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.

This role sits in the International Negotiations team within the Chemicals Pesticides and Hazardous Waste (CPHW) International Hub. We represent the UK in international negotiations on UN Multilateral Environmental Agreements including Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata, and the new Science Policy Panel for pollution, chemicals and waste. 

As a Senior Scientific Officer, you will work within the International Negotiations team to develop UK positions ahead of negotiations, and provide expert advice on technical matters. You will be given the opportunity to lead negotiations on specific policy areas and influence the link between policy and science. Working to a G7 Team Lead, you will work flexibly to support MEA negotiations as they present and support briefings to Ministers where appropriate.

Job description

You will be working as part of a multidisciplinary team and expected to communicate science in a clear and understandable manner to non-specialists within a policy context, including effectively communicating uncertainty. You will need to develop an understanding of international regulatory frameworks, initiatives and the role of multilateral organisations in meeting the global chemicals challenge as well as the UK’s domestic policy. You will apply this knowledge of the policy context to work with the UK research community to help align research and expert advisory to Defra’s policy needs – providing a clear pathway for impact to support policymaking. You are expected to be innovative in how you generate science by working with researchers directly, with research councils and brokering new international collaborative work with partner countries. You will remain alert to emerging issues and be capable of identifying and grasping opportunities for UK science and expertise to be showcased and applied to drive the international or domestic policymaking.

You will be expected to develop and maintain your own positive, well respected and influential scientific reputation across government and externally, including in the international context when representing Defra or the UK. You will be strongly encouraged to network and build solid links across government and with scientists and officials internationally to support our work, including the development of international science partnerships.

New joiners can expect full support from the Government Science and Engineering Profession, including in their career development, through peer learning, mentoring and coaching as well as access to a wide range of material and professional advice to support them in their roles.

You can expect day to day work within these roles to include, but not be limited to:

• Working within multidisciplinary teams alongside policymakers, social researchers and economists and policy teams to provide high quality, scientific support to help develop UK positions in international negotiations as well as domestic policymaking
• Providing scientific support to UK participation in Global Framework for Chemicals, the development of proposals for a new science-policy interface organisation, and Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and leading on negotiating positions
• Engaging with wider Defra teams on cross-cutting issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, highlighting the interlinkages with chemical pollution
• Working across Whitehall to coordinate UK input to policy areas and research programmes
• Engaging with multiple stakeholders and playing a role as a science-policy interface to facilitate two-way dialogue between the UK’s research community and policy teams
• Supporting in the delivery of advice to Ministers

You can expect to be called upon to travel for work – sometimes long distance – to represent Defra and/or the UK in international meetings, championing the UK’s scientific capability in the chemicals sphere.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• An honours degree in a relevant scientific domain
• A strong interest in the international agenda, and in furthering the UK’s foreign, sustainable development and environmental objectives
• Strong knowledge of chemical pollution and its risks to the environment and/or human health
• A proven ability to network and build collaborative partnerships
• Excellent at communicating technical subjects to non-specialists
• An ability to deliver work at pace to meet challenging deadlines
• Solid understanding of scientific research studies and experience drafting scientific/technical papers

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete 250-word statements on each of the following three Behaviours – (1) Delivering at Pace, (2) Seeing the Big Picture; (3) Making Effective Decisions, and one Technical Skill from the Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - (1) Engagement with Others, under Communicating Science and Engineering for government.

As part of the application process, you will also be asked to complete a CV. The CV will ask for your Job History, Qualifications and Past Skills and Experience.

You will also be asked to provide a 500 word statement of suitability, in which you should explain how your skills and experience make you suitable for this role. Please refer to the essential criteria and expertise, as detailed in the job advert.

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 technical skill, Engagement with Others, and a statement of suitability. When writing this statement, please bear in mind the essential criteria and experience as listed in this job advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview 

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to a video interview. 

You will also be asked questions based on the following Civil Service Behaviours: (1) Delivering at Pace, (2) Seeing the Big Picture; (3) Making Effective Decisions, and one Technical Skill from the Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - (1) Engagement with Others, under Communicating Science and Engineering for government.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

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

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 a non-pensionable, non-consolidated Specialist Skills Supplement of £3000 per annum (pro rata as appropriate).

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.

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

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.