About the job

Job summary

The UK is committed to moving towards a more circular economy, meaning we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract maximum value, minimise waste and promote resource efficiency. The Collection and Packaging Reforms (CPR) within the Resources and Waste Directorate are key to this ambition. This a major Government programme, reforming how packaging is handled within the UK, through three distinct projects:

• An Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for Packaging in the UK (pEPR). pEPR will require obligated producers to pay the full costs of managing packaging when it becomes waste. It will provide financial incentives through variation of the fees charged to packaging producers to encourage sustainable design, production and use of packaging
• A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A DRS will see a redeemable deposit placed on each drink container in-scope. When a consumer purchases a drink, they will pay this deposit. The consumer will redeem their deposit when they return the drinks container to a return point for recycling. This provides a financial incentive for consumers to recycle in-scope containers
• Increasing the consistency of materials collected for recycling, for both households and businesses, in England. Through improved collection provision at home and at work, this policy is expected to help change behaviours and to reduce confusion over the materials that can and cannot be recycled

Following consultation Government confirmed that for pEPR, there will be a Scheme Administrator to run the scheme. The Scheme Administrator will be a UK wide scheme.

Job description

We are looking for Senior Delivery Managers to help design and establish the pEPR Scheme Administrator. In this role you will be expected to use your knowledge and skills to deliver solutions for Collection and Packaging Reforms.

This an exciting and challenging time to join a passionate, dedicated team. It is a friendly and collaborative place to work, where we attach importance to how we do things – values, learning and development, rewarding success. These are demanding but exciting roles with the opportunity to contribute to the implementation of a major reform to packaging in the UK.

In this role you will be expected to use your knowledge of programme goals and experience of working in an operational environment to support the establishment and maintenance of a governance structure that facilitates the mobilisation of the pEPR Scheme Administrator.

You will:

• Play a key role in supporting the design of the overall Scheme Administrator, and its individual functions
• Liaise with others within Defra and the Devolved Administrations to establish a robust governance structure for the Scheme Administrator
• Be part of the secretariat function for a stakeholder steering group to support and develop the design of the scheme administrator, including identifying, onboarding and supporting the development of the group and ensuring effective governance is in place
• Work with Local Authorities and DLUHC to agree definitions of future fund design for EPR
• Lead work on guidance for Defra, Local Authorities and external businesses, including appropriate appeals processes
• Feed into briefing to ensure Senior Officials and Ministers are updated on the progress of Scheme Administrator design work, and to ensure the clearance of the final design
• Build on existing work to develop the Terms of Reference (ToR) for Scheme Administrator boards and committees
• Aid in the development of KPIs and reporting format and frequency

Input into the first draft of a strategic operational plan and a performance management system to pass to senior management within the SA when they are established.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• You will be delivery focused with proven experience of delivering whether in a policy, project or operational environment
• You will have experience working closely with stakeholders with differing viewpoints and be able to build relationships
• Experience of working with stakeholders from across the waste industry including manufacturers, producers, re-processors.
• You’ll be driven, taking charge of issues, and working collaboratively to identify and implement solutions
• You will be able to communicate with others in a clear, honest and enthusiastic way to build trust
• You will explain complex issues in a way that is easy to understand
• Be able to provide updates for senior stakeholders and adept at explaining complex issues to a non-technical audience

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,649 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 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
• 250 word statement on the following Behaviours:
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Communicating and Influencing 

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. 

Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview on the 3 behaviours already listed and 3 strengths. A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

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 tochange 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.

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 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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.