Principal Analyst - Russia, Secretary of State’s Office of Net Assessment and Challenge (SONAC)

This role sits in SONACs Russia Team and reports to the Russia Teams Head (B1 / Grade 6). Established in 2020, SONAC (Secretary of States Office of Net Assessment and Challenge) is a small and inclusive team at the heart of the MOD that provides independent advice to the Defence Secretary and senior MOD Officials.

SONAC uses structured methods such as net assessment, wargaming, red teaming, and strategic analysis to test and improve developing plans and strategies within the department, and to explore and develop areas MoD may be missing. SONAC also acts as a lightning rod for external thought into the department commissioning research and hosting roundtables and conferences to bring new and fresh perspectives into MOD. The SONAC team has a deliberately diverse mix of backgrounds in academia, intelligence, policy, strategy, and analysis.

SONAC is structured into several analytical teams, of which the Russia Team is one. The Russia Team focuses on Russia and Ukraine, as well as Central Asia and the South Caucasus. It supports teams in MoD in managing Defences relationship with these countries and regions, as well as working across Government to shape and support HMGs broader approaches to them.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

SONACs Russia Team is a high-performing and highly motivated team whose work supports some of the most important decisions taken in MoD and x-HMG. In this role you will contribute to this through delivering strategic analysis, net assessment, and challenge on Russia, Ukraine, and related issues.

You will:

• Contribute to, and in some cases lead, workstreams on Russia and Ukraine;
• Identify key issues for research, balancing long-term net assessment with shorter-term strategic analysis and challenge.
• Support colleagues in SONACs other analytical teams through applying your Subject Matter Expertise;
• Support and challenge relevant teams in MoD (and x-HMG) as they develop workstreams, policies, and strategies on and relating to Russia and/or Ukraine;
• Collaborate with, and build effective relationships with, relevant teams x-HMG (in the policy, strategy, intelligence, and analysis communities);
• Liaise with key stakeholders outside HMG, including selected international engagement.
• Develop credibility in MoD, x-HMG, and externally as an expert on Russia and/or Ukraine
• Have opportunities to support or represent the team in meetings in MoD and x-HMG, including with Ministers and Defence Chiefs.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their experience and skills against the following Essential Criteria:

• Be an expert on either Russia, Ukraine and/or the UKs policies or strategies toward Russia and/or Ukraine.
• Be interested in international security, strategy, or defence issues.
• Have a track record of producing all-source assessment and/or analysis, or advice on Russia/Ukraine topics to senior decision makers, whether within government or outside (e.g., in academia or think tanks).
• Have excellent drafting skills, and an ability to translate deep/technical detail into concise strategic-level implications.
• Be an excellent communicator and be confident in engaging at senior levels across and outside government.
• Be a strong collaborator, and have, or be able to build, effective networks across and outside government on Russia and Russia-related issues.
• Be able to prioritise and manage a broad portfolio of work to deliver high-quality products, often at pace.
• Be willing to embrace a challenge mindset through application of Subject Matter Expertise and structured analytical techniques.

In the event of a strong field of candidates where there is a need to further distinguish between candidates, the following Desirable Criteria will be considered after the Essential Criteria:

• A postgraduate degree (Masters or PhD) on a topic related to Russia or Ukraine or the broader post-Soviet space, or extensive (at least five years) professional experience working on Russia and/or Ukraine topics.
• Experience of Net Assessment and Structured Analytical Techniques.

We invest in upskilling our team members to enable them to thrive once they start working with us. As such, please do not be put off if you do not match all these requirements. Skills gained in a wide range of contexts are valuable and transferable to our work.