About the job

Job summary

Defra is an exciting place to work. The Department is responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, and the food and farming sectors.

The Ministerial Contact Unit (MCU) is a busy operational unit within Defra’s Strategy Directorate, which handles correspondence and parliamentary questions (both written and oral).

Every year the MCU deals with thousands of letters and e-mails from members of the public, MPs and stakeholders. Each of these interactions is an important opportunity to explain Defra's objectives and activities to people who care about Defra’s agenda. We also have the chance to provide these customers with a positive experience of dealing with Defra – something which is genuinely important to the Department’s reputation and people’s confidence in our policies and services.

This post provides an excellent opportunity to develop a deep understanding of Defra’s customers and the issues they care about. The MCU is a fast-paced team that works closely with ministerial and policy teams on correspondence and parliamentary questions, covering issues across Defra. We are a flexible and supportive team that offers excellent opportunities for career progression and personal development, as well as developing a detailed knowledge of the Department’s work.

Job description

The successful candidate will be responsible a range of duties relating to correspondence, parliamentary business and ministerial support, including:

• Drafting responses to correspondence from the public, MPs and key stakeholders;
• Working with Private Offices to ensure that drafts take account of Ministerial preferences;
• Liaising with policy teams to obtain the latest information in order to respond to customer enquiries on Defra’s business;
• Drafting replies to parliamentary questions for ministers;
• Assisting with the preparation of ministerial packs ahead of oral parliamentary questions;
• Developing a comprehensive case management system to ensure cases are processed in a timely and efficient manner;
• Working across teams to develop best practice and set high standards across the unit;
• Completing correspondence to a high standard and within tight deadlines.

Person specification

The successful candidates will be required to:

• Demonstrate excellent communication and collaboration skills both verbally and in writing;
• Be willing and able to adapt to changing circumstances;
• Proactively manage and prioritise work to produce high quality and timely drafts;
• Build relationships across a range of stakeholders including policy experts, Ministers’ Private Offices and external agencies;
• Draw key information from a range of sources;
• Review own work and strive to improve on the service being provided to the Department and our customers;
• Work as part of a team;
• Be flexible and adaptable in supporting others across the unit;
• Demonstrate excellent judgement and initiative.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,470, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £7,416 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 and Experience.

Online tests

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 1st April 2024. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours and after 2pm on the closing date of 1st April 2024.

While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.

It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.

Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits. Click https://www.gov.uk/guidance/reasonable-adjustments-for-online-tests-a-candidate-guide for test guidance.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and three Behaviour Statements.

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 (Delivering at Pace). Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift, assessment and interview dates to be confirmed.

These dates are indicative only.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to complete a drafting exercise where the minimum pass mark must be achieved in order to progress to interview stage.

At interview you will be assessed on Strengths and all Behaviours listed.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Interviews will be held via Video link.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. 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.

Candidates applying for these roles will be based at one of the Defra hubs as advertised.  

For information, our core Defra hub locations are:

• Bristol – Horizon House (Please note that space at this office is limited and it may not be possible for all Policy roles to be recruited to this location); 
• London – Nobel House and 2 Marsham Street. 

Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.

All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.

Defra continues to support a blended working model and candidates are currently expected to attend their office base  for 40-60% of the week.

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

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.

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.

Full Time

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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.

Please note tests on this vacancy are timed, therefore if due to the need for a reasonable adjustment such as additional time contact us as below. 

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 maybe 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 recognize in exceptional circumstance 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-Employment.Checks@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.

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.

NSV

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

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 here.

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.