Data Collection Development Programme

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 is designed to give you all the skills you’ll need to use our unique systems to acquire vital data. Over the course of 18 months, you’ll do a mix of classroom-based and on-the-job training as you build on your existing interest in technology, work with cutting-edge tools – and identify data that underpins our intelligence missions.
You’ll join GCHQ as part of a cohort all starting together, and begin with 3 months of mainly classroom training. After this, you’ll move to a role with one of our data collection teams at your ‘home’ location, where you’ll follow a more specialised training path designed to give you the tools and techniques needed for your business area.
Using bespoke technologies you won’t find anywhere else, you’ll collect data and provide it to analysts working to prevent threats including terrorism, cyber-crime and serious crime. You’ll work across multiple data accesses to meet UK intelligence requirements, monitor and check data processing, and respond quickly to change. You’ll also bring new ideas and ways of working to our organisation – whether you’re using your newfound technical skills to find new solutions or streamlining our current processes. You’ll be encouraged to approach problems with an innovative mindset and use technology to automate as much of this as possible.
Please note that for the first 3 months, you’ll be required to travel to Cheltenham and other locations regularly, for 2-5 nights at a time. We’ll provide accommodation, transport options and expenses to support you, and will 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 will depend on your ‘home’ team requirements and any further training needed.

About You

You don’t need to have a technical background or any experience, as we’ll teach you everything you’ll need to know. However, you will have maths and English language qualifications at GCSE grade C/4 or above, or an equivalent qualification. You might be a puzzle solver, a coder, or simply fascinated by what technology can do. The important thing is that you’re genuinely curious and interested in technology, and willing to take that interest further.
As you’ll spend a lot of time working with others, you’ll be someone who enjoys collaborating, sharing insights and learning from different people. And, you’ll be comfortable taking on technical information and putting it into practice. With a proactive approach to problem solving, you’ll be keen to put your knowledge and skills to use in an environment that welcomes fresh ideas and new ways of thinking.

Training and Development
You’ll be joining a bespoke development programme designed to give you a broad understanding of our work. When the first 12 months of the programme, including the 3-month initial training state, ends, you’ll be invited to apply for a promotion (depending on your progress and subject to an interview and assessment process).
The development programme covers a variety of areas across our data collection processes and techniques. Once you’ve completed the classroom training, you’ll move into a permanent team where you’ll learn on-the-job, working alongside more experienced colleagues and putting your newfound skills into practice.
Throughout the programme, you’ll have the support of your line manager, colleagues and cohort. You’ll never be left on your own or expected to work in silo; there’ll always be people around to go to if you need help, guidance or advice.

Rewards and Benefits
You’ll receive a starting salary of £25,856 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 (travel and parking)
• 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 (in order of application process) are:
• Demonstrate motivation for the role and a commitment to training/self-development – assessed in the application form sift
• A minimum of 2 GCSEs Grade 4 (C) or above in maths and English language or equivalent

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
• Interview – which will cover technical and competency-based questions
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 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.
Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practise and will help you manage your application with us more discretely.
The roles are based in Bude, Cheltenham or Scarborough 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.