About the job

Job summary

You will lead multidisciplinary teams to manage the delivery of a transformational digital service.

The UK is committed to moving towards a more circular economy, meaning we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract maximum value from them, minimise waste and promote resource efficiency. To do this we must ensure we have information about what waste is being produced and where it ends up. There is currently no single or comprehensive way of tracking this waste, with large amounts of data either not collected or not collated centrally. 

A joined-up digital approach to tracking waste will make it easier and less time consuming for legitimate waste companies to comply with reporting requirements, whilst making it much harder for rogue operators to compete in the industry and commit waste crime including fly tipping, deliberate misclassification of waste, illegal waste exports and the operation of illegal waste sites.

The Environment Act 2021 provides governments across the United Kingdom with the powers to introduce regulations to establish an electronic system for tracking waste and we consulted on our proposals for this at the start of 2022.

The Resources and Waste Division requires an experienced digital and policy leader to oversee the delivery of a Waste Tracking service from private beta to live, in line with Government Digital Standards.

This is a senior role within the Resources and Waste Division and forms part of the Government Major Project Portfolio (GMPP) Collection and Packaging Reforms. The role holder will need to develop and maintain strong and effective relationships with Defra Digital, the UK’s four devolved governments, environment agencies, and procured suppliers.

Job description

• Lead the digital waste tracking project as part of the wider programme of collection and packaging reforms which together form one of Government’s Major Project Portfolio (GMPP)
• Continue to lead the policy development and agreement across the four nations and with our stakeholders informing the secondary legislation required to deliver on our commitments
• Oversee and ensure join up in the delivery of secondary legislation to support the waste tracking service
• Own the strategic vision and direction of the service delivery model and ensure buy-in from stakeholders
• Oversee the design and implementation of the service to meets user needs
• Oversee and ensure join up in the delivery of a helpdesk to support the waste tracking service
• Work in partnership with Defra Digital, the UK’s four environment agencies, and suppliers to deliver a live digital service
• Ensure the service technology and architecture meets requirements and aligns with wider Defra and the Environment Agency approach
• Lead agile digital teams and prioritise their work effectively in line with a delivery roadmap
• Manage supplier relationships considering technical, commercial, contractual, financial and project delivery aspects; ensuring Statements of Work deliver service requirements
• Assure adherence to Defra and digital policies, ensuring stage gate, spend control, business case, and service assessment requirements are met

Person specification

• Experience of taking strategy and policy through to delivery in large scale complex transformations, preferably in a Government context
• The ability to lead, influence and motivate colleagues in the delivery of digital services with a clear focus on user needs
• Experience delivering government digital services from discovery through to live phases
• Experience of working with and managing a range of digital and technology suppliers
• Skills and capabilities drawn from a career in digital service development
• The ability to communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries, understanding the context and successfully reacting and responding to challenge

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 and Experience.

Application Process

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

• A CV
• A Statement of Suitability. The Statement of Suitability should provide evidence of how you meet the skills and experience criteria listed above.

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 suitability statement.

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

Interview

If successful at sift stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the listed Behaviours - Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace, Working Together, Managing a Quality Service

You will also be asked to deliver a presentation - full details will be provided to candidates who are invited to interview.

Interview dates are to be confirmed. Please note that these may be subject to change.

Interviews will be held virtually.

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.

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.