Details
Reference number
427967
Salary
£42,665 - £50,495
National: £42,665 - £46,765
London: £46,060 - £50,495
For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading 'Salary'.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DEFRA - FBT - Agri-Food Chain - This role sits within the Agri-Food Science evidence team, part of the Agri-Food Chain (AFC) Directorate. The team provides expertise to develop science-driven policy and research in agriculture.
Type of role
Science
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York
About the job
Job summary
Livestock is important to the UK for a number of reasons including food security, the economy and cultural heritage. However, livestock is also responsible for 64% of the total agricultural emissions in the UK and other environmental impacts.
As the Livestock Science Lead, you will provide scientific evidence to policy colleagues on livestock sustainability, productivity, and sector resilience, as well as line manage a small team of scientists. Key themes of work relate to livestock feed, breeding and genetics, and management. High-profile areas include scoping a national evidence programme for breeding lower greenhouse gas-emitting livestock, informing policy actions around methane suppressing feed products, and overseeing management of international R&D relationships on livestock.
This demanding and interesting specialist role sits within the Agri-Food Science evidence team, part of the Agri-Food Chain (AFC) Directorate. The team works flexibly, sharing skills and expertise to develop science-driven policy and research in agriculture. You will be an integral part of a multi-disciplinary friendly and supportive science team embedded within the directorate.
Job description
You will manage a portfolio of R&D contracts, build relationships with policy teams, academics, industry and cross-government including the Devolved Administrations. You will be responsible for shaping your evidence portfolio, reviewing deliverables and communicate evidence findings to policy.
You will typically work closely with cross-cutting policy leads to structure policy problems and develop evidence to shape and inform policy making. You will seek to maximise the value of existing evidence and data, clearly communicating knowledge in an accessible way.
As a scientist, you will be expected to get to grips with policy issues, and provide leadership in setting the direction of livestock R&D, and in your relationships which includes R&D contractors, to ensure delivery of robust, value for money, and policy relevant R&D. You will also engage closely with other evidence colleagues.
You will provide written and verbal briefing to senior officials and/or ministers. You must be able to translate often complex technical issues to suit the required audience explaining their impact with clarity.
You will be responsible for setting the longer-term strategic direction on prioritising evidence needs in your area. You will proactively look ahead, scan, and pre-empt evidence needs, by leading interactions with policy teams, developing external networks with business and academia, and using other means to achieve a big picture view.
This role will allow you to further develop your experience in an exciting science area whilst refining skills in evidence portfolio management, team management, risk evaluation, decision making, and impactful stakeholder engagement.
Person specification
Key responsibilities of the role include:
* Line management of a small team of scientists.
* Being the lead livestock subject matter expert in the team, including taking forward policy-facing science activity, to shape and deliver a large evidence programme supporting livestock genetic improvement to meet conservation and net zero policy goals. You will be expected to lead an area of the Agrifood Science R&D programme, setting and shaping a portfolio of R&D projects, including those led by direct reports.
* Managing a portfolio of R&D contracts at all project lifecycle stages.
* Clearly communicating evidence findings to policy colleagues, senior officials, ministers, stakeholders or the media.
* Building strong relationships with policy and external stakeholders.
* Proactively setting the longer-term strategic direction for your area.
Essential criteria includes:
* Background: A science degree as well as a postgraduate degree or other equivalent postgraduate experience in livestock science, animal genetics, or a similar field.
* Leadership: Experience of planning and managing own workload, balancing competing priorities, managing the activity of others and setting strategic direction.
* Project management: Experience of producing high-quality evidence, managing research contracts and budgets.
* Engagement: Demonstrate evidence of positive engagement with stakeholders or contractors – with successful outcomes.
* Communication: Experience communicating evidence to a range of audiences, including policy-makers and other non-specialists.
Qualifications
A science degree as well as a postgraduate degree or other equivalent postgraduate experience in livestock science, animal genetics, or a similar field.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Making Effective Decisions
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Communicating and Influencing
* Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Making Effective Decisions
* Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* We will establish the candidates technical skills in livestock science via a presentation given at interview stage.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £42,665, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £12,360 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
This post includes a Specialist Pay Lead (SPL) option of £3,000 for scientists, which may be added to a successful candidates salary.
Annual leaving including 25 days leave (rising, over 5 years, to 30 days), a privilege day off in May to mark the King's official birthday, plus time off for the 8 public holidays a year.
* 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Application
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
* A CV detailing your career history, qualifications, and experience.
* A Personal Statement (max. 250 words) demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the role.
* Behavioural Statements (max. 250 words) demonstrating your actions and activities for Making Effective Decisions and Seeing the Big Picture.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the 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 further assessed on behaviours, technical skills, and experience. Additional behaviours assessments will include Delivering at Pace and Communicating and Influencing.
A presentation on your technical skills as a scientist in the field of livestock science will also be assessed.
The Interview will be conducted via MS (Microsoft) 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.
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.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to DEFRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
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 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.
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.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
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- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email
Higher Security Clearance
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.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
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
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.
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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Rick Bruintjes
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
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:
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here