MOD Counter Economic Threat (EmTech) - Grade 7
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 11th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The policy area
The UK is witnessing an increasingly sophisticated set of economic threats from hostile states - with significant implications for UK Defence. Our adversaries are increasingly relying on economic tools in combination with military, cyber, and information operations, including market distorting behaviours that disrupt and undermine the industrial base, and attempts to acquire sensitive technology and capability through UK investment, expert employment, business partnerships or research collaboration.
Commanding senior attention, this role will put you at the forefront of delivering a key priority for the UK’s national security. You will lead a team conducting national security investigations whilst scrutinising cases of foreign investment. You will also contribute to developing and enhancing the team’s broader economic security capabilities, ensuring the team is ready to tackle a new, complex and rapidly evolving set of challenges. The job holder will have opportunities to brief senior officials and Ministers, international allies, and will be able to develop strong and extensive networks across Defence and Whitehall as this work develops.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
The role
MOD’s Directorate of Economic Security & Statecraft (DESS), within MOD’s Head Office forms part of the government’s overall response to countering economic and investment security threats, and developing economic statecraft techniques, alongside other efforts within MOD to protect against physical threats, espionage, and cyber-attacks.
This role is within the critical and emerging technology team. We are responsible for advising senior officials and Ministers of the national security implications that may arise primarily from foreign direct investment into one of the following sensitive sectors of the UK economy, but increasingly wider economic threats too (e.g. academic partnerships):
- Advanced Materials
- Advanced Robotics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Computing Hardware
- Cryptographic Authentication
- Data Infrastructure
- Synthetic Biology
- Quantum Technologies
Our primary lever to counter economic threats across these sectors is the National Security & Investment (NSI) Act which requires businesses to seek HMG clearance for investment within sensitive sectors of the economy and provides government with powers to scrutinise and intervene where national security concerns arise. Defence Ministers have strongly supported the need for HMG to take a more robust stance on Investment Security threats, which may lead to the reduction of the UK’s technological edge over our adversaries or disrupt the delivery of UK Defence programmes.
The Critical & Emerging Technology ‘pillar’ is ambitious, creative and passionate about the work that we do, as we pioneer new approaches to risk assessment and mitigation for technology-focused national security investigations, within this growing area of national security policy. We draw from team members’ diverse strengths and backgrounds, striving to support our individual learning and development priorities. We pride ourselves on our autonomy and proactiveness in increasing our understanding of how we mitigate against future threats today.
Responsibilities include
- Lead the team’s response to live national security investigations: setting the direction, determining the priorities and providing defence policy expertise to respond to live investigations, working closely with colleagues across Defence and wider Government.
- Translate expert advice from the science & technology and intelligence communities into national security policy assessments and recommendations.
- Coordinating the formation and effective operation of virtual teams at short notice from across Defence, including DSTL, Defence Intelligence, Defence Commercial and MOD Legal to carry out transaction specific risk assessments and identify suitable mitigation options.
- Attend cross-government national security meetings and red-teaming sessions, representing the MOD and ensuring that defence perspectives are properly represented within cross-government ministerial advice.
- Providing high quality briefing and written advice to Ministers and senior officials, allowing them to understand the risks associated with foreign investment, and offering risk mitigation options;
- Engage with a range of Whitehall stakeholders, especially the Agencies, NPSA, NCSC, Cabinet Office, DSIT, DBT, and UK Government Investments, to ensure MOD’s work is ‘fused’ with the broader HMG effort in this policy area;
- Upskill and build economic security and EmTech capability across the team, including through acquiring external specialist knowledge, developing policy tools and frameworks, and promoting targeted learning and development opportunities.
- Ensure that national security issues and opportunities are embedded throughout MOD and cross-government science and technology strategy.
- Support the team’s relationships with overseas partners. This will include supporting DIST’s engagement with the US Department of Defense and other Five Eye partners.
Person specification
We will be assessing your application through how you demonstrate your policy experience relevant to the role and Civil Service Behaviours
- Recruitment is contingent on the candidate holding or obtaining both DV and STRAP clearance.
- Experience working with Intelligence, with a proven track record of building evidence-based assessments and recommendations from complex and often imperfect evidence base.
- Experience working in an area of Science & Technology – whether a science or engineering degree, or relevant work experience, given our team’s focus on critical & emerging technology sectors.
- Strong communication skills – most importantly an ability to write in succinct, plain English.
- Ability to operate independently at pace, driving forward your own portfolio of work whilst prioritising effectively across competing activities.
- Confidence and impact in how you communicate – both verbally and in writing – and including with external (often senior) stakeholders.
- Proven ability to build effective partnerships and relationships across team and organisational boundaries to support delivery.
- Demonstrable leadership experience.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).
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.
At sift, you will be assessed against the following
Experience:
- A CV; details to include job history, qualification details and previous skills and experience.
- A Statement of Suitability (500 words).
Success Profiles Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Changing and improving
In the event of a high volume of applications, we will sift experience and the first behaviour only (Making Effective Decisions).
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Changing and improving
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.
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Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Tim Cox
- Email : timothy.cox122@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
info@csc.gov.uk.
