Army - Special Research Projects Accelerator

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce including many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such, project management and acquisition skills are vital.
In Army Futures, our role is to help the British Army win. We do this by ensuring the Army keeps pace with social, political, technological and environmental changes and the speed at which our adversaries adapt. We then operate as an engine for research, innovation, analysis and experimentation to determine how the Army must be structured, trained and equipped in the future.
The post involves commissioning and oversight of research and experimentation projects for new and developing technologies and working with military and Civil Service colleagues across the Ministry of Defence to bring these into service.
This an exciting role that combines project management with military capability, science and technology and acquisition skills to enable the Army to win in battle. It sits in the Future Force Development branch, in the Research and Experimentation (R&E) team which is responsible for filling the knowledge gaps to inform capability development choices, nested in Army and Defence priorities, testing hypotheses and validating solutions.
The role is specifically responsible for Special Projects (those which sit at a higher security classification) across a broad sweep of subject areas which may include robotic and autonomous systems (RAS), battlefield power and electrification and artificial intelligence (AI) projects amongst others.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week., You will work to an Senior Executive Officer (SEO) or Army Lt Col in the Research and Experimentation (R&E) team. You will plan, commission, manage and accelerate multiple technology focussed projects with minimal supervision. Your main focus will be on Special Projects in multiple fields to include robotics and autonomous systems, AI, battlefield electrification, IT and others. For this you will need a good standard of written English and the ability to represent sophisticated subjects concisely and accurately
You will support the SEO or Army Lt Col to help the Army to securely exploit ground-breaking science and technology (S&T) by helping to establish and maintain links between different Army HQ branches, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the Land Warfare Centre and Industry. You will assist with the planning of exploitation activity to rapidly mature selected technologies using commercial routes in partnership with these organisations.
You will assist the SEO or Army Lt Col with supporting collaboration with the US, Allied and partner nations, ensuring interoperability and exploitation through burden sharing, or UK adoption of proven technology. You will be required to contribute to the production of business cases.
You will be working in a mixed military/civilian team including contractors in a fast moving but supportive environment. You will need to be able to brief both verbally and in writing.
You will help to ensure that research projects are initiated, funded, conducted within applicable policy and guidance and remain broadly aligned to the business case, balancing time, cost and quality. The actual project work will most likely be conducted by DE&S/Dstl but you will need to assist with the oversight, direction and driving force. You will need to work with multiple industry partners to push forward the innovation and fielding at pace of new and developmental capability.
The role may involve occasional travel to meetings outside the Andover area and sometimes outside the UK so we require someone who is able and willing to travel in the UK and possibly abroad.
The post holder will required to hold Developed Vetting. The successful applicant will be willing to undergo the application process as soon as possible after taking up the role if not already held.
This role is suitable for hybrid working (part office/part working from home) and flexible working hours (flexible start and finish times subject to business need). The successful candidate would be expected to spend an average of three working days each week in the office., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Changing and Improving
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Leadership
+ Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Changing and Improving
+ Communicating and Influencing, Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
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., At interview you will be assessed against the following behaviours -
+ Making effective decisions
+ Leadership
+ Delivering at pace
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed. We endeavour to stick to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.
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: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into 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.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.

+ Some experience of working in an Science & Technology focused role or organisation and/or an acquisition role
+ Excellent business writing skills
No formal project management qualifications are required but experience of assisting with or overseeing and/or running technology projects is desirable and experience of agile project management techniques to accommodate the rapid pace of technological advance while products are being developed would be an advantage.
Previous experience in a science and technology, P3M, capability or acquisition role is highly desirable.
Desirable:
+ Broad experience with MOD (or other UK government department) acquisition and capability development processes
+ Experience of project sponsorship and of requirements management
+ Excellent written communication skills, At application you will need to provide a CV detailing your previous job history and previous skills and experience. Please note, it is essential that your CV is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and recent practice experience for each of the following selection criteria:
+ Experience in a Science & technology and/or acquisition role
+ Experience of writing a business case
You will also be assessed against the following behaviours -
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Changing and Improving
+ Communicating and Influencing

+ Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
+ Enhanced parental and adoption leave
+ 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
+ Learning and Development
We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.
A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.
As a civil servant working alongside Army personnel in the Army Headquarters, the successful candidate will be a valued member of our forward-looking, dynamic and inclusive organisation, in a job that makes a difference. As a part of the Future Force Development Research and Experimentation team, you will be a key part of a small team working on exciting, ground-breaking projects which will directly help the Army to win on the battlefield.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive and inclusive employer and strives to help its employees to maintain a good work/life balance.
In the Army, 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 opportunities employer we hire, train and promote people based on merit and inspire to build an inclusive work environment free of discrimination.

Alongside your salary of £35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,223 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.
Other benefits for Army civil servants include:
+ 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
+ Highly competitive pension scheme
+ Personal and professional development of skills
+ Alternative working patterns for many roles