Navy Force Development Scientific Adviser
UK Ministry of Defence
Date: 18 hours ago
City: Portsmouth, England
Contract type: Full time
Portsmouth, South East England, PO2 8BY
Job Summary
Are you looking for a new and exciting role that will maximise the strategic impact of Science & Technology for the benefit of Defence?
MOD Scientific Advisers work for Defence Science and Technology (DST) but are embedded day-to-day in specific areas of the MOD where they are responsible for the consistent delivery of high-quality scientific advice to Defence stakeholders.
DST is a directorate within MOD’s Head Office. We sit at the heart of the Defence Science and Technology (S&T) enterprise, and direct Defence’s S&T policy, strategy and activities on behalf of Defence’s Chief Scientific Adviser. Our purpose is to maximise the impact of S&T for the Defence and Security of the UK. This requires mainstreaming S&T as business-as-usual across Defence. To achieve this DST has a network of ~ 45 Scientific advisers embedded across all 5 military domains: land, air, sea, cyber and space.
DST Scientific Advisers Deliver The Following Strategic Functions
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
This is an exciting and varied role which offers significant scope for you to shape the role and deliver strategic impact to improve Defence outcomes. Key responsibilities of the role include:
This role leads on the provision of embedded Scientific Advice to the Royal Navy Force Development team, and acts as an expert adviser to the Develop Directorate and wider command on the use of analysis and evidence for decision making. They ensure that decisions made on concepts and capability are supported by appropriate evidence and underpinned by the latest analytical techniques.
This is a stretching role, where you will be able to apply extensive leadership skills, influencing change supported by S&T evidence to drive and test concepts, operational analysis capabilities, decision support, requirements gathering and produce and enact a scientific force development strategy.
This role is based at Navy Command, Portsmouth, PO2 8BY and requires clearance level Developed Vetting (DV).
Responsibilities
This is an exciting and varied role which offers significant scope for you to shape the role and deliver strategic impact to improve Defence outcomes. Key responsibilities of the role include:
This role leads on the provision of embedded Scientific Advice to the Royal Navy Force Development team, and acts as an expert adviser to the Develop Directorate and wider command on the use of analysis and evidence for decision making. They ensure that decisions made on concepts and capability are supported by appropriate evidence and underpinned by the latest analytical techniques.
This is a stretching role, where you will be able to apply extensive leadership skills, influencing change supported by S&T evidence to drive and test concepts, operational analysis capabilities, decision support, requirements gathering and produce and enact a scientific force development strategy.
This role is based at Navy Command, Portsmouth, PO2 8BY and requires clearance level Developed Vetting (DV).
Person specification
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history, qualification details and previous skills and experience.
Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability (500 words). In your statement of suitability please indicate which Scientific Adviser role/s you are specifically interested in.
At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and statement of suitability.
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be required to give a pre-prepared verbal presentation. Details of the presentation topic and further instructions will be provided once you have booked your interview, should you pass the sift stage.
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: [email protected] .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.
The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: [email protected].
Job Summary
Are you looking for a new and exciting role that will maximise the strategic impact of Science & Technology for the benefit of Defence?
MOD Scientific Advisers work for Defence Science and Technology (DST) but are embedded day-to-day in specific areas of the MOD where they are responsible for the consistent delivery of high-quality scientific advice to Defence stakeholders.
DST is a directorate within MOD’s Head Office. We sit at the heart of the Defence Science and Technology (S&T) enterprise, and direct Defence’s S&T policy, strategy and activities on behalf of Defence’s Chief Scientific Adviser. Our purpose is to maximise the impact of S&T for the Defence and Security of the UK. This requires mainstreaming S&T as business-as-usual across Defence. To achieve this DST has a network of ~ 45 Scientific advisers embedded across all 5 military domains: land, air, sea, cyber and space.
DST Scientific Advisers Deliver The Following Strategic Functions
- Assurance: providing independent assurance for the use of evidence, sound scientific methodologies and robust analytical approaches to support decisions and improve decision confidence.
- Evidence: provide critical evidence and strategic analysis to ensure departmental strategies, concepts and military capabilities are technically informed and scientifically sound.
- Coherence: engagement and coherence across the Defence Science, Innovation and Technology enterprise to drive alignment with strategic direction, Defence priorities and force development opportunities.
