About the job

Job summary

In Defra, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and lead responsibility for protection from natural threats and hazards.

The Analysis and Insight Division (AID) sits in the centre of Defra.  As a central team – we cover a wide remit of issues that span the breadth of Defra’s responsibilities working with policy teams and analysts across Defra, and coming within the line management chain of the Director of Analysis. We are responsible for leading on cross cutting and strategic analysis, including most recently on economic growth, and AI; providing specialist expert advice on areas such as behavioural insights, operational research, and evaluation; and providing analytical assurance in particular, to support spending investment, better regulation and fiscal events.

This is a new role which will lead our Operational Research Hub (OR Hub) in AID. You will be taking the opportunity to raise the profile and influence of operational research in Defra by joining the AID senior leadership team and identifying and taking forward strategic, cross-cutting and innovative OR projects. The scope of these projects extends to all the policy areas of Defra so you will be able to focus on the most impactful work of the Department.

This post is an excellent opportunity to lead a team that showcases the wide and varied range of operational research approaches, and to champion the role of operational research within analysis and policy making. Recent examples of our work have ranged from the development of a multi-purpose geo-spatial analytical tool to high-profile urgent modelling of domestic water bills, visualisations of complex processes and good flows to the mapping of complex regulatory environments.

Job description

In this post you will:

Set the direction, lead, manage and develop a team of a small team of operational researchers to deliver against priority areas of work, supporting them to deliver quality analysis and advice.

Form part of a wider leadership team, alongside a G6 social researcher, two G6 economists and the DD for analysis and insight to help ensure AID is a thriving, inclusive and great place to work.  You will also have a leadership role within the OR community helping the head of profession for operational research to promote OR and more widely as an analytical leader championing the use of data to drive decision making. 

Take ownership and successfully deliver a broad portfolio of analytical projects. 

The OR Hub sits alongside teams of economists and social researchers who, together, make up around 45 analysts providing the central strategic analytical resource for Defra. We help enable the analysts and policy teams which are spread out across the Department, and the strategy teams in the centre of the Department, to deliver Defra’s key priorities. This ranges from providing a consultancy service for discrete projects derived from individual work areas, to identifying and owning emerging work areas with no established lead, or strategic projects which cut across multiple areas of Defra policy.

The work that the team takes on is varied, interesting and fast-paced, spanning the full range of OR from soft decision-making techniques through to data science in response to acute, strategic, and cross-cutting demands from across the department. Previous projects include rapid analyses for crisis response, multi-criteria decision analyses, land use modelling for Net Zero, process mapping of complex policy interventions, analysis, and visualisation of the characteristics of the Defra workforce, establishing data pipelines and dashboards for tracking the outputs of Defra Arms-Length Bodies. We draw on a range of skills, tools and techniques ranging from Vis Network in R, R Shiny and Python to Excel and softer skills.

The OR Hub is made up of a team of five talented operational researchers, with a supportive team identity. You will engage with senior stakeholders to set strategic direction and priorities for the team and agree impactful and timely analytical projects to take forward. These projects will provide the opportunity to advance your leadership skills and develop your creativity in finding solutions to novel analytical challenges.

As head of the OR Hub, you will also be available to support teams and colleagues across Defra with your Operational Research expertise. In the past this has involved teaching, sitting on steering boards, support for analytical quality assurance, and supporting the OR community. You will be instrumental in establishing, testing, and steering Defra’s technical data science infrastructure. You will have the opportunity to be an advocate for new functionality and support the integration of new tools into the Defra analytical community.

Person specification

We are searching for a senior operational research professional who is an experienced leader of people, with a strong track record in leading programmes of work and delivering quality work through others, to tight timelines. You will be experienced at working closely with senior analytical and policy leaders to ensure delivery against priorities.

You will display excellent interpersonal skills and be a trusted leader, with the credibility to influence and challenge effectively to gain consensus with senior colleagues on complex, fast-paced areas. You will display excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to present complex technical information to a diverse audience.

With exceptional collaborative skills, you will confidently engage to build constructive relationships within your own team and senior leaders across the Department and externally.

Essential criteria:

• Experienced leader, capable of getting the best out of your team, creating inclusive environments to deliver high quality and timely analysis, managing your team’s work flexibly to adapt as priorities change.
• Have excellent knowledge and experience of operational research methods and analytical skills (qualitative and quantitative) with at least four years of applied experience.
• Experience of interpreting, and communicating evidence and analysis, clearly and impactfully.
• Able to demonstrate ability to build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts within and outside government to achieve progress on shared outcomes.
• Experience leading a team undertaking technical analysis, including coding in R or Python.
• Meet the membership criteria for the Operational Research profession (numerate degree at 2.1 or significant experience with quantitative analysis.

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, Strengths, 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:

A CV (this will be for sight only)

A 500-word personal statement: Referring to the personal specification 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

Sifting is likely to be occur in w/c 29th July with interviews likely to take place approximately 10-14 days later.  These dates are indicative only.

Interview

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

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

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

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 60 Minutes.

Further Information

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 appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

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.

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

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.