intelligence community collaboration processes and activities. Become involved in cross-community behavioural science projects, share expertise and gain insights from across the behavioural science community.

Essential qualifications:

A minimum of a BSc/BA degree in a social or behavioural science subject, such as social or political psychology, anthropology, sociology, human geography, political science, or a closely related discipline at 2:1 or higher.

Desirable:  

• Intelligence analysis experience. 
• Skills in qualitative analysis. 
• Qualification in intelligence analytical methods. 
• An understanding of international relations and global politics. 
• Previous experience working in or on other cultures and environments, especially Russia, Eurasia or China / East Asia. 

A minimum of a BSc/BA degree in a social or behavioural science subject, such as social or political psychology, anthropology, sociology, human geography, political science, or a closely related discipline at 2:1 or higher.

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

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

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

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Professional Head Intelligence Analysis: Analysis, Tradecraft, and Assessment (Foundation)
• Professional Head Intelligence Analysis: Cooperation, Co-ordination and Challenge (Foundation)

Alongside your salary of £35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes
£9,528 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme employer contribution between 26.6% & 30.3%
• Holiday – Please see the attached MoD TACOS for relevant annual leave allowance per year. In addition, 8 statutory Bank Holidays and 1 privilege day per year.
• This post is offered full or part time and is suitable for flexible work arrangements and some home working. Due to the sensitive nature of many of our all-source posts working from home entirely is unlikely to be possible. If you would like to know more, please speak to the recruiting line manager.
• Professional Development. We are committed to your continued professional and personal development with learning as one of our core values.
• Learning and development tailored to your role including City & Guilds qualifications if not previously obtained.
• Health and well-being. Use of gymnasium facilities, and access to a range of wellbeing resources to support mental and physical health.
• Access to DI’s workplace mentoring service
• We also offer a range of family-friendly benefits, for example enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Special Paid Leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year.
• DI aspires to be an exemplar equal opportunity employer creating a workplace which values diversity and is free from any form of unfair discrimination.
• If based in London this post will attract the relevant London Weighting.
• On-Site Nursery & Childcare at some MOD sites
• Flexible Working Hours
• Discounted Healthcare Packages
• Free On-Site Gyms at many sites
• Employee Assistance Programme
• In-Year Reward and Thank You Schemes
• Talent Schemes
• Defence Discounts
• Boundless and Civil Service Sports Council Memberships available
• On-site shops, restaurants & cafes at most sites

Further details may be found at Civilian Discover My Benefits (mod.gov.uk)

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. 

Nationality requirements – Open to UK nationals only.

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 : FAO Jane Please write CSJob number in subject line
• Email : UKStratCom-DI-People-Recruitment@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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