£28,890 - £35,709

Location: Bristol, London, York. Subject to business need, successful candidates will be offered the option to combine working at home with working at their contractual Defra workplace, with occasional travel to other work locations. Discussions regarding flexible working will take place on a case by case basis when an offer of employment has been made.

Reference: 135204

Permanent, fixed term, loan and secondment. We are advertising multiple roles across various Directorates and we expect most roles will be offered on a permanent basis however there may also be fixed term roles available. Candidates will be offered a 12 month contract if joining on Loan, Secondment or Fixed Term Contract.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) plays a vital role at the heart of UK life. The wide-ranging work we do includes safeguarding the natural environment, supporting the UK’s world-leading food and farming industries, sustaining a thriving rural economy and leading the engineering of the nation’s defences against natural threats and hazards. Join Defra and you will be part of a department that is responsible for the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.

We are committed to creating the types of policies and initiatives that will benefit our population and the environment both today and in the future. As a Policy Adviser you could be at the heart of this work as you develop your skills in a fascinating multidisciplinary environment, putting you on the path to a great career. Specifically, you will:

• Help us shape and deliver Defra’s group priorities through the creation of evidence-based policies. With the scope to develop specialist knowledge within a small portfolio area or develop an overarching understanding of a range of interlinked challenges, you will have the opportunity to learn from both internal and external stakeholders, and share your expertise.
• Build relationships and work collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels. This will include devolved administrations, UK citizens and industry bodies. You will also have the chance to brief Ministers, providing you with an exceptional grounding in the government policy profession.
• Identify the key issues arising from information and evidence that could influence how policies are shaped. You will also have the ability to identify any risks that could have an impact on each project, working flexibly so that you can respond quickly to changing circumstances.

This role presents an exceptional opportunity to learn from a dynamic policy team. You will therefore thrive with us if you have previously had to gain a comprehensive knowledge of complex issues within a short timescale. We will expect you to be able to identify the issues and risks resulting from your interpretation of information and data, and you will need to work flexibly and innovatively to develop new options if circumstances change. It is therefore essential that you are capable of adopting a calm approach in order to deliver results in a high-pressure environment, and you will bring plenty of initiative to every challenge. With good communication, networking and influencing skills, you will be able to see the bigger picture at all times and you will be able to make effective decisions that meet everyone's needs.

We aim to support the professional and personal wellbeing of everyone in Defra. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme. We also offer flexible working and a variety of learning and development opportunities.