Grade 7

£47,549 - £60,188

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: 135489

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.

With a focus on shaping high-profile policies, you will be at the forefront of key issues impacting on the entire population. We are currently seeking around 50 G7 Policy Team Leaders to help us define and implement these bold initiatives, so you will:

• Join a multidisciplinary team in which you will report to a Grade 6 or Deputy Director. Overseeing the work of a number of Senior and Higher Executive Officer Policy Advisors, you will encourage your colleagues to bring an innovative mindset to their delegated tasks and priorities.
• Take on nationally-important workstreams and projects. You will either have responsibility for a single large policy area, or you will oversee the delivery of a number of connected policies. Regardless of where you join us, you will work flexibly, adapting your approach according to new information and developments, with a focus on always delivering on promised outcomes.
• Effectively plan and prioritise your activities to deliver evidence-based approaches to your policy areas. Working with internal and external stakeholders, you will gather and interpret expertise and sector knowledge to help guide decisions on the development and delivery of these policies.
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels including industry bodies and non-government organisations. This will include briefing Ministers and senior officials on the progress of your projects, seeing to it that you are meeting expected deadlines.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape thinking on projects that will have an impact on future generations. To excel in our ambitious department, you will therefore be an inspirational leader who is capable of guiding a team in ambiguous circumstances. With experience of analysing information and data, you will enjoy identifying key drivers and making recommendations to senior colleagues. As you will be working collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels, you will have comprehensive communication and networking skills, with the capacity to persuade and influence others. With the organisational skills to manage competing priorities, you will be able to respond quickly to changing demands and priorities, acting on your own initiative to ensure deadlines are met. You will therefore have the ability to see the bigger picture and make effective decisions when under pressure.

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.