- Advice and Challenge: supply impartial advice and constructive challenge, delivered as part of an empowered scientific adviser network that brings scientific thinking into the mainstream.
- Advocacy: serving as a champion for S&T, promoting and encouraging timely exploitation of S&T across all elements of military capability and in how the MOD operates.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
This is an exciting and varied role which offers significant scope for you to shape the role and deliver strategic impact to improve Defence outcomes. Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Providing direct scientific advice, support and constructive challenge to the areas and teams in which you are embedded to shape and influence related planning, activities and decisions.
- Making sense of the demand for Science & Technology in your embedded area of Defence through understanding the local strategic context and military capability requirement.
- Ensuring that MOD Science & Technology investment is appropriately understood, shaped and exploited.
- Generating and exploiting effective networks, including as the key interlocutor with the Defence Science and Technology laboratory (Dstl), UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) and the wider S&T enterprise.
- Ensuring engagement and coherence across the enterprise, making connections and enabling access to deep technical expertise.
- Bringing scientific thinking, approaches and evidence-based decision-making into the mainstream.
- Providing and/or enabling technical and peer review.
This role leads on the provision of embedded Scientific Advice to the Royal Navy Force Development team, and acts as an expert adviser to the Develop Directorate and wider command on the use of analysis and evidence for decision making. They ensure that decisions made on concepts and capability are supported by appropriate evidence and underpinned by the latest analytical techniques.
This is a stretching role, where you will be able to apply extensive leadership skills, influencing change supported by S&T evidence to drive and test concepts, operational analysis capabilities, decision support, requirements gathering and produce and enact a scientific force development strategy.
This role is based at Navy Command, Portsmouth, PO2 8BY and requires clearance level Developed Vetting (DV).
Responsibilities
This is an exciting and varied role which offers significant scope for you to shape the role and deliver strategic impact to improve Defence outcomes. Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Providing direct scientific advice, support and constructive challenge to the areas and teams in which you are embedded to shape and influence related planning, activities and decisions.
- Making sense of the demand for Science & Technology in your embedded area of Defence through understanding the local strategic context and military capability requirement.
- Ensuring that MOD Science & Technology investment is appropriately understood, shaped and exploited.
- Generating and exploiting effective networks, including as the key interlocutor with the Defence Science and Technology laboratory (Dstl), UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) and the wider S&T enterprise.
- Ensuring engagement and coherence across the enterprise, making connections and enabling access to deep technical expertise.
- Bringing scientific thinking, approaches and evidence-based decision-making into the mainstream.
- Providing and/or enabling technical and peer review.
This role leads on the provision of embedded Scientific Advice to the Royal Navy Force Development team, and acts as an expert adviser to the Develop Directorate and wider command on the use of analysis and evidence for decision making. They ensure that decisions made on concepts and capability are supported by appropriate evidence and underpinned by the latest analytical techniques.
This is a stretching role, where you will be able to apply extensive leadership skills, influencing change supported by S&T evidence to drive and test concepts, operational analysis capabilities, decision support, requirements gathering and produce and enact a scientific force development strategy.
This role is based at Navy Command, Portsmouth, PO2 8BY and requires clearance level Developed Vetting (DV).
Person specification
- Undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) qualification or equivalent experience.
- Knowledge and experience of working in a Science & Technology domain of relevance to the specific Scientific Adviser role you are applying for.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to comfortably deliver through working with diverse sets of stakeholders across organisational boundaries.
- Proven experience of influencing a range of audiences including senior stakeholders through effective communication.
- Experience of applying scientific and technical knowledge to improve business outcomes.
- Capable of delivering with a high degree of autonomy in ambiguous environments, proactively seeking out opportunities to achieve strategic impact.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history, qualification details and previous skills and experience.
Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability (500 words). In your statement of suitability please indicate which Scientific Adviser role/s you are specifically interested in.
At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and statement of suitability.
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be required to give a pre-prepared verbal presentation. Details of the presentation topic and further instructions will be provided once you have booked your interview, should you pass the sift stage.
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: [email protected] .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.
The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Lynne Harris
- Email : [email protected]
- Email : [email protected]
Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: [email protected].
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