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, sustaining a thriving rural economy, and supporting international nature, climate and biodiversity agendas.

Defra’s Environment Group is a friendly and collaborative group, working on some of Defra’s highest priority objectives. The group benefits from an inclusive culture and we are looking for candidates who can contribute to making this a welcoming and positive place to work.

Within Environment Group, the International Biodiversity and Climate Directorate (IBC) is focused on driving a shift to a nature-positive world: reversing biodiversity loss, restoring ecosystems, tackling climate change and contributing to global poverty reduction.

IBC uses international negotiations, Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes, political engagement, legislation and science to reduce global biodiversity and species loss, and to protect, conserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems. We are an ambitious Directorate that engages confidently with partners across Government and the globe to:

• Negotiate, agree and deliver effective global frameworks for protecting and promoting nature and biodiversity through the UN system and multilateral environment agreements
• Influence partners to transition to nature positive economies with higher ambition Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans
• Provide strategic leadership and active investment to address pressures and threats to biodiversity globally
• Protect endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade
• Mobilise finance for nature and shift the international finance system to be nature positive and deforestation free
• Move to sustainable supply chains and production to end commodity driven deforestation and reduce the UK’s global environmental footprint
• Support developing countries to achieve positive impacts on climate, biodiversity, health and poverty through ODA funds

We are a dynamic and friendly directorate, offering varied and rewarding roles with the opportunity to make a real difference to the long-term future of our planet. Our work will enable you to develop a wide range of skills, with a particular emphasis on working collaboratively, influencing others and thinking creatively.

Within IBC, you would work in either the International Biodiversity and Environment Negotiations (IBEN) evidence team or the International, Nature, Climate, and Development (INCD) evidence team. Both are multidisciplinary teams, comprising both scientists and economists, whose aims are to provide and communicate the best available evidence, and negotiate ambitious evidence-related outcomes, to support DEFRA’s international environmental policies.

Job description

The main activities are similar for both roles, though some specifics differ. Where necessary, we have provided examples relevant to each role under the main bullet below using the team’s acronym in squared brackets [International Biodiversity Environment Negotiations - IBEN / International Nature, Climate & Development - INCD] to differentiate these (bullets and sub-bullets that do not begin with a team’s acronym apply to both roles):

• Provide scientific advice to inform UK policy and negotiating positions in areas including:
  • [IBEN] key international fora such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  • [INCD] the new Forest Risk Commodities (FRC) legislation and UK Timber Regulations which aim to reduce the UK's contribution to global deforestation, and Defra-led overseas development assistance (ODA) projects in sustainable agriculture
• Identify current and future evidence needs
• Lead on any in-house research
• Scope, commission and manage procurement and progress of contracts and grants for projects commissioned externally from the team's evidence budget
• Communicate the outputs of internal and external projects to relevant teams, to support the aforementioned areas of UK policy. Ongoing projects in the teams include those addressing/involving:
  • [IBEN] best practice for biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning, modelling of global pathways to achieve the CBD’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and evidence review and analysis of the illegal wildlife trade between Nigeria and Vietnam; and
  • [INCD] how sustainable agriculture can contribute to climate and biodiversity goals, what the impacts are on smallholder producers abroad of the UK’s FRC regulations, and assessing the effectiveness of timber regulations on deforestation
• [IBEN] Help to coordinate the UK’s input into the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) – in particular supporting cross-Government review of draft IPBES assessments and supporting UK experts to contribute to the work of IPBES
• [INCD] Work with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) on the global environmental impacts of consumption indicator, which provides estimates of global environmental impacts and risks driven by consumption and production activities
• Promote the work of our team across International Biodiversity and Climate and wider, in particular by organising events that showcase policy-relevant evidence work and demonstrate the importance of evidence-based decision-making

Person specification

A background in nature, conservation, or climate would be advantageous, and the role requires you to be highly capable of working in a strongly scientific and evidence-led area, with the ability to synthesise complex and/or technical information for a wide variety of audiences.

These roles offer an exciting opportunity to enhance the use of science and evidence in shaping the government’s approach to tackling critical environmental challenges. Both roles are varied, and we don’t expect you to be an expert on all the subject areas you are likely to come across at the outset. However, we are looking for someone with a strong physical or natural scientific background who is able to apply their skills to new areas as required, while building up their technical knowledge in those areas.

Essential skills and/or experience include:

• A background in and/or understanding of the principles, methodologies and approaches used in environmental evidence
• The ability to clearly and simply communicate complex technical information to non-specialists in both written and oral form
• Strong evidence/analytical skills which have been applied within a policy setting to assist decision making
• Strong project management skills possibly in relation to grant or research contracts
• Collaborating and working closely with wider evidence teams/professions/colleagues
• A demonstrable experience or interest in international environmental policy and multilateral negotiations
• You need, or expect to have, a 2:1 degree or higher or a postgraduate degree in an analytical or science subject

Applications on promotion are welcome, as are applicants currently in existing policy roles who have a scientific background.

This post is open to all those who meet the eligibility requirements for membership of the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) profession. You will need to demonstrate how you meet the Technical Skills described in the GSE Career Framework here.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,136, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £8,676 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete the following:

Two 250 word statements demonstrating how they meet the technical skills from the Government Science & Engineering Framework (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/61a605f2e90e07043d677dd0/gse-career-framework-v2.pdf) will be assessed:

• Communicating Science & Engineering for Government: Providing and Handling Evidence
• Communicating Science & Engineering for Government: Interfacing with policy

Followed by one 250 word statement on the lead behaviour Working Together and a 500 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.  

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to set out how you meet the skills and experience for the role. 

Sift 

Applications will be sifted on the two technical skill statements, the behaviour statement and personal statement. 
 
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the technical skill statement for 'Providing & Handling Evidence' and the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Interview 

If successful at the application stage, you will be invited to an interview. The interview will assess the behaviours, ‘Working Together’ and ‘Delivering at Pace’, as well as the technical skills, ‘Providing and Handling Evidence’ and ‘Interfacing with Policy’. As part of the interview, you will be asked to provide a 10 minute presentation that will evidence the technical skill ‘Interfacing with Policy’.

Interviews to be held via video link.

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.

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.

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.

Loan and Fixed Term Appointments

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as an HEO in the IBEN or INCD evidence team within IBC.

The post requires temporary cover, for no more than 12 months, pending potential approval of a permanent post. The fixed term will end (if the post has been approved as permanent) when the permanent recruitment completes or will end on the fixed term end date if the post has not been approved as permanent.

This post will therefore begin from the candidate's start date and end on 31 March 2025.

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.