Are you an Operational or System Analyst looking for an exciting role in Defence?

Join us in a cross-disciplinary team which provides high-quality survivability analysis and modelling, in some cases supported by live trials and experimentation, to answer customer questions in the Land domain, and help minimise the risk to our soldiers and vehicles.

Our work helps the MOD procure state-of-the-art equipment, upgrade in-service platforms and understand the balance of Science & Technology (S&T) required to maximise the survivability of Land forces. It helps to inform survivability policy, platform requirements and operational situations. It draws together developing threat assessments, mathematical modelling, research activities and collaborates across the organisation, wider MOD and engages externally with industry, academia and international partners.

We need 2 Operational Analysts to join the Platform Survivability Group (PSuG) in Platform Systems Division (PLSD). You'll help develop modelling capabilities, lead smaller studies and work as part of a team on existing streams of high impact work, helping to identify new opportunities for the group to work with the Army Front Line Command, DE&S and wider stakeholders.

Your success will impact on the ability of Dstl to deliver high quality impartial survivability advice and assurance to all of its stakeholders.

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.

We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl at these levels.
Job description
Your success will impact on the ability of Dstl to deliver high quality impartial advice and assurance to all of its customers, academia, industry and international counterparts.

In this role you will:
• Gain a fundamental understanding and build your knowledge of the Land war-fighting environment, to understand how the impact of your modelling and/or practical work affects land survivability (Level 4 & 5).
• Work on, lead and deliver small high impact studies in the area of Integrated Survivability (IS), influencing both current and future military procurement programmes to support UK Defence and Security (Level 4 – contribute to studies; Level 5 – lead small studies).
• Run integrated survivability assessment models and analyse the outputs for Land vehicles, bases and personnel (Level 4 & 5).
• Become the survivability analysis focus for specific S&T areas, e.g. mobility, protection, sensors, firepower and understand how the contribution they make to survivability should be examined (Level 5).
• Scope study questions with relevant stakeholders and help to design appropriate studies to match customer time scale, budgets and schedules (Level 5).
• Be expected to use and develop a broad network of both internal and external specialists across Dstl to solve complex and non-routine problems (Level 4 – internal; Level 5 – external).
• Be an enthusiastic problem solver who can define, develop and utilise software and hardware tools to address big picture questions in a fast-evolving area of Defence (Level 4 & 5)
Responsibilities
We are looking for someone who has:

• Self-motivation and ability to work under your own initiative.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to think and work innovatively to overcome current and future problems facing defence.
You will be an advocate for continuously improving our tools and methods to make them fit to provide the scientific advice on which our Armed Forces rely.

Job Dimensions
• You will support classified projects relating to in-service and future novel platforms and technologies.
• You will be responsible for production of data, presentations, reports and other outputs which are of satisfactory quality and timeliness and, where appropriate, to present results in an appropriate manner.
• You will not have any budgetary or line management responsibilities.

Experience
Essential
• Understanding of a range of hard and soft analysis techniques
• Experience of writing reports and giving presentations.

Skills
Essential
• Strong analytical skills and keen attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills to create effective professional relationships with scientific, analytical, military and international partners.
• Good organisational skills
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to non-specialists, including project managers and international audiences.
• Good Microsoft Office skills, particularly Word, PowerPoint and Excel to manage and communicate 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. This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years.

Work location
Dstl is strongly encouraging blended and flexible working either at one of our sites or from home or both. We want to empower you to undertake your duties at the most appropriate location for the task, however you will be allocated a Dstl site as a base. You may be required to travel to other Dstl and MoD sites as required.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Developing Self and Others
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

Strong analytical skills and keen attention to detail.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to non-specialists, including project managers and international audiences.
Excellent communication skills to create effective professional relationships with scientific, analytical, military and international partners.
Good Microsoft Office skills, particularly Word, PowerPoint and Excel to manage and communicate information
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

Strong analytical skills and keen attention to detail.
Benefits
We'll provide a great range of benefits including;
• Fully flexible working, including alternative working patterns, annualised hours, compressed hours and job share, to name a few.
• Flexible Working hours, a 12 month reference period and the ability to bank hours. Up to 3 days can be taken in any calendar month
• Excellent learning and development to ensure everyone fulfils their potential.
• Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay.
• Chartership and accreditation support.
• Pension.
• Generous annual leave, with the ability to buy and sell up to 5 days holiday per year.
• A competitive salary.
• Onsite gyms and restaurants.
• Staff discounts for high street and online shopping, restaurants and days out.

Our Diversity Networks

We have a number of support networks to ensure all employees feel supported at work.

These include the following;
- Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Network
- Race, Faith and Culture Network
- Parents and Carer Support Network
- Alternative Working Network
- Gender Equality Network
- New Starters Network
- Enabled Network, for people with visible and non-visible disabilities.

For further information about Dstl please check out our LinkedIn page 
Things you need to know
Security
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

See our vetting charter.
People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
The sift will assess your technical skills in relation to the essential criteria listed in the job profile and will be completed by Thursday 14 July.

The interview will consist of a combined Behavioural and Technical interview assessing your skills, experience and behaviours against the essential criteria in the job profile. As part of the assessment you will be asked to give a 5 minute brief summarising why your background, skills and experience are suitable for the role.