Vacancy for a Flight Sergeant (Any) Profession to serve as a Specialist Intelligence Operator at Chicksands on Part Time Volunteer Reserve Service Terms and Conditions of Service.CoS)

Task requirements

A vacancy has arisen for a Flight Sergeant (Any) Profession to serve as a Specialist Intelligence Operator  at Chicksands on Part Time Volunteer Reserve (PTVR) Service Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS) with an initial proposed start date of 05 May 2025.

This is an exciting opportunity to fill a new role within the newly established Defence Intelligence (DI) Reserve Sub-Unit based at UKStratCom, Chicksands, on PTVR TCoS. The DI Reserve Sub-Unit provides a mechanism to retain SQEP of Specialist Intelligence Operators who leave their respective Service, thus adding resilience to DI.

Successful candidates require recent specialist intelligence experience, emotional intelligence, empathy, and people skills to undertake this highly rewarding role. The role will, as the Sub-Unit grows, form the basis of the three proposed DI Specialist Intelligence Teams. These are tasked with providing much needed resource to the DI special intelligence operational sub-units to deliver specialist intelligence output to Defence as well as having the ability to operate as independent specialist intelligence teams when conditions require Defence to operate at scale.

Qualifying applicants will be eligible for Recruitment and Retention Payments (Special Intelligence). 

The role includes, although is not limited to, the following: 

Support to DI specialist intelligence activities across the parent-unit’s operational sub-units and wider departments.

Support to planning and execution of intelligence gathering operations in accordance with policy and legal frameworks.

Management of assets and research work in support of operations and DI specialist Intelligence activity.

Support to DI specialist intelligence operational sub-unit’s readiness for short notice deployments and training tasks in support of UK Defence Policy.

Timely debriefing, production of intelligence reporting, and dissemination of intelligence gained.

Support to any other tasks as directed.

DI specialist Intelligence Operators will be accountable to the PSAO, DI Specialist Intelligence Reserve Sub-Unit.

Essential competencies

Must have recently served as a RAF Regular or be a current serving member of the RAF Reserve with existing DI specialist Intelligence SQEP.

The role would predominantly require working at UKStratCom, Chicksands. Where Ad hoc short-term taskings away from UKStratCom Chicksands may be required.

Must hold or be able to hold Developed Vetting (DV).

Must possess a full driving Licence.

Desirable competencies

Recent Service on a DI specialist Intelligence Force Element.

Have recent specialist intelligence experience, emotional intelligence, empathy, and people skills to undertake this highly rewarding role.

Selection Process

A Selection Board will carry out a rigorous selection process for this post, based principally on an applicant’s last 3 appraisal reports as required. 

Additional information

Unless already commissioned in the Reserve Air Forces the successful applicant will be required to be enlisted in the Royal Air Force Reserves with a liability for call-out for permanent service.

The appointment is on Part Time Volunteer Reserve Service TCoS in accordance with AP 3392 Vol 7 Part 1 and is lifed to 30 January 2027.

Confirmation of appointment will depend on successful completion of a RAF Medical Board.  Personnel who do not meet the Age/Permanent Joint Medical Employment Standard (PJMES) may apply for the appointment but will only be considered subject to an executive waiver process on a case-by-case basis.

Regular Service Applicants.  Personnel currently serving in the Regular Royal Air Force should be mindful of the current Early Termination Minimum Waiting Time (MWT) for their respective Rank, Profession and ensure this MWT is compatible with the post sponsor’s proposed start date, prior to applying.

Admin Discharge.  Ex-service candidates who have been administratively discharged through the KR1027 process will have their applications rejected as they are not eligible to join the RAF Reserves in accordance with AP 3391.

Pension Issues.  Personnel who qualify for a service pension should take financial advice from Defence Business Services (DBS) Pensions Department on the effect that undertaking reserve service has on their pension (details can be found on the JPA splash screen). Additional guidance can also be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans and MMP116 - Re-employment. Of particular note is reference to the ‘Effect of Re-employment’ on Commutation and, for those leaving on a ‘preserved’ pension, the Resettlement Grant.

Transition between TCoS.  Personnel taking this appointment from other TCoS should consider the impact on any accrued entitlements, such as leave, resettlement etc and should seek specialist guidance where required as certain entitlements are TCoS specific and may not be retained or transferred on transition between TCoS. 

Flexible Working Arrangements.  In accordance with the Flexible Working (FW) Policy, Reserve personnel can request FW arrangements with their line manager.  Any immediate FW requirements should be agreed with the line management at the interview stage.

Individual Reinforcement Training (IRT) (Module 1) and RAF Fitness Test (RAFFT).  Reserve personnel are required to maintain currency in IRT and the RAFFT iaw the relevant TCoS.  The successful applicant will be expected to undertake IRT and the RAFFT within 6 months of commencing employment (if required).

Annual Salary and Leave.  Pay will be in accordance with the pay scales published for the reserve air forces.  Leave entitlement is detailed in JSP 760.

Accommodation.

Personnel serving on PTVR TCoS are not entitled to service accommodation but can utilise service accommodation when on duty subject to availability.

Enquiries concerning this vacancy should be made to:

UKStratCom-DI-HMTReserveJobs@mod.gov.uk

Applications.  Candidate applications, with a maximum 2-page CV and copies of last 3 appraisal reports should be sent to:

UKStratCom-DI-HMTReserveJobs@mod.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is 07 April 2025.

Interviews will take place week commencing 21 April 2025.