Directorate of Futures Combat Service Support (CSS) Scientific Adviser

132168

£53,500

Permanent
Loan

For those on Loan from Dstl the initial appointment is for 2 years extendable to 3 years by mutual agreement.

MOD - Head Office & Corporate Services - Defence Science and Technology (DST) Scientific Advice (SciA)

Analytical
Customer Insight
Digital
Engineering
Information Technology
Logistics
Operational Research
Science

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

1

Andover, South East, SP11 8HJ

Army Headquarters is implementing an ambitious change to its operating model to improve its focus on the future design of the Army. The Futures Directorate (DFutures), which is ‘standing up’ now, has responsibility for the generation of evidenced and tested Force Output Concepts, and associated capability options (e.g. an improved anti-armour capability). The tested Force Output Concepts will form part of the Balance of Investment decision process for subsequent delivery by the Programme Directorate (DProg).

The Combat Service Support (CSS) Scientific Adviser (SciAdv) is a new role that will provide a sustainment focus within the Army Scientific Advice (SciA) Team. The Army SciA Team will be hosted within DFutures but will work across the Future Force Design and Military Capability functions and the wider Army. The CSS SciAdv sustainment responsibilities include the provision of impartial SciA across the Logistics, Equipment Support, Medical and Military Working Animals spheres. The post will focus on the next generation and generation after next S&T threats and opportunities to shape the development of CSS concepts, force structures and capability options (covering the Defence Lines of Development). As concepts mature into deliverable capabilities the CSS SciAdv will advise on what evidence these activities can draw upon to underpin decisions and where necessary what additional evidence can and needs to be generated, through experimentation to test them, at an appropriate level of detail and quality in a timely manner.

The CSS SciAdv will work across the breadth of the 4 Force Model (Current-, Funded-, Future-, and Conceptual- Forces) although is likely to major on the Funded and Future Force. This leads to a focus on refining force concepts and developing Capabilities. One of the key challenges is guiding the Army on what the big questions it needs to answer in the CSS sphere are. From this a coherent plan will need to be developed and implemented to generate the required evidence base to enable decisions to be made.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-starting candidate with skills and knowledge across a broad spectrum of the CSS environment. It is not anticipated that the successful candidate will have skills across the whole CSS area but will have the ability to build their knowledge base once in post. Key attributes are an ability to build relationships and networks across the Military and S&T subject matter experts, work in ad hoc multi-discipline teams and to communicate clearly and concisely.

The Ministry of Defences’ (MODs) purpose is to protect the people of the United Kingdom, prevent conflict, and be ready to fight her enemies. The MOD ensures that the Armed Forces can achieve this purpose by preparing them for the present and being fit for the future. The MODs aims are:

• Mobilise – to make the most of its existing world leading capabilities whilst reinforcing and improving its alliances.
• Modernise – by embracing new technologies to assure its competitive position, by keeping pace with adversaries and by accelerating the development of new capabilities. This is about investing in new technology and equipment; including building strength in the space and cyber domains. It is also about investing in people to make sure it has the right skills to maximise talent.
• Transform – itself to radically improve the way it does business. That is to improve the way Defence is run, place itself on a sustainable financial footing led by smarter decision making and streamlined processes. To maintain its leading edge the MOD intends to gain an information advantage through better use of insight and data.

Defence Science and Technology (DST) work under the direction of MOD’s CSA to maximise the impact of S&T for the defence and security of the UK. DST commissions the MOD’s Core Research Programme, which is delivered by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Other Government Departments (OGDs), industry and academia. S&T is central to the execution of all Defence tasks and activities. It drives the effectiveness and efficiency of our national security, the capability of our armed forces and underpins our international relationships with Allies. S&T is a key contributor to enhanced strategic understanding, to overseas operations, to the nuclear deterrence, to homeland security, the development of new disruptive and affordable winning edge technologies, and the identification of alternative solutions and new concepts to address strategic Defence challenges. S&T is a critical force multiplier for Defence and the vision is that it will play a central role in Defence thinking and culture and be fully embedded as good practice in all current and future Defence policy and strategy.

DST undertakes 3 core functions:

S&T Policy and International Engagement drafts technical policy, co-ordinates across Whitehall and facilitates international research relationships.
S&T Commissioning provide the balance of investment across the Core Research Programme and work to maintain S&T Capability Health.
Scientific Advice (SciA) maintains a network of SciAdv’s providing impartial advice to the Front-Line Commands (FLC’s), develops the CSA’s S&T Strategy and provides an S&T Assurance function.

