About the job

Job summary

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.

Digital, Data and Technology Services (DDTS) is the trusted team for digital across the entire Defra Group.

We have around 1,200 colleagues across DDTS and our ambition is to make it easier and faster than ever for people to interact with Defra. If you are ready to drive innovation and push boundaries, we want to hear from you. Join us and together we will create a great place for living, and a green and healthy future for all.

Find out more about DDTS:

Defra digital, data and technology blog

LinkedIn 

Defra Jobs 

Job description

Digital sustainability (or sustainable ICT) is an area of rapidly growing interest. ICT and digital services are increasingly held up as a key component of any solution to the global climate crisis and associated targets and goals. These include the UK government’s commitment to net zero carbon by 2050, the Greening Government Commitments 2020-2025, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the 25 Year Environment Plan.

Defra (through our Chief Digital and Information Officer) are the Senior Responsible Owner and Policy owner for digital sustainability across government. The DDTS Digital Sustainability Team are responsible for developing and implementing digital sustainability strategy and policies, for reporting data on sustainable ICT progress, for leading cross government work on digital sustainability, for harnessing insight and innovation from suppliers and industry stakeholders, and for supporting Defra’s Chief Digital Information Officer (CDIO). We’re subject matter experts on digital sustainability, and it’s our role to be champions in this space.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to be a subject matter expert in digital sustainability. Day to day, you will support our DDTS projects and procurements, and you will contribute to team reporting outputs, strategies and policies. You’ll get the chance to steer our digital sustainability training programme, and to build relationships with stakeholders both within Government (officials from Defra, and many from other government departments) and beyond (suppliers, industry partners, academia).

This role is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking for a stretching and high profile position, and someone who wants to combine an existing digital, data and technology skillset with a passion for the environment, climate and sustainability. In our team, your work will have a direct and tangible impact to Defra’s policy outcomes and the wider global digital sustainability agenda.

Person specification

Responsibilities

As our digital sustainability specialist, you will lead on a range operationally focussed activities – working both autonomously, and collaboratively with the wider team.

Responsibilities will include:

• Being a digital sustainability SME (subject matter expert), providing knowledge and expertise on digital sustainability, in the context of the full breadth of environmental, social, commercial and governance issues. To support this, you will be encouraged and supported to participate in continued professional development and training pathways aligned to digital sustainability
  
  
• Supporting DDTS projects and procurements, this includes leading on our digital sustainability project assessment process (reviewing assessments and assigning risks, attending Stage Gate meetings and reviewing business cases). It will also include participating in DDTS procurement activities, by inputting to and participating in ITTs and ITFTs (Tender evaluation stages)
  
  
• Leading the digital sustainability training programme, to firstly include devising a training programme to upskill people on digital sustainability, then later planning, producing and delivering educational resources to support the programme. Audience to include DDTS and Defra staff, other government stakeholders, suppliers or the public more widely
  
  
• Writing and reviewing reports and plans, working collaboratively with the wider team to team to deliver key reporting outputs (E.g. Greening Government Commitment Sustainable ICT report) and policies and strategies (E.g. Defra group sustainable technology and DDTS sustainability Net Zero strategy​)
  
  
• Building relationships with stakeholders, by sharing knowledge, advice and support. This includes internal stakeholders (colleagues from DDTS, Defra group, and officials from other government departments) and external stakeholders (suppliers, industry partners, academia)

Skills and experience

• Experience working in a sustainability role, perhaps providing sustainability advice, identifying sustainable ways of working, or developing sustainable solutions. Experience in digital sustainability is not essential but an interest in how sustainability applies to digital, data and technology is required

• Knowledge of the 3 pillars of sustainability (social, economic and environment) and an understanding of key principles and processes such a circular economy and waste hierarchy. Familiarity with government sustainability targets (E.g. UN Sustainable Development Goals, UK Government 25 Year Environment Plan, UK Government Greening Government Commitments)

• Experience of producing high quality written work to be externally published and shared with a wide audience (E.g. briefings, policies, strategies, reports)

• Effective stakeholder engagement and management skills, with an ability to communicate and influence internal and external stakeholders both verbally and through using written material

• Comfortable working in a high priority, busy area with an ability to manage competing deadlines

• Good analytical skills, with experience of analysing and reviewing assessment outcomes, and confidence to identifying key risks which need to be escalated.  An ability to know and when to escalate risks and decisions where required, is essential

• Experience producing and/or delivering training and educational material using a range of media to upskill colleagues or stakeholders

Selection process

The Civil Service marks each element of the selection process on a merit basis. You can visit the gov.uk website for further information on the Civil Service rating scale.

Ensure you have tailored your CV and Personal Statement to the 'responsibilities' and 'skills and experience' section of the job advert by providing examples on how you are suitable for the role. We would recommend using the STAR method. 

For further information on STAR, you can check out our hints and tips document.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be assessed on your experience and will be asked to complete:

• A CV
• A 750-word personal statement: "Referring to the 'responsibilities and 'skills and experience' sections of the job advert, please demonstrate how you are suitable for the role by providing relevant examples."

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

Sift

Sift will begin shortly after the advert closes.

Should there be a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted using your personal statement.

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

Interview

If successful at sift stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours. As part of the interview process, you will also be asked to do a presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to the interview.

Interviews will be held towards the end of March, but please note that this may be subject to change.

Interviews will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams.

For further information on Success Profiles, please use the links below and watch our videos on Defra Jobs.

Behaviours

Experience

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 and Experience.

For further information on the selection process for this role, please refer to the person specification section of the job advert.

Reserve list

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

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 tochange 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.

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.

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.

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.