DASA - Security Exploitation Manager

Location

Dstl Porton Down, DASA London (White City)

About the job

Summary

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) was established in December 2016 as part of the Defence Innovation Initiative to provide the UK with strategic advantage by having the most innovative Defence and Security capabilities in the world.

DASA has four main functions Outreach, Operations, Partnerships and Impact (P&I) and Support Services. The Defence Exploitation Manager will work in the Partnerships and Impact team and will focus on supporting suppliers who have received a DASA contract to develop their ideas further towards exploitation. The team creates the conditions to facilitate and encourage exploitation pathways for suppliers, customers and end users.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual who is looking to develop their career in an exciting and dynamic arena. P&I is a responsive and agile team who work in partnership with Security stakeholders and support the ongoing portfolio of DASA projects. You will be an integral part of a growing team and you will have opportunity to shape and improve the way we work.

Reporting to the Security Lead the role is outward facing and you will engage with our key stakeholders and end users within the Security community (for example, the Intelligence Agencies, Home Office, Department of Transport and the Emergency Services) and work closely with our suppliers, especially small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Once a supplier has received a DASA contract to develop their technology, you will support them to maximise the potential for that project to progress through to the next stages of development, into procurement and ultimately be brought into service. You will ensure that exploitation and business readiness remains a key focus for both the supplier and the end users by facilitating regular interactions to maintain momentum and commitment.

Your role is key to helping ensure our full range of services are being used to support exploitation activities and to help our suppliers, particularly SMEs, grow and develop their businesses so they can become effective suppliers to the defence and security sectors.

Job description

In this role you will:

Provide tailored support to individual organisations (suppliers), especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that have received a DASA contract to help them continue to develop and exploit their projects and develop their business. This support will include:

Building and facilitating productive relationships between customers, end users and suppliers to help them map out projected exploitation pathways for the project and to encourage commitment from end users to further development.

Ensuring suppliers make the most of the DASA services on offer to them, including the Access to Mentoring and Finance service, and delivering a range of targeted workshops and networking opportunities that support the supplier exploitation pathway.

Providing opportunities for suppliers to showcase their achievements through working with others in the end user, customer and DASA stakeholder community.

Maintaining relationships with Technical Partners and Project Managers for each supplier to ensure an exploitation focus throughout the project and beyond.

Working with the Security Lead:

Build and maintain productive relationships with DASAs key Security stakeholders and the end-user communities.

Support the development and running of themed competitions to address the requirements of the user communities. Ensure exploitation is considered in competition design and throughout the competition lifecycle.

Continuously improve the way we work including how we measure success and barriers to success, suggesting efficiencies in current processes and contributing to the development of new and novel exploitation pathways and communicating with others within and outside DASA

During Covid-19, we all have been working from home. We will proactively support and help the appointed staff to understand their new role and become an active part of the DASA community despite this constraint.

There will be a need to work at pace and to targets to achieve what is required of this role, whilst maintaining close, trusting relationships with those you work with. You will be a team member focused on delivery, and comfortable operating both individually and as part of a team, in a high pressured and demanding environment.

DASA is an equal opportunity employer, serious about promoting diversity and inclusion, and we offer flexible working and job share opportunities and part time positions. We provide training and support for all our staff.

Responsibilities

We are looking for someone who has:

Previous experience within a Security related science and technology, operational or commercial environment.

Demonstrable experience of building relationships and networks with a range of different stakeholders that deliver outcomes.

Experience of working with, or providing support to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises.

Experience of influencing others to achieve successful outcomes.

Experience of handling technical information with ability to interpret and write clearly and concisely.

Behaviours

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

Working Together

Communicating and Influencing

Developing Self and Others

Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

We'll provide a great range of benefits including;

Flexible working

Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay

Chartership and accreditation support

Pension

Generous annual leave

A competitive salary

Excellent learning and development

Onsite gyms and restaurants

Staff discounts for high street and online shopping, restaurants and days out.

Our Diversity Networks

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution. We have a number of support networks to ensure all employees feel supported at work.

These include the following;

- Sexual Orientation and Gender Network

- Faith and Culture Network

- Parents and Carer Support Network

- Alternative Working Network

- Gender Equality Network

- New Starters Network

- Enabled Network

Please note that Dstl will be contacting individuals via email and you should check your junk mail folder regularly. Any attachments may not be available via smart phone or tablet views.

If you are applying for this position as a Job Share please indicate if you have a partner who is also applying for this vacancy and if you are successful but they are not if you would still consider the role.

For further information about Dstl please check out our LinkedIn page 

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

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

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Sift will take place week commencing 11th September 2020, with interviews taking place week commencing 28th September 2020 and week commencing 5th October 2020.

Please be aware that due to the current nationwide restrictions on travel and public gatherings and to ensure your safety, these interviews will likely be taking place through telephone interview. Should this change we will notify candidates who are selected for interview.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to our status as a €œReserve Post€ organisation, Dstl vacancies are open to candidates who only hold UK nationality.

If you hold Dual Nationality, i.e. have the right to abode, have citizenship or hold a passport/national identity card for another country outside the UK you will not be eligible for this role.

Important Information

The security of our work means that only UK nationals who have also resided in the UK for the last 5 years (10 years for certain roles) can be considered. Some roles will require Developed Vetting (DV). Unfortunately dual nationals cannot be considered.

Equal Opportunities

At Dstl we are committed to inclusivity and diversity within our workforce. During the application process we collect information to help us monitor this. It helps us better-understand our incoming workforce, as well as highlighting areas of improvement.

The information we request will not be used to make a decision about your application - no applicant or employee will ever be seen as more or less favourable based on disability, gender, martial or civil partnership status, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion/belief.

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

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name :   Jo Symons

Email :   jsymons@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team :

Email :   dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.