Data Collection Development Programme - Ref 3644

Department 
Technology Roles
Location(s) 
Bude, Cheltenham, Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Hours of Work 
Full Time
Salary 
£27,161 (includes concessionary payment of £2,658)

Job description 

Hours of work: Full-time for the initial 3-month training period, after which flexible working patterns are possible.

Flexible working: Part-time, compressed hours and job share options may be considered after the first 3 months. Remote or home working is not possible in this role. You can find out more about our flexible working patterns on our website.

About us

At GCHQ, we unlock the complex world of data and communications to keep the UK and its citizens safe, both in the real world and online. Working closely with our British Intelligence partners in MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from threats including serious organised crime, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. A role in GCHQ means you’ll have varied and fascinating work in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork. 

The role

The Data Collection Development Programme (DCDP) is designed to give you all the skills you need to use our unique systems to acquire vital data. Over the course of 18 months, you’ll learn how to use our cutting-edge tools to discover and analyse data that underpins intelligence missions.

You’ll join as part of a cohort, so you’ll be surrounded by people with the same level of experience who share your interest in tech. Together, you’ll learn to use bespoke technologies you won’t find anywhere else, collect data for analysis, to meet UK intelligence requirements, and use your newfound skills and knowledge to identify new solutions. With the support of your line manager, experienced colleagues and cohort, you’ll build a fascinating career helping to keep the UK safe. The programme involves:

3 months of initial classroom-based training where you’ll learn what we do and how we do it
After this, you’ll move into one of our data collection or data delivery teams at your ‘home’ location where you’ll follow a more specialised training path while learning on-the job
After the first 12 months: you’ll be invited to apply for a promotion (depending on your progress and subject to an interview and assessment process)
Please note that for the first 3 months, you’ll be required to travel to Cheltenham and other locations regularly, for 2 to 5 nights at a time. Accommodation, transport options and expenses will be provided, and we’ll always seek to arrange any training to a timetable that works for you and us. After the initial training, the travel commitment will be occasional and dependent on your ‘home’ team requirements and any further training needed.

About you

You don’t need a technical background or any previous experience to apply, as we’ll teach you everything you need to know. You might be a puzzle-solver, a coder, or simply fascinated by what technology can do.

To apply, you’ll need:

maths and English language qualifications at GCSE grade C/4 or above, or an equivalent qualification
a genuine curiosity and interest in technology and the drive to turn that interest into a career
collaboration skills as you’ll spend a lot of time working with others, sharing insights and exploring new approaches
the ability to take on technical information and put it into practice
a proactive approach to problem-solving; you’ll be comfortable sharing ideas in an environment that welcomes fresh ideas and ways of thinking

Training and development

This is a bespoke development programme where you’ll receive all the training, support and guidance you need to do the job. You’ll have the support of your line manager, colleagues and cohort throughout, and you’ll never be expected to work without support, even when you’re working on a task independently.

The programme covers a variety of areas across our data collection processes and techniques. You’ll develop skills including:

data collection; you’ll use our technologies to collect vital data and make it useable for intelligence analysis
communication; you’ll work closely with others, share your findings and learning from those around you
problem solving; you’ll be encouraged to approach challenges with an innovative mindset
organisation; you’ll work across multiple data accesses and respond quickly to change

Your work-life balance

We recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance, which is why (on completion of the first 3 months’ training), we’ll offer part-time, compressed hours and job share options, subject to business need. Please note that remote or home working is not possible in this role. You can find out more about our flexible working arrangements on our website.

Some of our benefits

You will enjoy 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, alongside 10.5 days public and privilege holidays. We also offer a competitive pension, with employer contributions of at least 28.97%, an interest-free season ticket loan and lots more. Discover more about our full range of benefits.

Equal opportunities

To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from all individuals, particularly those who are currently under-represented in our workforce, such as:

women
those from an ethnic minority background
people with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions
those from low socio-economic backgrounds
This is part of our commitment to building a culture that is welcoming and inclusive of people with different identities, lived experiences, and perspectives, and where everyone has the confidence to bring their whole self to work. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Offer of Interview

We’re also proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department of Work and Pension’s Disability Confident scheme. Being Disability Confident, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that best meet the minimum essential criteria for this position will be offered an interview where practicable; this is known as the ‘Offer of Interview. For this role, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:

meet the minimum pass mark in our online technical assessment
meet the minimum pass mark in all application questions at the application sift
As part of your application, you can declare if you have a disability or long-term health condition and would like to be considered for an ‘Offer of Interview’.  If you opt into the Disability Confident scheme and successfully complete these stages, you’ll be offered a telephone interview; this is our ‘Offer of Interview’. Please be aware that in some situations where we receive a high volume of applications, we may not be able to interview all candidates, including those with disabilities, who meet the minimum criteria.  

If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, have a long-term health condition or require reasonable adjustments for any other reason, please let us know so we can support you.  To learn more about how we can support you, why not read our reasonable adjustments brochure or you can find out more information on our how to apply page:

how to apply for GCHQ
Application process

Our selection process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. You will need to pass each stage of the process to progress. This recruitment process consists of:

Initial application.
Online technical assessment.
Full application.
Application question sift looking at your motivation for the role and the organisation, and essential skills.
Virtual interview.
If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment.
The whole process can take 9 to 12 months, so if you are currently employed, we recommend staying in your existing role until you receive a final offer.

Before you apply

Due to the sensitive nature of our work, there are some eligibility criteria you’ll need to meet (as well as some recommendations we’d make to aid your application). You will need to:

be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Read more on our eligibility criteria
go through vetting and comply with our no drugs policy. Learn more about the vetting process
please familiarise yourself with our guidance on the use of AI in applications, on our how to apply
complete your application from within the UK
We’d recommend using a different email address (with no identifying features for example first and/or surnames and date of birth) for your contact with us. This will help keep your personal and application correspondence separate, and more secure. 

You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.

Right to withdraw statement

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close applications once a certain number have been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out.