DST SciAdv’s provide impartial critical thinking on S&T issues into the heart of Senior decision-making within Defence and Security. Employed by MOD Head Office, DST and embedded out with our customers, the role’s contribution will be key to delivering the CSA strategy of maximising the impact of S&T for Defence and Security and the recently published S&T Strategy. This role sits within the Army’s SciA team, providing advice across the Army on behalf of CSA, ensuring that the S&T needs of Army Headquarters are represented in the S&T Portfolio and that S&T is part of decision making within Army Headquarters.

The CSS Scientific Advice has a broad remit, covering the Logistics, Equipment Support, Medical and Veterinary capabilities. This post will involve close working with the current Army SciA Team to ensure S&T activity is coordinated and complementary. Capabilities within the HOC are enabling and cross-cutting in nature and so strong engagement with other parts of the HQ, and with other FLCs (that is Strategic Command, Navy and RAF) will be required.

This role will put you at the heart of decision making in an area where the pace of technological change must be harnessed to maintain operational advantage. The provision of SciA is a key role to play in ensuring that S&T and wider innovation initiatives are exploited and pulled through into future capabilities.

Some of the areas you can expect to be involved with include:

• Future Force Design
• Concept Development
• Future CSS technologies
• Utilisation of information to inform decision making
• Robotic and Autonomous Systems/Human Machine Teaming
• Military Working Animal
• Architectural design
• Exploitation and integration of new technologies into coherent capabilities within a systems of systems context

Additionally, depending on your skillset you may be involved in:

• Telemedicine and telemetry
• Blood and blood products
• Physiological monitoring
• Development of forward surgery
• Additive Manufacturing
• Information management systems with integrated clinical decision support

This is a dynamic and exciting role that will provide you with insight and understanding across a range of different Defence capabilities as well as the ability to work within a FLC. You will be required to think on your feet, build effective working relationships across DFutures and the CSS and the S&T community to ensure that appropriate scientific advice is provided in a timely manner to support decision making.

Operating as a part of a team of SciAdv’s across MOD and OGDs, you will ensure S&T can help MOD to achieve strategic influence for the UK, be responsive to future opportunities and threats, and make decisions based on evidence. This role also acts as part of a broader virtual team of SciAdvs within Army HQ providing support across the FLC; and is expected to interface into other areas, including Ground and Information Manoeuvre within Army HQ and the SciAdv staff within the Navy and RAF as required. The role will require you to work across several programmes within the Chief Scientific Advisers (CSAs) core S&T Portfolio to ensure that S&T can be exploited and to shape future capability; and to drive the development and implementation of the CSS research and experimentation plan.

The Army is currently reviewing its operating model which may result in the shift of functions, roles and responsibilities from their position within the current organisational structure to the new model. The Army Operating Model (AOM) review is looking to focus activity on the Army’s Future Strategic/Future Force Design, Concept Development and on Capability Development and Program delivery. The Review may well impact on where within the Army’s revised organisational structure the successful CSS SciAdv provides their advice and in the scope of the role.

Responsibilities

The CSS SciAdv’s responibilities will include:

• Developing and facilitating effective relationships with the Army’s and wider Defence’s CSS and S&T communities.
• Providing impartial S&T advice.
• Advising on CSS Concept and Future Force development.
• Advising on S&T matters to support CSS capability planning and delivery.
• Shaping and exploiting S&T across the CSS environment.
• Inputting and influencing relevant technology and experimentation planning within DFutures.
• Enabling coherence between S&T community, DFutures and other parts of Defence technology ecosystem
• Helping drive transformation in defence through exploitation of S&T.
• Understanding and communicating DFutures CSS S&T needs and priorities to DST S&T commissioning and S&T delivery organisations (Dstl, Academia and Industry).
• Championing and communicating the impact of S&T on behalf of the MOD Chief Scientific Adviser.
• Production of the S&T Demand Signal for CSS, including where S&T is being delivered outside of the current S&T Portfolio.
• Being the point of contact for Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) on exploitation and bid assessment for aspects of CSS related work.
• Prepare stakeholders for S&T Programme boards and S&T input to project delivery.
• Supporting the DST Deputy Head Army and Senior Scientific Adviser (SSciAdv) as and when required.

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

We take your career and personal development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from tailored learning and development, and regular performance and development reviews to ensure your development is ongoing.
As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits. This includes:

• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays.
• This will be complemented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the Queen’s Birthday;
• A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire;
• Flexible working patterns including part time working and access to Flexible Working Schemes allowing you to vary your working day as long as you work your total agreed hours, and blended home and office-based working;
• Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers;
• Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle;
• The opportunity to use onsite facilities including childcare, fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable);
• Occupational sick pay.
• Applicants from Dstl will, dependant on eligibility, be entitled to a travel package.

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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.

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/