Russian Language Opportunities Ref. 239
Languages
Cheltenham
Up to £30,000 depending language allowance
The role
GCHQ Russian Language Analyst
GCHQ is at the cutting edge of technology and our Russian Language Analysts play a vital role which is complex and challenging! Your fluent Russian language skills are just the starting point - developing strong analytical skills is just as important as your desire to keep up to date with new tools and rapidly evolving communications technologies. Our Language Analysts work at the core of our operational teams, often helping to direct and drive forward projects and operations. An analytical and enquiring mind, sound judgment and attention to detail are all key skills for this role and you’ll be using your language to provide the bigger intelligence picture to GCHQ’s customers, often working with a range of fragmented information from a variety of sources. You’ll be chasing new leads and writing detailed reports using your specialist knowledge to add intelligence insights. Our reporting often influences Government policy and makes a real difference.
You will have considerable autonomy in organising your daily work, calling on technical experts where needed. You will be working in a modern, open plan working environment which encourages day to day collaboration. You’ll be supported by more experienced colleagues from the start and you’ll also have the opportunity to take part in further language training to keep building on your language skills.
GCHQ has a large language community and there are opportunities to progress to senior language roles which have greater responsibility. In addition, within our language community there is a wide diversity of roles, and you will be able to see which kind of role suits your individual skills and interests.
The skills
Whether you developed your Russian language skills at home as you were growing up, whilst living or working abroad or through academic study, you have a genuine passion for languages. You’ll thrive on the challenge of applying your Russian language skills on a daily basis to provide expert support to investigative officers.
The language tests on our website are indicative of the level of Russian you will need to be successful as a Russian linguist at GCHQ. Your language ability will enable you, for example, to comfortably read newspaper articles and understand news broadcasts in Russian.
You’ll be able to translate from Russian into clear, well-drafted and balanced written reports in English, drawing out the relevant points from sometimes lengthy pieces of material. You’ll also be confident verbally briefing investigative and operational teams and other colleagues across the intelligence agencies.
Enthusiasm, flexibility and team-working are all important. You’ll have an analytical and enquiring mindset, sound judgment and good attention to detail. We will support your learning and development at every opportunity, through both internal and external Russian language training.
Recruitment process
First, we strongly advise you to check your suitability for the role. We have developed a test that reflects the nature of the work of Russian linguists. The challenge will enable you to check your Russian language comprehension skills and ability to recall detail.
If you then wish to apply, the first thing we will ask you to do is complete our pre-screening questions to see if you meet our initial eligibility criteria. lf you do, we will then ask you to begin an application. You’ll need to create an online login. You can do this by providing your full name, email address and a memorable password. Once you have successfully created a personal account, you will be required to complete an online application form.
As well as basic biographical details and your education and employment history to date, you will need to provide details of your Russian language skills and any other languages you have learned. You will be asked how you learned the language, how you currently use your language skills and to what standard you can speak, read and write these languages and dialects. You will also be asked about your interest in the Russian language and culture and what appeals to you about using Russian in your work.
Please note that if you have applied for a Russian vacancy at MI5, MI6 or GCHQ within the last 12 months and been unsuccessful at the language test stage, you will not be eligible to reapply for this role at this time.
Our recruitment team will complete an application sift to assess how far you meet the job specification. Successful applicants will be invited to attend a Russian language test in London to check whether or not you have the skills required to work as a Russian linguist within the intelligence agencies.
At the language test, we will assess your Russian language ability across a range of tasks. There is an emphasis on listening and reading comprehension.
Assuming you pass the Russian language test, you will then be asked to attend an assessment centre, which will include a face-to-face interview and other exercises. If you pass the assessment centre, you will be invited to attend further recruitment activities.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to the "Positive About Disabled People" scheme we offer an interview to all candidates with a disability who meet our minimum criteria for the job vacancy for which they are applying. This is known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS).
Along with the standard eligibility requirements for this post, your application will be assessed on how far you meet the job specification based on your application and your Russian language ability. On successful completion of this stage, you will be invited to the Russian language test, which is our guaranteed interview.
Please note that if you are unsuccessful at the language testing stage of your application, you will not be eligible to reapply for Russian language vacancies at MI5, MI6 or GCHQ within a 12-month period.
Eligibility
To be able to apply, you must meet our residency criteria. You must be a born or naturalised British citizen and one of your parents must be a British citizen or have substantial ties to the UK.
Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for eight out of the last ten years prior to application. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You will nonetheless be considered if you have, for example, served overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of Her Majesty’s Government, studied abroad or lived overseas with your parents.
Due to vetting requirements you will need to be 18 years old, or above, to apply. Your application may take around nine months to process.
Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member, providing that they are British. You should also make them aware of the importance of discretion. You should not post on social media sites about your application or discuss it with anyone else at this stage. You will receive further guidance during the recruitment process.
