Senior / Principal Social Scientist

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.

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. 

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.

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions

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

• Leadership

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

• Presentation on Research undertaken
• Technical Questions

Benefits 

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.

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

Job contact :

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

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk