About the job

Job summary

How can we reduce packaging pollution in land and marine environments?

How can we incentivise companies to reduce unnecessary and difficult to recycle packaging?

How can we support Local Authorities to improve their waste collection infrastructure and enable the public to do the right thing?  

In this role you will play a key role in delivering the Collection and Packaging reforms which set out to accomplish all the above. The introduction of an “Extended Producer Responsibility” for packaging will incentivise companies to take greater responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products resulting in more sustainable use of resources, mitigation of climate change and reduced waste and pollution.

We are looking for several analysts to join the Resources and Waste evidence team, and help developing models which will be critical to delivering this policy. These roles will be delivery focused leading to the implementation of a major government project in a technically complex policy area.

You will work closely with policy colleagues, analysts from all professions, and external contractors. The role will also involve engaging with stakeholders from industry, local authorities, other government departments (especially Levelling Up and Treasury) and the Devolved Administrations.

This is a brilliant time to join the team as the transition from policy design towards delivery offers huge opportunity for direct impact and a blank slate for creative analysis.

Job description

We have several roles available in the Resources and Waste evidence team, to lead analysis related to the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging. This includes:

• Collaboratively designing and building a first-of-a-kind, whole UK waste system cost model, which will ensure multimillion pound local authority funding is fair and robust
• Designing and leading first-of-a-kind, large scale data collections to inform and populate the models created
• Developing performance incentives to drive improved environmental outcomes in how packaging is designed and used
• Quality assurance of data, analysis and coding undertaken across the team to ensure outputs are totally robust under external scrutiny
• Presenting analysis clearly to withstand challenge from Ministers, senior colleagues, stakeholders and other Departments (e.g. HM Treasury)
• Ensuring effective project management of own and team’s work to successfully meet critical deadlines
• Supporting other team members and contributing to an inclusive and fun community

Person specification

We are looking for analysts with proven data and research skills especially in data collection, analysis, testing and modelling. We are a team with high technical ability in coding and data science, experience in these or an appetite to learn them will be useful!

Development of our model is highly collaborative so ability to work with others is key, including not being afraid to ask lots of questions, and challenging others’ perception where necessary. This extends to our external contractors and stakeholders, for whom you will need to adapt your communication style to convey analysis to a non-technical audience.

However, you will also be required to work independently, solve complex problems, and take the initiative on your areas of expertise. Given the major implications of the model attention to detail, objective critique and rigorous project management are a must.

Essential criteria:

• Experience using R or a willingness to learn, especially collaboratively through the use of Git and Github
• Extensive knowledge and depth of understanding of modelling and data techniques
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• GORS Membership, or able to meet required criteria for membership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,648 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 CV detailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications. Your CV will be used for Information Only).
• Personal Statement (750 word max). You should use this to explain how your skills and experience make you suitable for the role. Please refer to the person specification, as detailed in the job advert.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview via MS Teams

You will need to do a presentation at the interview to demonstrate Technical Skills (further details will be provided closer to the time). You will also be assessed on Behaviour questions.

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

As part of the pre-employment process, 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.

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 a non-pensionable, non-consolidated Specialist Skills Supplement of £3000 per annum (pro rata as appropriate).

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.

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.