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 Defra group is dedicated to having a diverse workforce which represents people in our communities and an inclusive culture where everyone feels they can be their authentic self at work, belong in the organisation and can speak up to challenge. We want everyone to be able to contribute to the success of our organisation, regardless of background.

The Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes form a core part of Defra’s Farming and Countryside Programme through rewarding farmers and land managers for environmentally beneficial activities. Our new schemes will pay farmers and land managers for providing environmental benefits such as clean air, clean and plentiful water, thriving plants and wildlife, reduction in and protection from environmental hazards; beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment; and mitigation of, and adaptation to climate change.

ELM is a large and fast-paced division comprising policy, delivery and evidence teams working together to develop the new schemes. Staff are geographically dispersed with a mixture of office and home-working arrangements in place. A range of technologies are used for team meetings, and as part of our day to day working.

We have an exciting and challenging Higher Scientific Officer role within the ELM Monitoring team. The monitoring team sits within the wider ELM Monitoring, Evaluation and Natural Science Delivery team. This team is multi-disciplinary, comprising of natural scientists, social scientists and analysts. This new role will complement, expand and develop the monitoring capacity, working closely with the existing teams.

We recruit by merit based on fair and open competition, we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity, and we are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. There is a disability confident scheme (DCS) for people with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Job description

We are seeking a Higher Scientific Officer, with excellent technical ability, leadership potential, and co-ordination skills, to deliver part of a programme of environmental monitoring across the Environmental Land Management schemes. This programme will ensure we collect the right information to tell us if the schemes are delivering their intended environmental benefits. This information will be used to feed back into policy design and for reporting on progress towards governments Environment Act Targets.

This will include collaboration with policy, delivery and analytical teams to inform evaluation of scheme, and programme impact, efficiency, effectiveness, value for money and to determine what works from scheme delivery.

The post holder will deliver monitoring and evaluation projects for the Environmental Land Management schemes, including managing internally, and externally commissioned research, as well as production of analytical products. They will provide specialist advice on their areas of expertise, and environmental monitoring, across Defra and its Arm’s Length Bodies (e.g. Environment Agency, Natural England, Forestry Commission, Rural Payments Agency).

We are inclusive:
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 recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

The following criteria apply to the role:

• Hold an Undergraduate and Masters degree in a relevant scientific discipline or have equivalent workplace experience
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of survey and monitoring in any of the following areas: trees and woodlands, soils, water quality, biodiversity, habitats, agricultural landscapes
• Ability to lead a complex portfolio of work and manage your work flexibly to adapt as priorities change, often at short notice
• Experience disseminating complex research findings to diverse and non-specialist audiences, using effective verbal, and written skills
• Experience of partnership working, negotiating, and attention to detail to balance conflicting priorities or needs

Memberships

Candidates should be a member of the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession, or join the profession on starting the role (Government Science & Engineering Profession - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,136, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £8,677 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 a personal statement, behaviour and technical statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please tailor your application to evidence your experience and skills according to those stated in this job advert. Your personal statement should show, in no more than 500 words, how you meet the essential criteria of the post.

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

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed. 

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours and technical ability.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Interviews will be held via video link.

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; 
• 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.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

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.

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.