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Dstl Student Profile

Job Title Summer Vacation Placement for upto 12 weeks

Vacancy Ref 22900
Department Policy and Capability Studies
Site Portsdown West
Level & Salary Level 1 - £14,681
Number of posts 2
Reporting to Team Leader
Closing date for receipt
Sunday 17 January 2010
of application
Assessment Centre
Thursday 4 March 2010
dates
Nationality Eligibility Open to UK Nationals only (We are sorry that dual nationals cannot be
considered)
All posts require standard Security Clearance (SC), and all applicants must have
resided in the UK for the previous 5 years.

Appointment Type Casual

Working Arrangement Full-time
Working Hours 37

Job summary
Primary Role
Dstl’s Strategic Analysis Group exists to help decision makers, principally within the MOD but also other
areas of Government, such as the intelligence community and the Home Office, to assess, manage and
prepare for future strategic defence and security challenges. The Group achieves this through taking a
holistic, structured, rigourous and analytical view, eg appraising the strategic challenges likely to be
faced by the UK and the UK’s Armed Forces over the next twenty years. In particular, the Group draws
the social and cultural dimension into all areas of work.
In order to fulfill this role, the Group employs analysts from a diverse and wide range of backgrounds, in
order to allow for holistic analysis to be undertaken. These backgrounds include: psychology,
anthropology, operational research, management science, war studies, international relations / strategic
studies, geography, law, political science, intelligence analysts and social network analysts.
The Group consists of five teams:
o Intelligence & Information Operations Team - Analyses a range of issues that support
operational planning. A key area of work is the use of Social Network Analysis, which involves some
analysts deploying to support operations in this area as well as underpinning work to improve our use of
the method. Counter Terrorism is a growing area of work.
o Resilience & Security Team - Leads on work in the area of resilience and security, advising on
key issues and areas for improvement with a range of socio-technical systems. A growing area of work
is in the area of social resilience and support to strategic planning. The team draws heavily on risk
analysis within its work.
o Influence Analysis - Undertakes research into influencing a range of parties. The work of the
team supports customers such as DI Human Factors directly, inputs to concept development as well as
providing key underpinning research for the other teams in the Group. Social science research is
particularly key within this team.
Data Protection Act. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, Dstl will collect, use, protect and
retain the information on this form in connection with all matters relating to our personnel administration
and policies.

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o Strategic Environment Analysis - Focuses at the geo-strategic level and informs key policy
decisions, primarily for MoD on issues of national and trans-national securtiy. The expertise on
Deterrence sits within this team. Scenario writing is a key skill within this team.
o Future Focused Research - Seeks to identify and undertake research on tomorrow's issues.
This team supports the other teams in the Group by providing initial research work on areas of interest.
Posts will undertake work across the Teams.

Essential Functions
Responsibilities
1. Assist on a range of studies within the Group undertaking required tsks. This could include,
assisting at workshops, undertaking research and analysis in areas of interest.
2. To work effectively as part of a small team from a range of disciplines including both civilians
and military officers.
3. To maintain effective communication (and your sense of humour) even when working to tight
timescales and under pressure.
4. To convey complex and unusual ideas in a clear and concise way to a range of interested
parties.
Educational & Experience Requirements
• Essential: Working towards an Honours degree in any of the following areas or related areas:
scientific, numerical, pscyhology, war studies, international relations/strategic studies, political
science, anthropology, geography, intelligence analysts, social network analysts, operational
research and management sciences
• Desirable: A pan-disciplinary background combined with the ability to integrate thinking and ideas
across diverse areas of knowledge
Key Skills
Essential:
• The ability to think analytically about complex strategic problems.
• Comfortable working with qualitative and/or quantitative analytical techniques and methods.
• A proven record as a good team player with good communication skills (even when working to tight
deadlines and under pressure).
• The ability to effectively organise/prioritise your workload.
• Some understanding of the three military services.
• Experience of Microsoft Office software, including Word and Excel.
Desirable:
• An all-rounder, able to apply diverse knowledge in unique and often unprecedented ways.
• Experience of applying analysis within the Human, Social and Political Sciences.
• Experience of Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel and /or Access.

Other Job Components

Scope & impact
Teams are approx. 12 people and the size of budgets and timescales of projects vary. Variety.
Internal & External Contacts
The teams all work across Dstl, the customer community and with academia and industry partners.
Data Protection Act. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, Dstl will collect, use, protect and
retain the information on this form in connection with all matters relating to our personnel administration
and policies.

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Issue Date 01 Oct 2008

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Know How and Competencies

Personal Effectiveness
Personal Responsibility. I take ownership for issues and prioritise effectively to meet commitments. I
organise myself to deliver efficiently, effectively and safely. I take responsibility for what I say and do
and I am prepared to challenge others who compromise Dstl standards.
Welcome Change. I demonstrate an open mind and see the potential in new ideas and ways of
working. I am flexible and adapt my approach as the needs of the business change.
Drive to Deliver. I set high personal standards and strive to achieve them. I act decisively to achieve
targets and set new goals consistent with the business needs.
Interpersonal Effectiveness
Communicate Effectively. I communicate in clear, concise and appropriate terms. I am able to create
understanding across a wide range of technical and non-technical audiences both verbally and in
writing. I listen actively in order to build shared understanding.
Integrated Thinking
Customer Appreciation. I actively consider the needs of internal and external customers and
stakeholders. I adopt a customer mindset when addressing issues and presenting outcomes.
Knowledge Building and Application
Use Information to Make Decisions. I manage existing information effectively and source appropriate
levels of new data, balancing the need for information and the need for action effectively. I reach well
considered and evidence based conclusions and decisions, supported by thorough analysis where
appropriate.
Apply Innovation. I think laterally and creatively in order to introduce new approaches and solutions. I
have a continuous improvement mindset and apply my knowledge to take the business forwards.

Applicants who reach a suitable standard in this campaign, but are not appointed, may be considered
for other vacancies.

Data Protection Act. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, Dstl will collect, use, protect and
retain the information on this form in connection with all matters relating to our personnel administration
and policies.

Version Number Recruitment Page 3 of 3

Issue Date 01 Oct 2008

PROTECTIVE MARKING IF REQUIRED