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.

Strategy Directorate

Strategy is a fast-paced, dynamic, and challenging environment. Our purpose is to give a high quality and timely service to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary, and to ensure that Defra group is able to achieve the strategic objectives we set out in our Business Plan.

We work in support of Defra’s strategic objectives, look at how we can join up with other initiatives across the organisation to get things done, support each other to deliver excellent work, help Defra to make good decisions and we identify and unblock barriers to change.

Encouraging diverse applicants

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

These  are exciting opportunities in the Strategy Directorate within the Public Appointments Team (PAT) & the Public Bodies Partnership Team (PBPT). Each role  will provide candidates a unique insight and develop a broad understanding of how the Department operates and the organisations within the Defra Group.

There are two roles available, one in PAT and one in PBPT. Details of the roles are as follows:

Public Appointments Campaign Manager:    

The Public Appointments Team delivers a crucial service to Ministers and the wider department in the delivery of appointments to Defra Arm’s Length Bodies.

High calibre appointments are important in helping to deliver the department’s objectives. The successful candidate will be part of a dedicated centralised centre of excellence across all of Defra’s policy areas. This is often a fast-paced, high-profile role which involves a wide range of stakeholders across the department and beyond, including working closely with Ministers’ Private Offices, senior stakeholders, Cabinet Office and No.10.

It is a combination of policy and operational delivery, managing a high-quality service to Ministers, policy teams and candidates, regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The role also offers opportunities to deliver change management and service improvement, contributing to projects such social media strategy, events, data and building a diverse talent pipeline.  

Our Arm’s Length Bodies need strong and diverse Boards to help shape the vision of their organisations and support their Executive Teams in fulfilling their statutory functions and deliver their strategic objectives. Appointments to these Boards are made by Ministers, based on advice from the Public Appointments Team. This post delivers an end-to-end service for Ministers that offers them a choice of excellent candidates from a wide and diverse talent pool that is representative of the public and communities that they serve.    

The role involves working in a flexible way in undertaking other duties to support wider central commissions as required that are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of these posts. You will operate with a significant amount of autonomy on a day-to-day basis. 

You will support the PAT vision: To deliver a streamlined public appointment service and deliver high-quality, diverse appointees who add the best value to Defra ALB Boards, enabling good governance, challenge and sound decision making. In doing so, responsibilities will include:   

• Managing recruitment campaigns for new Defra body Chairs or Board members: setting up and running public appointment campaigns often to tight timescales
• Providing policy advice to Ministers and senior officials on appointment issues. This means working with Minister’s Private Offices, and other senior officials across the Defra Group
• Providing guidance to policy teams dealing with public appointment issues and the running of campaigns
• Contribute towards maintaining excellent data for reporting purposes and on occasions ad hoc briefings
• Contribute to the team’s on-going work to develop the Defra group’s capacity to deliver diverse and good quality candidates for its public appointment roles

Possible wider opportunities: 

• Liaise with Cabinet Office, and possibly No 10 throughout the selection and appointment process
• Wider strategic work, for example helping to develop Defra group’s capability on public appointments through project work to improve team procedures and capability, for example the delivery of a diversity strategy, managing PATs social media accounts and data capture and analysis
• Line Management of an EO or AO

Sponsorship Maturity Advisor in PBPT x 1

The Public Bodies Partnership Team is a dynamic and busy team at the core of the Department established to secure strong governance between Defra and its Public Bodies. The team is also a hub for advice and expertise on public bodies and to achieve this we reach out to a very wide number of teams across the department and beyond.  

The Sponsorship Maturity team is headed by a G7 with the support of a SEO and a HEO (this post). The team is a central hub for the department for everything around Public Bodies 

The key duties of the team are: 

• Liaise regularly with all our sponsorship teams across the department and ensure that they our relationship is strong and relevant
• Custodian of the Accountability Cycle (shared with the team managing the Ministerial and its Accountability and Governance ALB Dashboard (AGAD)
• Work with sponsorship teams and Arm’s Length Bodie’s (ALBs) to ensure the continuous improvement of Defra’s Sponsorship maturity
• Work with sponsorship teams and ALBs to ensure that all Framework documents are up to date and relevant
• Brief Tamara and senior colleagues on the governance of the ALBs, flagging risks and opportunities
• Provide advice on classification and any other queries on the structure of an ALB
• Liaise with Cabinet Office (CO) and HMT regularly on Accountability and Governance issues

What is the role?  

As a HEO in the Public Bodies Partnership Team, you can expect to be involved in a variety of work to help support the oversight of ALB governance and accountability and contributing to wider strategic projects on maturing sponsorship across the department. Responsibilities will include: 

• The Single Point of Contact for Sponsorship teams 
• Responsible for all teams’ comms i.e., management of shared inbox (inc. diary and contact list management and tackling various queries for the team), commissions to sponsor teams, management of the newsletter and organising the quarterly Relationship Managers Forum
• Own and maintain the AGAD (including commissioning sponsors for updates) and ensure its functionality but also that the information is accurate and up to date. The HEO will also prepare quarterly updates for the Permanent Secretary based on the AGAD
• Support the SEO on the Framework Document refresh programme and lead on some individual FD updates
• Support the G7 and SEO with the engagement and work related to the adoption of the CO Sponsorship Code of Good Practice, in terms of maturity assessment and the work that the team is doing around establishing a regular assessment across Defra which will be ultimately used to inform ExCo
• PPM role to ensure that the various ongoing projects are being followed through correctly, on time and to standard (e.g., FD refresh and Maturity)
• Ad-hoc commissioning
• Develop good understand of ALBs and Public Body classification and their governance
• Be flexible and able to move across team in the PBPT to provide support where needed (e.g., ministerial priorities team)
• Ability to work at a pace with multiple projects whilst maintaining high standards

Person specification

We are looking for fantastic team players – kind, inclusive, and caring for colleagues and stakeholders – with an eye for quality, continuous improvement and a strategic mindset.  

Person Specification – you are: 

• An inclusive and caring colleague who promotes the wellbeing of the team and colleagues/stakeholders
• Curious and committed to continuous improvement
• Interested in the work of Defra group and keen to play a part in driving forwards Defra’s ambitious agenda
• A strategic thinker with an eye for detail
• Adaptable and able to handle changing priorities and to work flexibly across the team
• Resilient and able to recover from setbacks and learn from them

Essential Criteria: 

• Organised and self-starting, able to run and adapt complex processes to ensure high quality and timely outputs. You will be able to deliver at pace
• Excellent written communication skills and quality assurance of written outputs (both in terms of detail, e.g. spotting typos and inconsistencies; and in terms of the big picture, e.g. thinking critically about the strategic purpose and fit of written outputs)
• Confidence and capability in working closely with senior leaders, including upwards management, leading challenging conversations and maintaining positive and trusted relationships

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,136, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £8,676 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 Strengths.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete 3 Behaviour statements.

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 lead behaviour – Managing a Quality Service. 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 w/c 2nd January, with interviews likely to take place w/c 15th January. 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 Strengths.

You may also be asked a presentation question.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 60mins.

Interview location to be confirmed.

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 Defra hub locations. All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised Defra hub locations. Defra’s current policy is that no more than 40% of the working week should be spent at home, averaged over a month unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or the post-holder is a contractual home worker. Office attendance will enable candidates to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. 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 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.

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.