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.

Strategy Directorate

Strategy is a fast-paced, dynamic, and challenging environment. Our purpose is to give a high quality and timely service to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary, and to ensure that Defra group is able to achieve the strategic objectives we set out in our Business Plan.

We work in support of Defra’s strategic objectives, look at how we can join up with other initiatives across the organisation to get things done, support each other to deliver excellent work, help Defra to make good decisions and we identify and unblock barriers to change.

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.

Job description

Strategy and Delivery Units

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Strategy or Delivery unit; a small, collaborative and high-performing division sitting at the centre of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. We are integrated with the Secretary of State’s Private Office, and work on a number of top priorities across the department; often it is the most complex or cross-cutting questions reach our desks. 

Within either of our units, you would lead and deliver a series of high-impact projects that supports the Department in achieving its outcomes and improve the effectiveness of Defra’s ways of working and delivery. 

You will be expected to take ownership of individual projects, be able to lead a team and drive forward work independently, working with stakeholders across the department and beyond to make meaningful change, as well as coaching and supporting other team members. 

Main responsibilities include:

• Providing the Secretary of State with personal advice and taking forward her priorities, working closely with Private Offices, SCS leaders and working level teams across Defra to strengthen links between SoS priorities and the department
• Leading a portfolio of work, engaging across the department to develop deep knowledge in your area that enables you to unlock progress, whilst responding nimbly to other priorities
• Supporting Defra Group in making strategic prioritisation decisions to support strategy development and delivery
• Coordinating and connecting Defra to be more than the sum of its parts, ensuring its agenda is well understood across Whitehall and support key outcomes for government including economic growth Challenge and support priority areas
• Oversight of key strategic and implementation priorities across the department – identifying issues and solutions, securing agreement, delivering for the public and sharing learning more widely
• Influencing central government, building relationships with the centre to represent Defra priorities and influence cross-government decisions

Working collaboratively across Defra Group to ensure join up and bring together colleagues to resolve trade-offs and interdependencies.

Person specification

We are looking for a self-motivated, organised and proactive person who is enthusiastic about driving progress alongside senior leadership to deliver impactful change.  

The role holder will:  

• Have strong organisational and effective decision-making skills
• Be able to work flexibly at pace, managing several competing deadlines and rapidly changing priorities at short notice and to very short timescales
• Be able to manage upwards and to work with people of all grades, brokering agreement where needed to drive progress and help the Secretary of State achieve their goals
• Comfortable and capable at engaging and influencing at the very top of an organisation (e.g. ministers and senior officials, or C-suite and Board equivalent)
• Enjoy working with and using data to help make decisions, with an ability to look beyond the data to understand what it means in practice and real world implications
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, to see through problems that teams may face with the ability to break down complex issues and identify solutions
• Be an insightful, critical thinker able to apply strategic and/or analytical techniques to better understand or solve challenging problems
• Be prepared to challenge the status quo and push through new ideas and thinking with a positive can-do attitude
• Have strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Take a strategic approach to decision making and be conscious of the big picture
• Display high levels of judgement on a broad range of issues, often dealing with varied and sensitive matters; Be able to work on their own initiative

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,120, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £14,072 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:

• 2 statements (250 words) on the specified behaviours
• CV for sight no mark will be provided
• Personal Statement. In no more than 750 words set out how you meet the essential requirements of the role.

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

Sifting is likely to be completed week commencing 22nd January, with interviews likely to take place week commencing 5th February. These dates are indicative only.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours, and strengths.  

You may be asked to give a presentation.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 50 minutes.

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.

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 recognize 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.

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.

Job offers are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

If you are successful at interview, we will ask you to undertake basic security clearance before the role is confirmed. If you are based in London, we will need you to pass a higher level of clearance (CTC) because of the security requirements for the Marsham Street office.

This is a permanent role as an G7 in the Strategy 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.