About the job

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our Delivery Support Team, to provide transactional support services across Defra group Property (DgP). The role supports several very different, but equally important areas of business delivery and allows the individual to form effective working relationships with a diverse range of customers. You will need to work flexibly and have a positive, responsive approach to the changing demands of DgP.

The Delivery Support Team is part of the DgP Business Services Centre of Expertise.

Job description

You will:

• Work to defined processes and procedures in place; financial processing which will need to be carried out within defined timelines.
• Use Single Operating Platform (SOP) to raise requisitions and carry out receipting function when required.
• Maintain accurate records of transactions using works trackers and SharePoint.
• Use SOP reports to support purchase order management.
• Develop, build and maintain a good working relationship with customers and key stakeholders.
  
• Support and enable the role of the team in the delivery of services to customers and key stakeholders at all levels.

Person specification

Previous skills and experience:

• Working with and within a team (a team player).
  
• Ability to work with focus and pace to get the job done on time and to a high standard.
  
• Self-motivated, organised, attention to detail and able to work on own initiative.
  
• Good communication skills (orally and in writing).
  
• Ability to follow instruction, work under pressure and work within set processes and procedures.
  
• Ability to understand own work area and how this fits within a team structure.
  
• Competent IT skills.
  
• Understanding of MS Excel, Outlook, Teams and Word.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £23,811, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £6,428 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 (which includes previous skills/experience) and behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, the initial sift may be conducted using a lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Applicants will be expected to demonstrate the essential role requirements within the application behaviour responses.

Sifting will take place w/c 15 January 2024.

Interview

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

Interviews are scheduled to take place w/c 5 February 2024, but may be subject to change.

Reserve List

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

Location & Travel

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. As we are a national organization, our team is spread across offices in the UK and you will be expected to travel as deemed necessary and appropriate to engage with your team. 

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.

To work from 2 Marsham Street, London 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.  

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.

Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the office locations listed in this advert. 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.

Fixed Term Appointment 

These posts are Fixed-term Appointments in the Transactional Support Team.  Your responsibilities are listed in the advert.

The contracts will be allocated in a merit order based on the overall score from your interview.  The two highest scoring candidates will be offered the 12 month contracts. The 6 month contact will be offered to the next highest scoring candidate.  The post will begin from when the successful candidates start in post and end 12 months or 6 months after the start date.

The posts may require extending or being made permanent during the fixed term. However, there is no guarantee of this. 

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 offenses. 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.