About the job

Job summary

Chemicals and pesticides benefit society in many ways; they secure cleaner water, plentiful food and effective medicines. The UK chemicals sector directly accounts for £13.3 billion of the UK economy’s GVA (2018) directly employing 95,000 people, while also being a key supporting sector for wider manufacturing sectors such as pesticides, aerospace and pharmaceuticals.  

There are estimated to be around 350,000 chemicals on the market globally and by 2030 this global industry will double in size. Domestically chemicals are regulated through UK REACH, which is a regulation that applies to the majority of chemical substances that are manufactured in or imported into Great Britain (GB) (England, Scotland, Wales). Pesticides play an important role in supporting the UK’s plant health, crop production and maintenance of national infrastructure and public spaces, and are regulated through the GB pesticides regulations.

Effective management of chemicals and pesticides is required to ensure that society see the benefits of these substances and any harmful effects on biodiversity, environmental quality and human health are minimised. The pace of innovation, however, exceeds the expansion of our knowledge of their risk to humans and the environment.   

This is an exciting time to work in Chemicals and Pesticides in Defra. Now, having left the EU, we have the freedom to consider our approach to the regulation and management of chemicals. Approaches such as integrated pest management and sustainable chemistry are being explored as solutions and comprehensive and effective data gathering are key to supporting this.

The two Scientific Project Officer roles present a great opportunity to showcase your skills in domestic and international engagement with eminent experts, and to lead on the strategic direction of the evidence that supports our policy.

The UK REACH Work Programme role presents a great opportunity to use your scientific skills to input into regulatory decision making on some of the most hazardous chemicals. You would play a key role in shaping decisions to authorise, restrict or ban chemicals to protect human health and the environment.

Job description

There are three roles available through this recruitment process: two Scientific Project Officer roles in the central Evidence & Analysis Hub, providing strategic evidence support to CPHW, and one in the UK REACH Work Programme Team to provide specific technical advice as part of the applications for authorisation decision-making process. These are described further below.

1. Scientific Project Officer: Chemicals Policy

The main responsibilities will be:

• Scientific project management in support of the Chemicals Policy Team:
  • • Leading engagement with Policy Teams on current and future evidence priorities, including providing analysis of current evidence
    • Procurement, financial & scientific management, and dissemination of evidence projects both directly to policy teams and more widely across stakeholder groups
    • Further projects decided upon following post holder analysis
• Liaising with other relevant Defra teams and Arms-Length Bodies such as Environment Agency and Natural England to translate their research for policy colleagues and provide steer on the current and future direction of their work
• Keeping up to date with the latest research of key stakeholders in academia and beyond
• Provide scientific input into official correspondence, briefings and ministerial submissions
• Leading the UK-Japan Bilateral Partnership on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, now in its 25th year

2. Scientific Project Officer: Pesticides Policy

The main responsibilities will be:

• Scientific project management in support of the Pesticides Policy Team, especially focusing on Integrated Pest Management research:
  • • Leading engagement with Policy Teams on current and future evidence priorities, including providing analysis of current evidence
    • Procurement, financial & scientific management, and dissemination of evidence projects both directly to policy teams and more widely across stakeholder groups
    • Further projects decided upon following post holder analysis
• Liaising with other relevant Defra teams and Arms-Length Bodies such as Environment Agency, Health & Safety Executive and Natural England to translate their research for policy colleagues and provide steer on the current and future direction of their work
• Keeping up to date with the latest research of key stakeholders in academia and beyond
• Provide scientific input into official correspondence, briefings and ministerial submissions

In addition the two project officer roles will work together to manage the Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee (HSAC); the Division’s primary route for expert advice, peer review and independent analysis of our priority scientific and policy outputs – this work will be shared across the two posts:

• Driving the scientific agenda in collaboration with the academic Chair and Committee members
• Providing steer and scientific support to the Committee as they respond to commissions from across Defra Group
• Supporting the visibility and reputation of the Committee across Government
• Developing and building links with stakeholders
• Performing the Secretariat’s administrative functions

You will be based in the supportive and dynamic Evidence and Analysis Hub, which is a multi-disciplinary hub that brings together statisticians, social researchers, economists and scientists. You will also work closely with the relevant policy teams.

3. UK REACH Work Programme Scientific Advisor

The role will support the important policy and regulatory decisions on UK REACH by providing essential and robust scientific input to this high priority and fast paced work area, including working across teams and leading on complex technical issues.

The main responsibilities will be:

• Leading on analysing the scientific opinions developed by the Health and Safety Executive on applications for authorisation and restrictions submitted under UK REACH, from a scientific perspective. Authorisation and restriction are the two key ways under UK REACH to manage the risks posed by chemicals. The authorisation process aims to ensure that substances of very high concern (SVHCs) are progressively replaced by less dangerous substances or technologies where technically and economically feasible alternatives are available. Restrictions are used to limit or ban the manufacture, placing on the market or use of chemicals to protect human health and the environment from unacceptable risks
• Working alongside policy officials to communicate the risks to human health and the environment to senior colleagues and ministers
• Providing scientific input to policy officials on other opinions and recommendations made by the Health and Safety Executive, as the need arises
• Providing scientific input into official correspondence, briefings and ministerial submissions
• Potential oversight and support of the work of other scientists in the wider team
• Working on other scientific projects as the need arises

Person specification

The following are essential criteria you need to demonstrate to show your suitability for these roles:

• Experience of applying scientific knowledge to shape decision-making
• A calm and organised thinker, you will have a high degree of skill in multi-tasking and problem solving
• A demonstrated ability to scope, lead and deliver complex projects to agreed deadlines and good quality standards
• Ability to translate technical advice and scientific findings for an informed but non-expert audience
• Experience in critically evaluating scientific evidence and presenting recommendations and options to policy officials

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,648 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement and one Behaviour Statement.  For the personal statement, please provide no more than 500 words that sets out how you meet the essential criteria set-out in the job description.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour – Communicating and Influencing.  Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical Presentation, and Strengths.  As part of this you will be asked to prepare a short presentation. Further details are given in the application guidance.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 60 Minutes and will be held by video link on MS Teams.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Location 

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes. Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

This post offers the successful candidate the opportunity to receive an additional pay supplement of £3,000 upon appointment (pro rata). In addition to this, there is a further pay supplement of up to £3,000 (pro rata) which may be offered based on candidate's annual competency assessment.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Higher Security Clearance 

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. 

Childcare Vouchers 

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.