Research Analyst: Defence, Industries & Society Programme

at  Royal United Services Institute

SUMMARY

Reports to: Research Analyst
Department: Director of Defence, Industries & Society Programme
Salary range: £33,000-£40,000 based on skills and experience
Location: London Office (Hybrid)
Contract: Full time, Permanent

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Familiarity with and capacity to use Microsoft office tools
• Have obtained a higher education degree in either a relevant to defence and security social science subject or a STEM subject or be able to offer reliable other evidence of professional qualifications associated with intelligence, diligence and personal integrity.
• Committed interest in the generation of defence capability, defence acquisition of goods and services from the private sector, and awareness of the importance of the private sector for military operational effectiveness and national operational independence.
• Readiness to learn, especially about government roles as regulator, sponsor, and customer of the defence industrial sector.
• Good interpersonal skills that support cooperative working with colleagues and external stakeholders
• Experience of maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive if unclassified material which occasionally is involved with the post.
• The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and present complex information, demonstrating strong literacy skills.

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• The potential to obtain a UK security clearance
• A reading and speaking capacity in one major foreign language: French, German, and Japanese would be the most valued languages.
• Experience of interaction with defence companies, central government and/or parliament
• Knowledge of statistical techniques that would support understanding of the potential of artificial intelligence in defence
• Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector organisation.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Defence, Industries and Society Programme (DISP) addresses the role of the supply base in the generation of capabilities enabling the implementation of governmental security and defence policy, and the role of acquisition strategies as a link between the government and the private sector.
The person appointed will be expected to support the Director of the programme in the research and other activities associated with its work. The programme has a wide range of work covering the aerospace, shipbuilding, and land sector as well as concerns with emerging technologies and their defence exploitation.

KEY TASKS

• Develop and maintain lists of the programmes stakeholders in Government and the private sector
• Take accurate notes digesting the content of meetings with personnel associated with the programmes work
• Draft correspondence with the programmes stakeholders related to its research agenda
• Conduct desk-based research involving government documentation, parliamentary hearings, the specialist defence media, and other sources of information
• Assess the reliability of the sources discovered and used
• Draft reports in clear, concise language which include appropriate referencing for the findings offered.
  The above list of duties is not exhaustive; the post holder will be required to undertake such duties that may reasonably be expected within the scope and grade of the role.