Emerging Technology Researcher

Location
Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ

Salary
£29,001 - £33,658
Based on skills and experience
A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

The Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Situational Awareness (SA) team at Dstl are looking for a talented person to work on a new Emerging Technology (EmTech) related project.

This project seeks to improve the UK’s understanding of the risks and opportunities from emerging technology in the context of Chemical and Biological (CB) defence. It pulls together multi-disciplinary teams to rapidly assess emerging technology and, where necessary, direct experimental work (e.g. to close knowledge gaps or as part of a technology demonstrator).

The project makes links and fosters collaborative relationships across Dstl (e.g. with the Defence S&T Futures Programme), across UK Government (e.g. GO Science), with academia and industry.

This project is about thinking differently about emerging technology; to create a culture of innovation, and to put Dstl and our customers across Defence and Security in the best possible position for the future.

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.

Job description
You will be a key member of the EmTech and related projects team providing you with an exciting opportunity to support an emerging technology capability in the division.

This includes working across Dstl on a series of ‘sprint activities’ (short focused activities of a day or so) to generate innovative ideas from across the S&T community, and working up some of the down selected ideas for further development (e.g. within Dstl or with industry partners).

Other activities include fostering collaborative links with other S&T Programmes and key customers/stakeholders across UK Defence and Security.

There is also a project focus on improving our technology horizon scanning capability and looking at how we can pull generation after next technology into our future programmes.

Person specification
To meet the demands of this role we are seeking an individual who:
•    Is self-motivated and can enthuse others;
•    Can understand emerging science concepts and technology
•    Has strong communication and interpersonal skills;
•    Has the skills to think and work innovatively;
•    Enjoys working independently or within a team;
•    Works well under-pressure;
•    Is creative, thinks innovatively and enjoys problem solving.

Essential Skills and Qualification

You must:

Be self-motivated and able to enthuse others;
Have strong communication and interpersonal skills;
Can communicate science to others who don’t have a similar background;
Enjoy working independently or within a team;
Work well under-pressure at pace;
Be creative and enjoy problem solving.
Be able to analyse qualitative and/or quantitative data.
Have the ability to lead meetings.
Qualified to degree level in an appropriate scientific discipline such as (but not limited to): Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or Physics.

Essential Experience

For this role you require experience of;

Undertaking analysis (quantitative and/or qualitative);
Working or studying in a scientific environment;
Supporting or delivering a project from concept to delivery;
Evidence of providing timely, impartial, evidence-based advice;
Delivering to tight timescales.

Safety 

You will use safe working practices ensuring that you and your colleagues report on any unsafe practices, no matter how big or small. You will, follow safety guidelines, respecting and contributing to a strong Dstl safety culture.

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. 

Working conditions

Predominately an office based setting with occasional offsite travel and the potential for some international travel. This is not a lab based role but you will be expected to be on site for 4 days per week.

For Desirable attributes please see the attached job profile

Qualifications

Essential
• Qualified to degree level in an appropriate scientific discipline such as (but not limited to): Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, or Physics.

Desirable
• Postgraduate qualification in an appropriate scientific discipline.

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

Delivering at Pace
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing

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

Please give an example of when you have communicated scientific information to a non-technical audience
Please give an example of a time you have worked with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver scientific objectives

Benefits
Alongside your salary of £29,001, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £7,830 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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.

Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so if at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting will be completed by 3rd October 2024 with interviews to take place 17th October 2024. Interviews will take place either online via MS Teams or face to face at Dstl Porton Down.

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 security check (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.

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

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.

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).

Apply and further information
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 : Dstl Recruitment Team
Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information
Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.

Attachments

367070 JP_CBR Emerging Technology Researcher.FINAL Opens in new window(docx, 66kB)

20231130-Candidate_info_pack Opens in new window(pdf, 975kB)