Reference number
343187
Salary
£39,439 – £47,039
National: £39,439 – £43,569, London: £42,577 – £47,039. For details of our pay on appointment policy. This Science/Analysis post is eligible for a Specialist Skills Supplement. Please see below under the heading ‘Salary’ for further information..
A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DEFRA – Environment – Water & Flood Management – Analysis and Evidence team.
Type of role
Science
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Location
Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York
About the job
Job summary
The senior scientific officer will be working to provide high-quality and timely research to teams across water topics, with an initial focus on water resources, drainage and wastewater management. They will be working to understand and address the research gaps for areas like surface water flooding, sustainable urban drainage, and preventing blockages in sewers, through applying their own research and expertise, and via design and management of external projects. These are complex and multifaceted issues, and we welcome applicants with a variety of backgrounds including natural sciences, engineering, geography and social/behavioural sciences.
They will also support on ongoing projects such as the development of Drainage Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs) as well as ensuring evidence and analysis are imbedding into policy making. The senior scientist will be required to work with a range of stakeholders including policy teams, contractors and external experts, and be able to consider a wide range of research methods and approaches to address complex questions.
They will join a multi-disciplinary analysis and evidence team of scientists, economists, social researchers and operational researchers, collectively responsible for supporting both strategic policy development and delivery through the provision of robust scientific evidence and analysis for Floods, Water and Contamination.
Our Directorate sets policy for managing water, including the water utility industry, improving the quality of our rivers and lakes, and managing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion. The Directorate also manages emergencies such as drought, water supply interruption, major floods and contamination incidents. We are a friendly and inclusive team and we welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are happy to accommodate flexible working arrangements for successful candidates.
Job description
The candidate roles will be predominately focused on the following:
1. Commissioning high-quality external research contracts. Managing relationships and finances throughout the projects, and ensuring the outputs meet the appropriate standards and are effectively disseminated and used in policy making.
2. Providing analytical and research support throughout the policy cycle. Supporting policy teams to ensure that their policy products are evidence-based and meet analytical standards. This requires project management and collaboration skills.
3. Identifying research needs from policy teams. This will involve engaging with policy teams to draw out research questions, using a knowledge of a wide range of methods to design appropriate research and looking within and outside of the civil service for expertise and opportunities.
4. Promoting evidence-based policy making, helping to embed this within the culture of the Directorate and building positive and effective relationships across Defra group and externally with stakeholders.
5. Understanding complex systems with an ability to see links, synergies and risks across different policy areas and to effectively communicate this complexity to non-technical audiences. Whilst the post holder will have responsibility for a particular area of work, they will be expected to work flexibly and adapt to deliver additional work requests as they arise, drawing on their specific expertise. There may be line management opportunities associated with this post.
Person specification
Person Specification
We’d love to hear from you if you have the following skills and/or experience:
Essential criteria:
· Strong quantitative analytical skills and experience of carrying out data analysis.
· Experience of designing and commissioning complex large scale external research projects
· Experience of working with government departments
· Experience working at pace to deliver analysis or research to a tight deadline.
· Experience managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
· Experience working with a mixed group of stakeholders to achieve a shared goal.
· Ability to interpret information from a range of information sources to provide recommendations.
· Ability to effectively communicate complex or technical subject matter to non-specialist colleagues or stakeholders.
Qualifications
A degree (BSc/MSc/PhD) in a relevant scientific, social research, statistical, analytical or engineering discipline.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
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.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience.
Application process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide:
- Three Behaviour Statements on Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace and Working Together
- Personal Statement of no more than 750 words outlining how you meet the essential criteria listed
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 Personal Statement and 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 to be confirmed.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Experience, Behaviours and Abilities.
A 5 minute presentation demonstrating your ‘Ability to use a range of information sources to communicate findings and suggest recommendations’. Details on the presentation topic will follow when invited for interview.
The Interview will be conducted via MS Teams.
Location
As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s)
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.
Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.
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.
Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.
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.
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.
NSV
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
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.
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name :The Recruitment Team
- Email :FandW.resourcing@defra.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email :defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact:
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
