Thematic Research Analyst

Job summary

The Ministry of Defence is a central government department with a mission to protect our country and provide the ultimate guarantee of its security and independence, as well as helping to protect its values and interests abroad.

The Directorate for National Security and Global Themes, within MOD Head Office, is responsible for the policy, strategy, planning and governance of strategic operations, special operations, state threats, global issues and cyber. We are a mixed team of military personnel and civil servants, reporting to Director National Security.

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time an employee is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise. As part of accepting this role, ideally you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The operations overseen by the Directorate are necessarily informed by the advice, insight and understanding of subject matter experts. As a Thematic Research Analyst, you’ll deliver subject matter expertise to decision-makers, so that they can deliver operations that contribute to wider national security goals and priorities. You’ll lead a range of research projects, drawing upon industry, academic and wider HMG expertise to help the Directorate make better decisions. You will have a focus on the pacing threats to national security, and Defence’s role in mitigating them. It’s a fascinating and diverse role where you’ll use everyday skills, including communication and judgement, to tackle extraordinary challenges.

Responsibilities

Successful candidates can expect to be involved in the following:

• Collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders across Government to develop insight and understanding to enable decision making.

• Building and sustaining relationships with stakeholders, to ensure that the thematic research you conduct is valuable, unique and well-informed.

• Bringing together a range of analytical skills to identify problems and find solutions through a multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach.
• Providing visible, accessible, and effective subject matter leadership, taking a personal lead in communicating messages with clarity and conviction.

• Analysing intelligence and information relating to threats, to continually develop your subject matter expertise and provide timely, robust advice.

You will meet with senior officials and decision-makers to provide up to date and accurate advice. You will work with colleagues across the armed forces, security and intelligence agencies, international allies and partners, industry and academia to deliver real world outcomes. Whatever the requirements, you’ll be at the heart of what we do – contributing to national security and protecting the UK.

To succeed as a Thematic Research Analyst, you’ll need some key attributes. You’ll have first-class interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and an excellent academic record. You will have a passion for foreign affairs and a keenness to contribute to the UK’s safety and prosperity. You will have evidence from previous roles of taking responsibility and showing clear evidence-based decision making within a national security context; consulting widely and challenging assumptions; as well as using intelligence to enable decisions. You’ll have experience of working with the national security community, ideally in an all-source analytical role.

Person specification

The successful candidate will need to be able to:

• Demonstrate a strong track record in building and maintaining highly effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the delivery of priority outcomes.

• Demonstrate prior experience of working in an analytical role, with a proven history of using a range of approaches to place data and insight into context. The candidate must demonstrate robust critical thinking and be comfortable in making sense of ambiguous or contradictory information.

• Demonstrate the highest standards of verbal and written communication. You should have a strong academic record, with a first-class or upper-second class honours degree. Post-graduate qualifications will be advantageous.

• Manage the delivery of multiple concurrent projects. The successful candidate will balance competing priorities, work to challenging deadlines and demonstrate effective time-management.

• Demonstrate a clear interest and understanding of national security themes, UK foreign policy and international relations.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• We truly believe that the MOD is a great place to work, and we offer a unique employee experience. We want to ensure that every single employee feels appreciated & fairly rewarded and offer the following additional benefits:
• Learning and development tailored to your role and broader skill development, enabling you to build a long-term career in your chosen area. Where appropriate there will be offers of training under our apprenticeship schemes.
• Due to the nature of the role, the successful candidate will be expected to be in the office minimum 4 days. One day a week working from home is not guaranteed and will be around business needs when and if possible. This role is not suitable for work share, part time or flexible/remote working arrangements.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• On-site Gym
• Cycle Loan (Advance on Salary)
• Thank You Scheme
• Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA)
• Defence Discount Service
• On-site Nursery

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 health