Computational Linguistics - Lead Researcher Ref. 2846

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Technology Roles
Cheltenham, Manchester
Full-time and part-time opportunities (flexible working hours available)
£48,104 - £53,637 with potential to qualify for specialist skill payment of up to £7,800 per annum in the future. You will also receive a one-off recruitment bonus.

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 
As Lead Researcher in Computational Linguistics, you’ll lead a team of computational linguists to develop solutions for National Security language analysis applications that ultimately help to further our language analysis capabilities. Your team will develop and apply data science, language research skills and expertise – and the tools and techniques you help to deliver will be used by customers across the department and within partner agencies.

Working closely with various teams across the department, including internal research staff, academic and industry partners, you’ll ensure that the research undertaken is appropriate, prioritised and in-line with business requirements. You’ll also lead contribution to,  and collaboration with international research efforts.

Day-to-day you’ll research project planning, develop customer and partner relationships, prioritise and manage internal and contracted research tasks, and contribute expertise to development and evaluation of techniques. You’ll draw upon research and expertise to provide language technology advice to the wider business and its partners. And you’ll share research outcomes, provide support and deputise for the research leadership team where appropriate.

You’ll also keep up to date with relevant and related research in the field, as well as using your knowledge and experience to mentor and guide more junior colleagues. You’ll occasionally travel for training, liaison, and to take part in workshops and conferences. 

About You
Ideally you’ll be a STEM graduate with experience in research or application of language technology development. A postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline would be beneficial, but this isn’t essential. You’ll have postgraduate, or equivalent, experience in leading research and/or development of language technologies, e.g. application of Machine Learning in Natural Language Processing or Understanding, successfully delivering outcomes such as proof-of-techniques, system capabilities, and publications.

You’ll have experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams, and technical collaboration with external organisations to deliver a portfolio of outcomes over several years. And you’ll be innovative, have a questioning mindset, an ability for critical thinking, with a disciplined approach to developing and testing ideas.

Training and Development
We’re invested in you, which is why we offer plenty of training, development courses and packages internally like the Data Science Development Programme and the Linguistics Analytical Pathway Programme courses and modules.

We also offer support for external technical development through courses, online learning and through opportunities to attend international academic conferences and workshops. Your training will be tailored to meet your needs as part of your continuous personal development programme.

And when you join, we’ll pair you up with a mentor and buddy to help you settle in. And our three-day induction will help you to get to know the organization.

Rewards and Benefits 
You’ll receive a starting salary of £48,104 - £53,637 with potential to qualify for specialist skill payment of up to £7,800 per annum in the future. You will also receive a one-off recruitment bonus.
Plus other benefits including:

•    25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
•    Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
•    Interest-free season ticket loan (parking and travel)
•    Excellent pension scheme
•    Cycle to work scheme
•    Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
•    Paid parental and adoption leave.

Equal Opportunities
At  GCHQ diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:

https://www.gchq-careers.co.uk/life-at-gchq/diversity-inclusion.html
 
We’re Disability Confident
GCHQ are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme.  This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.  Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role.  This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria which will be assessed at application sift (in order of application process) are: 

•    Able to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in programming 
•    Able to demonstrate a prolonged interest in Language Technology 
•    Able to demonstrate multiple examples of successfully working on the research or application of language technology development (or related)
•    Able to demonstrate effective communication with a range of likeminded stakeholders and customers 
 
What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

•    Application sift, looking at your motivation for the role and the organisation
•    Interview and Presentation
•    If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, subject to vetting

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before You Apply
To work at GCHQ, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

The role is based in Cheltenham or Central Manchester, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. 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 withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.