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.

Constitution and Strategic Projects

We are a high performing directorate consisting of 4 different areas: Devolution, Legislation and Better Regulation, the Policy Response and Resilience Unit, and a Business Management Team. We work at pace to give top quality support to Ministers on cross-cutting priorities for Defra. We also work in partnership with policy teams throughout Defra – supporting them, adding value to their work, and providing constructive challenge. We are an inclusive directorate which supports people to develop and thrive by exposing them to new challenges and by making time for feedback and discussion.

Finally, we are outward looking and open to new ideas – from our partners in Government, our sectors and from people who have worked in other industries and environments.

We have two policy advisor roles available within the Legislation and Better Regulation Unit, one in the Regulatory Reform team and one in the Better Regulation team. The Legislation and Better Regulation Unit has strategic oversight of, and is responsible for delivering, Defra’s primary and secondary legislation programmes.

Role 1 – Regulatory Reform Team

The Regulatory Reform team covers a variety of cross-cutting strategic workstreams, including the Retained EU Law reform programme and implementation of Smarter Regulation to Grow the Economy within Defra. The successful applicant will provide structure and support to policy teams delivering high-priority reform projects across the Department spanning across the breadth of Defra’s policy areas from agri-food to environment to animal health and beyond, while contributing to strategic research to consider how the way Defra makes regulation can be continuously improved.

Role 2 – Better Regulation Team

The Better Regulation Workstream covers the Better Regulation Framework, impact assessments, de-minimis assessments, consultations and Defra’s post-implementation review programme. The successful applicant will provide structure and support to policy teams delivering high-priority post-implementation reviews across the Department spanning across the breadth of Defra’s policy areas from agri-food to environment to animal health and beyond. They will additionally be supporting on the wider data and capability needs of the team.

Both roles require an ability to effectively communicate and influence with colleagues from across the department and across government. Additionally, a talent for reviewing and concisely compiling complex information will be crucial to deliver on the ministerial priorities in both roles.

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, including people of ethnic minority, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Job description

Legislation and Better Regulation Unit

The roles will be based in the secondary legislation and better regulation areas of the Legislation and Better Regulation Unit, which supports the whole department and Ministers to deliver Defra’s ambitious legislative and regulatory priorities.

We are a small, friendly and flexible team, sitting at the heart of Defra in the Constitution and Strategic Projects Directorate. These exciting roles sits across the team, which:

• Supports and advises on future and current regulatory reform projects or post-implementation reviews on a great variety of subjects such as animal welfare and environmental protection
• Helps ensure civil servants in Defra have the skills and knowledge to support delivery of regulatory reforms and post-implementation reviews
• Manages relationships across government, for example with the Regulatory Policy Committee who are the independent regulatory scrutiny body for the UK Government
• Oversees the department’s delivery of regulatory priorities such as post-implementation reviews and reforms

These are stretching roles which will provide opportunities for leading on strategic projects, providing high quality briefing to senior leaders and Ministers and building relationships with teams across the department and Whitehall.

Person specification

Responsibilities in both teams will include:

• Advising and communicating on decisions relating to emerging policy challenges
• Drafting clear and concise briefing in plain English
• Preparing briefing for senior colleagues and ministers to effectively communicate policy options
• Providing up-to-date advice on regulatory reform projects and post-implementation reviews
• Coordinating with Ministers, Special Advisors, and other central teams who have an interest in policy proposed for reform or require a post-implementation review
• Supporting policy teams throughout the process of delivering regulatory reforms or post-implementation reviews
• Ensuring timelines and objectives are met to deliver the secondary legislation or post-implementation review programme
• Providing capability sessions to upskill the Directorate on regulatory reform or post-implementation reviews
• Identifying opportunities for continuous improvement at a corporate level, including helping to make the Directorate an inclusive place to work

Essential criteria for both teams:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Building relationships within and across Defra and across the government
• Experience of working at pace to challenging timelines
• Responding positively to ambiguity
• Personal resilience
• Strong organisational skills, including prioritising to meet competing deadlines
• PowerPoint, word and excel skills
• Capability to handle complexed data

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, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement, CV  and 2 Behaviour Statements.

For the personal statement, in no more than 500 words, evidence how your experience fits with the requirements and essential criteria of the advertised roles.

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 – Making Effective Decisions. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Please note the CV is for reference only, and will not be assessed.

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 the behaviours listed on the application form, and strengths.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Interviews to 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 (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.

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.

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 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.

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.

This is a permanent role as a Policy Advisor in the Policy Response Unit.

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.