Transparency data

NDA job levels and salary guidance ranges

Updated 16 July 2024

Job Levels

The NDA grading structure has 11 ‘Job Levels’ plus a level for the Executive Team. Our job levels are an objective measure of job ‘size’ in terms of overall accountability, knowledge and capability needed for a role. This system helps to guide careers and development and also allows us to compare jobs internally and externally to help maintain fair and appropriate salary and benefit arrangements.

A set of job level descriptors are used to bring the structure to life and explain to employees how accountabilities and expected outcomes differ at each job level. The Descriptors are used to support the grading of new jobs and help us make sure this is done consistently and that outcomes are fair, transparent, and easily understood.

The grading system is underpinned by the Korn Ferry Hay job evaluation methodology which is a well-established and reputable job sizing system.

Salary Guidance Ranges

The table below shows the NDA Corporate Centre’s base salary ranges. The NDA also offers a good incentive plan, benefits and pension making the overall reward package fully competitive.

The salary ranges are used as guidance for salary decision making, including new entrants to the NDA who are typically recruited between the lower end and the reference point.

When setting starting salaries, managers, with support from HR, consider a range of factors including nature of the role, a candidates capability/skill set and any relevant market factors.

Higher salaries may be available to those with very strong capability and experience or where special market circumstances apply. The reference points are reviewed on an annual basis with reference to external market data and may be updated to ensure they remain broadly aligned to the external market.

Job Level Reference point as at 1 December 2023 Reference point as at 1 April 2024
11 £147,400 £152,500
10 £124,200 £125,600
9 £98,800 £100,100
8 £83,000 £83,600
7 £68,400 £68,600
6 £57,200 £57,800
5 £50,100 £50,600
4 £42,000 £42,400
3 £36,100 £36,400
2 £30,300 £30,800
1 £24,800 £25,300