About the job

Job summary

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

The Improving Customer Delivery team is part of the Portfolio Directorate sitting in Defra’s Portfolio Delivery Group. We are leading the customer agenda and culture across Defra group to nurture a customer-focused organisation which strives for customer excellence and simplicity.

The role holder will provide business and project support as well as logistical tasks to the Improving Customer Delivery team. As well as a chance to work with our key delivery bodies – such as the Animal Health and Plant Agency, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, the Environment Agency, the Marine Management Organisation, Natural England, and the Rural Payments Agency - on varied and important Improvement work.

Portfolio Directorate

Portfolio Directorate is at the centre of Defra's work to deliver £30B+ of major projects that will benefit the environment, rural communities, agricultural producers and the UK public. You will play a critical role in supporting, enabling and delivering these projects by putting our customers, data and successful delivery at the centre of all that we do. And you'll be part of a diverse, friendly and fun team based across the UK.

Job description

The Team are working towards creating an exceptional experience for our customers. We have developed an ambitious customer vision. We want to work with our customers to improve their experience.

The role holder will provide the team with key business and project support. You will have the chance to make an important contribution to our vision. As well as help deliver our roadmap of the future.

Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting projects linked to the delivery of the Defra group customer vision and roadmap
• Supporting Customer Improvement Specialists in delivering improvement projects
• Maintaining key documents such as stakeholder lists, project plans, and distribution lists
• Assisting in research and discovery for improvement projects
• Support the collation, analysis, and presentation of data
• Providing general secretariat support
• Scheduling and planning of events and meetings
• Monitoring the team mailbox and triaging enquiries
• Responding to queries and questions sent through the team's engagement channels
• Posting engaging content to various internal communications channels

There will be opportunities to grow your skills in the delivery of projects, and continuous improvement methodologies. The department also provides excellent career development opportunities.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has a genuine interest in continuous improvement. As well as an interest in improving Defra group services for our customers.

Required Experience (please outline in your personal statement how you meet this criteria):

• Be enthusiastic about supporting and contributing to service improvements and projects
• Have experience in working with customers and understanding their needs
• Be proficient in organising and prioritising your own workload, effectively managing conflicting priorities
• Be skilled at engaging and communicating with stakeholders through various channels
• Can work independently as well as part of a team
• Be a competent IT user with experience of Office 365 applications

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.

Application Process

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

For the personal statement, in no more than 500 words, please tell us the skills and experience you have that would make you suitable for this role.

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 – Changing and Improving.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sifting is likely to be occur week commencing 15th January, with interview dates to be confirmed. These dates are indicative only.

Interview 

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 50 minutes.

Interviews to be held by 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:

• York – the Kings Pool
• Newcastle – Lancaster House
• 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 – 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.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

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.

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.

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.