We are committed to reflecting both equal opportunities and the society we protect.
GCHQ Russian Language Analyst
GCHQ is at the cutting edge of technology and our Russian Language Analysts play a vital role which is complex and challenging! Your fluent Russian language skills are just the starting point - developing strong analytical skills is just as important as your desire to keep up to date with new tools and rapidly evolving communications technologies. Our Language Analysts work at the core of our operational teams, often helping to direct and drive forward projects and operations. An analytical and enquiring mind, sound judgment and attention to detail are all key skills for this role and you’ll be using your language to provide the bigger intelligence picture to GCHQ’s customers, often working with a range of fragmented information from a variety of sources. You’ll be chasing new leads and writing detailed reports using your specialist knowledge to add intelligence insights. Our reporting often influences Government policy and makes a real difference.
You will have considerable autonomy in organising your daily work, calling on technical experts where needed. You will be working in a modern, open plan working environment which encourages day to day collaboration. You’ll be supported by more experienced colleagues from the start and you’ll also have the opportunity to take part in further language training to keep building on your language skills.
GCHQ has a large language community and there are opportunities to progress to senior language roles which have greater responsibility. In addition, within our language community there is a wide diversity of roles, and you will be able to see which kind of role suits your individual skills and interests.
The skills
Whether you developed your Russian language skills at home as you were growing up, whilst living or working abroad or through academic study, you have a genuine passion for languages. You’ll thrive on the challenge of applying your Russian language skills on a daily basis to provide expert support to investigative officers.
The language tests on our website are indicative of the level of Russian you will need to be successful as a Russian linguist at GCHQ. Your language ability will enable you, for example, to comfortably read newspaper articles and understand news broadcasts in Russian.
You’ll be able to translate from Russian into clear, well-drafted and balanced written reports in English, drawing out the relevant points from sometimes lengthy pieces of material. You’ll also be confident verbally briefing investigative and operational teams and other colleagues across the intelligence agencies.
Enthusiasm, flexibility and team-working are all important. You’ll have an analytical and enquiring mindset, sound judgment and good attention to detail. We will support your learning and development at every opportunity, through both internal and external Russian language training.
Recruitment process
First, we strongly advise you to check your suitability for the role. We have developed a test that reflects the nature of the work of Russian linguists. The challenge will enable you to check your Russian language comprehension skills and ability to recall detail.
If you then wish to apply, the first thing we will ask you to do is complete our pre-screening questions to see if you meet our initial eligibility criteria. lf you do, we will then ask you to begin an application. You’ll need to create an online login. You can do this by providing your full name, email address and a memorable password. Once you have successfully created a personal account, you will be required to complete an online application form.
As well as basic biographical details and your education and employment history to date, you will need to provide details of your Russian language skills and any other languages you have learned. You will be asked how you learned the language, how you currently use your language skills and to what standard you can speak, read and write these languages and dialects. You will also be asked about your interest in the Russian language and culture and what appeals to you about using Russian in your work.
Please note that if you have applied for a Russian vacancy at MI5, MI6 or GCHQ within the last 12 months and been unsuccessful at the language test stage, you will not be eligible to reapply for this role at this time.
Our recruitment team will complete an application sift to assess how far you meet the job specification. Successful applicants will be invited to attend a Russian language test in London to check whether or not you have the skills required to work as a Russian linguist within the intelligence agencies.
At the language test, we will assess your Russian language ability across a range of tasks. There is an emphasis on listening and reading comprehension.
Assuming you pass the Russian language test, you will then be asked to attend an assessment centre, which will include a face-to-face interview and other exercises. If you pass the assessment centre, you will be invited to attend further recruitment activities.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to the "Positive About Disabled People" scheme we offer an interview to all candidates with a disability who meet our minimum criteria for the job vacancy for which they are applying. This is known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS).
Along with the standard eligibility requirements for this post, your application will be assessed on how far you meet the job specification based on your application and your Russian language ability. On successful completion of this stage, you will be invited to the Russian language test, which is our guaranteed interview.
Please note that if you are unsuccessful at the language testing stage of your application, you will not be eligible to reapply for Russian language vacancies at MI5, MI6 or GCHQ within a 12-month period.
Eligibility
To be able to apply, you must meet our residency criteria. You must be a born or naturalised British citizen and one of your parents must be a British citizen or have substantial ties to the UK.
Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for eight out of the last ten years prior to application. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You will nonetheless be considered if you have, for example, served overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of Her Majesty’s Government, studied abroad or lived overseas with your parents.
Due to vetting requirements you will need to be 18 years old, or above, to apply. Your application may take around nine months to process.
Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member, providing that they are British. You should also make them aware of the importance of discretion. You should not post on social media sites about your application or discuss it with anyone else at this stage. You will receive further guidance during the recruitment process.
We are committed to reflecting both equal opportunities and the society we protect.
This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.