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.

The objective of the Marine and Fisheries Directorate is to ensure our seas are cleaner, healthier, safer, more productive, and biologically diverse. This means protecting and improving the marine environment, both in the UK and internationally, and managing our diverse range of fisheries sustainably. Now that we have left the EU it provides the opportunity to improve how we manage our seas, whilst enabling marine, fisheries, and seafood businesses to thrive and develop.

We recruit by merit based on fair and open competition, we embrace diversity and promote equality of opportunity, and we are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. There is a disability confident scheme (DCS) for people with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We are inclusive:

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 recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Job description

What will I be doing?

• You will join Defra’s Marine & Fisheries Evidence Division, specifically the social science team consisting of a range of social scientists working on research and evaluation across core Marine & Fisheries policy areas and programmes.
• Your primary role will be managing the evaluation of the UK Seafood Fund – a £100M fund to support the long term future and sustainability of the UK fisheries and seafood sector. The evaluation is under way and being conducted by a consortium of evaluation and industry consultants – you will oversee the work of the contractors and liaise with internal policy customers. This is a large and complex process, impact and value for money evaluation.
• You will also support and lead other social research or evaluation work within the Marine & Fisheries teams as appropriate.
• Maintaining and building engagement with external social scientists, arms length bodies (ALBs) and Devolved Administrations.
• Supporting the Heads of the Marine Social Science, Fisheries Social Science and Evaluation in regularly reviewing and developing our social science offer to the Directorate, including identifying new opportunities to upskill and maximise impact.
• You will join a community of social researchers and evaluators across Defra’s Group and have opportunities to further develop your skills through access to regular training and knowledge share events

Some of the activity that this role will be delivering includes:

• Working closely with Defra’s Marine & Fisheries Head of Evaluation - you will be responsible for the ongoing delivery of the UK Seafood Fund evaluation contract (process, impact and vfm evaluation) through to March 2025 when it concludes.
• You will work closely with the evaluation contractors to guide and quality assure the evaluation, ensure it is delivered to time and within budget and achieves key project objectives.
• You will work closely with the UK Seafood Fund administrators to ensure the evaluators have access to key programme and applicant information.
• You will work closely with Defra’s Marine & Fisheries Funding Team and the Fisheries Funding Board over the design of evaluation materials, the delivery of interim and final analysis/reporting and the development of action plans to support the dissemination and integration of key learning from the evaluation.

This list isn’t exhaustive but provides an overview of the activities the role will carry out.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• You will have knowledge and / or experience in applying mixed-method policy, programme or funding evaluation.
• You will have led or managed the successful delivery of process and impact evaluation projects.
• You’ll have experience managing suppliers to deliver complex social research or evaluation contracts to agreed time-frames and within agreed budgets.
• You will have knowledge and / or experience in environmental social or behavioural science methods.
• You will be self-motivated and comfortable using your own initiative.
• You’ll be an effective team player and will enjoy working with people to achieve shared goals. This includes proactively creating and maintaining positive, professional and trusting working relationships with people in the team, department and outside organisations. 
• You take a positive approach to tackling problems and find ways to identify suitable solutions whilst thinking ahead to anticipate, identify and address any risks or problems before they occur. 
• You will be well prepared, have good organisational skills, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

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

Please outline within your Personal Statement  (250 word max) your suitability for this role in terms of skills/experience evaluating programmes, pilots or policy.

Please complete statements on the specified Behaviours (250 word max per statement).

Please complete a statement on the specified Technical skill (250 word max).

These will be used to assess your eligibility for the Government Social Research (GSR) Profession, and suitability for this specific role. 

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

Once you have submitted your application and the vacancy has closed, if you are required to complete a Government Social Research Knowledge Test, you will be emailed during standard working hours inviting you to complete the test.

This is a timed test and must be completed and submitted to be considered for the next stage of the process. 

Please ensure you inform us ahead of the test if you require any reasonable adjustments to be considered.

Sift

Should many 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 where you may be assessed on Behaviours, Technical Skills, Strengths and Experience.

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.

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.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

Reserve List

A reserve list of 12 months will be held from which further appointments can be made. Should candidates prove unsuccessful at passing the board at he 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.

This post offers the successful candidate the opportunity to receive an additional pay supplement of £3,000 upon appointment (pro rata). 

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.

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 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.

Loan and Fixed Term Appointments

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as a Senior Research Officer leading the £100M UK Seafood Fund Evaluation Project within Defra’s Marine & Fisheries social science team.

The post is not permanent. It is time limited due to a fixed funding period as part of a specific project. The fixed term will end when the funding expires on 31st March 2025.

Your responsibilities will include managing the evaluation of the £100M UK Seafood Fund. This post will therefore begin from the candidate's start date (as soon as possible after interview) and end on 31st March 2025.

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.