Defence Open Source Intelligence Centre (DOC)  Data Manager

Job Description

Posted on: 
November 12, 2024

Job summary

As an important part of the Ministry of Defence, Defence Intelligence (DI) provides intelligence analysis, specialist outputs and advice that supports decision making across government. At the heart of DI is the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI).

We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated, forward thinking and capable individual to join the Defence Open Source Intelligence Centre (DOC), as the Data Manager (DM). The DOC provide specialist, advanced and pioneering Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) to the Armed Forces and other Partners Across Government (PAG).

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities.  Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

This role is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

You will be responsible for the governance of the data, information and intelligence produced and processed by the Defence OSINT Centre (DOC) in NCGI.

Your main responsibility will be to manage and oversee data requests from DOC’s customers, taking into account any governance, security and commercial constraints. You will assess any data requests and coordinate with relevant stakeholders to drive the request forward whilst continuously tracking progress. You will work closely with the Legal and Policy advisors, formally communicating any risks, issues or Operational impact up the Chain of Command and working with the team to identify suitable mitigation's.

You will participate in relevant data governance boards to seek any necessary approvals enabling DOC’s activities.

You will work in partnership where required with:

(1) the NCGI Data Office to ensure DOC’s representation, participation, and coherence with our geospatial and imagery data colleagues in NCGI.

(2) the Data Steward of the MOD OSINT Programme which encompasses many more user communities than the DOC.

(3) DI Digital colleagues managing wider systems and projects involving DOC’s data, information, and intelligence assets.

(4) the MOD Chief Data Officer exploitation team driving our digital strategies and central projects.

The DM will also act as the DOC Information Manager, administering and improving SharePoint pages used by the DOC. This will include maintaining and developing automated flows to support DOC’s business and Operational responsibilities.

Other duties include but are not limited to:

  • As part of the Information Manager role, you may be required to oversee Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) to ensure legal compliance of DOC’s activities and liaise with the DI Data Protection team.
  • Maintain a network of Data/Information Managers across the MOD and partners to enhance collaboration.
  • Responsible for permission-based access and data retention on relevant platforms.
  • Evaluate requests to hold data outside of policy time frames.
  • Conduct regular reviews of data to assess ongoing value.
  • Management of information asset register and DOC file plan.

This is an excellent opportunity for a driven individual, offering a multitude of development opportunities.

In DI 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 create an inclusive workplace free of discrimination. We also offer flexible working arrangements such as flexi-time, job share and compressed hours.  

All jobs advertised in DI are subject to fair and open competition.

Person specification

Essential:

We are seeking an individual with excellent presentation and communication skills, both written and verbal and can communicate with a range customers. You will have strong organisational skills, be agile and flexible, used to prioritising and working to specific time frames and targets. You should possess excellent IT skills, including word-processing, PowerPoint, and spreadsheets.

If not already held, the Information Managers Course, must be completed within 12 months of taking post.

Desirable:

The ability to use web authoring packages including SharePoint and Microsoft data exploitation tools, or willingness to learn.

Experience of managing or processing data requests, including the policies that surround those requests – such as managing personal data.

Behaviours

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

  • Changing and Improving
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,530, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We offer a range of excellent benefits, including but not limited to the following:

  • All successful candidates will be eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
  • Leave entitlement - 25-day annual leave allowance per year increasing by 1 day per year (maximum 30 days per year). In addition, 8 statutory Bank Holidays and 1 privilege day per year.
  • Complementing our generous annual leave allowance, we also have a flexible working scheme.
  • Additional working pattern options – we have a strong culture of flexible working and encourage all employees to have a healthy work/life balance. We offer a wide range of potential working patterns, including part time, job share and compressed hours. These need to be balanced with business needs so they will vary from job to job. If you would like to know more, please speak to the Recruiting Line Manager.
  • Professional Development - We are committed to your continued professional and personal development with learning as one of our core values.
  • Health and Well being – for a small fee we offer the staff the use of the exceptional site gymnasium facilities.  
  • We also offer an excellent range of family-friendly benefits, for example, enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
  • Special Paid Leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year  
  • RAF Wyton has free car parking; and other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club, Gym and an onsite shop.

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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Applicants should apply for this role online, via the website.

Assessment at sift and interview will be based on meeting any defined skill/qualification requirements along with a Success Profile element assessment, as detailed in the job advert. The Success Profile elements to be assessed will be outlined within the job advert. The Civil Service Success Profile Framework is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

At sift, applicants will be sifted on their experience by providing a CV and Personal Statement.

All applicants will need to provide a personal statement, of no more than 750 words, including evidence of the essential and desirable criteria requested within the job advert.

When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the requirements described in the Person Specification section thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against.

Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc.  You may choose to address each criteria separately or have examples that cover and evidence several criteria. Please ensure you evidence the requirements and what you have done that relates to the requirements.  You don’t have to explain the whole process, focus on what you have done and the skills and experience you have used.  Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why, what you can do and the technical and behavioural skills you have that correspond to the requirements, and life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.

At interview, applicants will be sifted against the following Civil Service Behaviours :

  • - Delivering at Pace  
  • - Changing and Improving
  • - Managing a Quality Service
  • - Making Effective Decisions

We would generally expect Behaviour examples to follow the STAR structure and encourage candidates to use this throughout their application.

Application/Interview Scoring System

NCGI adopts a scoring system of 1-7 for Behaviours, Technical skills, and Experience.

7- The evidence provided wholly exceeds expectation at this level

6 - Substantial positive evidence; includes some evidence of exceeding expectations at this level

5 - Substantial positive evidence of the competency or behaviour

4 - Adequate positive evidence and any negative evidence would not cause concern

3 - Moderate positive evidence but some negative evidence demonstrated

2 - Limited positive evidence and/or mainly negative evidence demonstrated

1 - No positive evidence and/or substantial negative evidence demonstrated


The sift should take place within 2 weeks of the job closing and candidates will be informed of the results, at all stages, via the website. Interview dates are to be confirmed.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting.

If the successful candidate does not hold the necessary clearances, they will be made a provisional job offer and asked to undergo our vetting procedures. Once the relevant clearances have been obtained a formal job offer will be made and start dates can be discussed. Should the candidate fail to obtain the relevant clearances the provisional job offer will be rescinded. It should be noted that this process can take several months.

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 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.  



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.

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.

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 :NCGI Recruitment Team
  • Email :ukstratcom-di-ncgi-recruitment@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email :DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

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:
info@csc.gov.uk.

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