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 terrestrial Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme (tNCEA) sits in the Central Analysis and Insights Directorate, overseen by Defra’s Chief Scientific Advisor. The programme aims to deliver a world-class knowledge capability for our natural environment which enables us to enhance our landscapes, improve biodiversity and encourage innovation. It will; develop integrated, adaptive and collaborative methods to measure our land and freshwater environments; transform physical and digital infrastructure to underpin, facilitate and present our understanding to aid decision-making; and deliver data, evidence-based insight and understanding to inform ambitious, proactive and sustainable policy decisions. The operating value of the Programme is c.£55m a year with completion due in 2028.

The programme is looking for a decisive, collaborative and strategic leader and influencer who can act as the critical link with policy customers and key stakeholders. The G6 tNCEA Policy and Outcomes will lead a small team managing our policy, strategy and key relationships, working closely with the wider programme teams to achieve this. Key partners include; the Environment Agency, Forest Research, JNCC, Natural England, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups.

Job description

This role will suit someone who is comfortable and confident working on complex programmes with long time horizons and conditions of uncertainty, whilst remaining grounded in the detail of policy choices and trade-offs. A confident and persuasive communicator who will be able to bring the broad range stakeholders with them in articulating the future outcomes of the programme; and effective network-building inside and outside Whitehall.

This role is critical to delivery of the benefits and outcomes of the programme. You will:

• Provide the critical link between policy customers and science delivery teams, ensuring alignment of programme deliverables with policy requirements and managing expectations around longer term benefits of the strategic sample.
• Provide strategic leadership on the placement of the programme in Defra Group, OGD and wider strategies, identifying and leading opportunities for alignment and amplification of programme benefits and leading on future funding options.
• Lead post programme planning, including alignment and embedding of the programme within Defra Group and wider Defra.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

POLICY SKILLS & WORKING WITH MINISTERS - Experience of leading policy development and/or policy delivery, excellent judgment with ability to influence decision making in complex policy areas. Skilled in providing high quality advice to Ministers and senior officials verbally and in writing, based on evidence and data.

STAKEHOLDERS & COMMUNICATIONS - A proven track record as an excellent communicator, you will also have great stakeholder management skills, especially with senior colleagues, and the ability to build productive working relationships quickly and to engender confidence with colleagues and stakeholders. You will collaborate and build strong relationships with cross-functional teams, departments, and external partners to develop ambitious strategic goals and vision.

STRATEGIC THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING - Able to take into account wider contexts and independently manage conflicting priorities to effectively plan ahead, spotting and managing risks and opportunities. Able to think strategically to align the programme with wider departmental, government and global agenda. A problem solver with the ability to grasp technical or scientific issues, assimilating complex and detailed information to form balanced conclusions.

LEADERSHIP - Evidence of leadership and management skills is essential, with an ability to set the direction of travel, be decisive, think tactically and develop proactive solutions to problems. You should be comfortable working independently, leading across your programme of work, with sound judgement and decision-making skills to evaluate options, assess risks, and make strategic decisions.

DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE - A good understanding of environmental policy, biodiversity and natural capital is essential. Experience developing SR proposals is desirable.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,605, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £16,903 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

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.

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

• 250 word statements for the Civil Service Behaviours (see below)
• 1000 word Personal statement outlining how you meet the key criteria for the role
• CV

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

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.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Behaviour: Leadership. 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 in w/c 26th August  with interviews likely to take place approximately w/c 2nd September.  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 a technical question. A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Interviews will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams.

Key Behaviours for this role we will assess are:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving

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

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 60 Minutes.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

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.

Reserve List

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

Salary

New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

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 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.

Higher Security Clearance

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.

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

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. This includes moves between government departments. 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.