About the job

Job summary

The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is 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.

Everyone who works with us or in one of our agencies and public bodies has a part to play in achieving our vision of ‘creating a great place for people to live’. The work we do impacts the lives of everyone living in the UK.

About Defra’s Northern Ireland Programme

The Northern Ireland Directorate is working to deliver the requirements of the Windsor Framework. The Windsor Framework is the agreement reached between the EU and the UK to avoid a hard border with Ireland; while ensuring the UK, including Northern Ireland, leaves the EU as a whole, enabling the entire UK to benefit from future Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). 

The Framework replaces the previous Northern Ireland Protocol. For Defra, implementation requires changes in relation to the movement of agrifood and involves extensive delivery with the equivalent Northern Ireland department – DAERA, and other government departments. Your role will be critically important to managing risks associated with delivering to the Windsor framework timelines, and upholding agreements made with the EU, and international legal obligations. This is a particularly exciting and high-profile area of work, made up a number of major delivery projects.

You will play an active role in shaping and delivering the Defra group’s priorities, informing decision making, and working creatively and collaboratively with others to deliver excellent outcomes.

DEFRA are looking for enthusiastic and confident individuals to lead on key elements that will enable the successful delivery of various projects within the Northern Ireland Programme.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-paced team. The NI Directorate is working to deliver multiple complex project requirements to tight timescales, with high-risk potential both politically/reputationally, and in terms of delivery to time, cost and quality requirements. This work plays a significant role in maintaining the UK’s positive relationship with the EU, and the social and political context of Northern Ireland. 

The successful candidates will support the development of key policies that are critical to the delivery of the Windsor Framework. From policies that support the movement of pets between Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme, your work will contribute to Defra’s objective of Protecting the Union. You will likely be responsible for the development and delivery of a specific policy while being able to support on other policies areas as needed. Policy Officers in the Northern Ireland Directorate work closely with Service Design, Digital Delivery and Project Management teams, so you will have the benefit of working in a mixed profession environment and seeing your policy implemented. Working with colleagues across the various teams and divisions you will help develop a strong culture that is committed to learning and best practice under the Policy Profession Framework.

Responsibilities:

• Ownership and responsibility for the development of policy work
• Assist in leading a team and guiding their professional development
• Identifying possible options for government action and developing policy or UK positions accordingly
• Working with a range of internal and external stakeholders to build a shared understanding of the policy and strategy issues
• Planning and prioritising effectively to deliver high quality results to time
• Using evidence and expertise from within and outside Government, to help guide decisions about how policies are developed and delivered

We can only achieve our purpose through the skill, dedication, and professionalism of our people. You deserve to feel valued, rewarded and connected to the work you do - so through our People Strategy, we’re committed to making DEFRA an inclusive environment that engages, motivates, and ensures a better place to work for everyone.

Person specification

Essential criteria

We are seeking proactive, flexible Policy Officers who can demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Experience of planning and prioritising effectively to meet deadlines, to deliver high quality results at pace
• Experience of working with complex policy areas, identifying the key issues, the significant risks and proposing innovative solutions
• Ability to manage staff and develop the skills and capability of teams
• Evidence of strong strategic thinking. You will be able to assimilate and analyse information, creatively suggesting new approaches, and exercising sound judgement when making decisions
• Experience of confidently and accurately communicating in person and writing large amounts of information effectively and succinctly for a senior officials and ministers
• Excellent organisation and ability to plan work effectively and meet milestones while managing competing priorities on multiple projects
• Ability to work independently to drive workstreams forward, as well as being able to identify when and how you need to deliver through others
• Experience of building and maintaining strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders and forging consensus between parties with different priorities

There will be a wide variety of opportunities to develop while you deliver high profile and complex work. You will need to be self-starter who can effectively navigate uncertainty and develop new approaches to solve difficult problems.

Your personal qualities will be as important as your professional experience; and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you believe you have the skills and qualities we are looking for, then we would like to hear from you.

Defra 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 your background.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,687 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 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 purposes only and will not be scored.
• A Personal Statement (max. 500 words) demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the job description, responsibilities, and essential criteria. Using the STAR process will help achieve a structured document.

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

Sift 

The sift panel will use the information in your Personal Statement to assess your experience and knowledge. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted.

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

Sift and Interview dates are to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Experience and the Behaviours stated in the advert.

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.

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
• Belfast - NID’s Belfast Office is being set-up, until it is available staff are invited to work remotely 

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.

To work from 2 Marsham Street, you will require the higher level of CTC clearance. Therefore, confirmation of appointment to the advertised post will be dependent upon successful CTC clearance being confirmed as part of pre-employment checks. 

Reserve List  

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Should candidates prove unsuccessful at passing the board at the grade advertised but have the skills required for a similar role at a lower grade we may approach the candidate with details of other roles of a lower grade. 

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 Access NI 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.

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

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.