Details
Reference number
428481
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 food authenticity.
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
In the Defra group, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people's lives. We are responsible for England's environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. Your role will be critically important to achieving our vision of 'creating a great place for living'.
As a Food Science Evidence Specialist within Defra's Agri-Food Science team you will be leading strategic evidence development across Defra's Food Authenticity R&D Programme in response to evolving food policy priorities. The Programme develops analytical tools to support enforcement of food labelling and standards rules, develops technical advice on application of methods and provides evidence to support development and implementation of food labelling policy. Programme activities aim to build laboratory capability in responding to food fraud incidents, supporting consumer confidence in food quality, composition and provenance.
You will be responsible for setting, shaping and delivering a portfolio of R&D projects (covering a wide range of commodities, analytical methods, and labelling issues such as geographical origin, traceability and adulteration) using your scientific skills to deliver robust evidence to meet policy needs. You will also act as a subject matter expert, providing science advice on emerging and topical food authenticity and food science issues. The role involves managing knowledge transfer activities under the programme, to ensure methods are taken up and used by laboratories as well as leading secretariat work for our authenticity scientific expert committee.
This demanding and interesting specialist role sits within the Agri-Food Science team, a multi-disciplinary, friendly and supportive team embedded within the Agri-Food Chain Directorate. The team works flexibly, sharing skills and expertise to support science-driven policy that contributes to government's plans to transform the food system and create a healthier, more affordable, sustainable, resilient system.
Job description
The role will involve engaging with key stakeholders to identify the emerging and longer-term science challenges the programme needs to address. Working in close partnership with Defra policy teams and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will be critical to ensure the programme meets policy needs, addresses ministerial priorities around food standards and aligns with FSA surveillance, enforcement and lab capability building activities to maximise the programme's impact.
In this role you will also lead on developing a portfolio of authenticity research and knowledge transfer activities, from commissioning through to completion, working within agreed budgets and taking decisions within the context of research procurement and management principles and guidance.
The role offers candidates the opportunity to build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including policy and evidence teams, OGDs (Other Government Departments), external funders, industry, academia and stakeholders including where appropriate at an EU and international level to build evidence and secure research alignment; and/or where appropriate on complex technical issues to inform policy interventions.
Using your scientific skills and expertise you will provide science leadership, policy-focused evidence development and technical science advice. Applying judgement and discretion to problem solving, identifying solutions, escalating risks and issues as needed.
Person specification
Key responsibilities will include:
• Working with policy leads, internal analysts, external academics, and industry experts to identify emerging evidence needs, undertake horizon scanning and define new R&D proposals to address evidence gaps and strategic research needs.
• Having lead accountability for development and delivery of a portfolio of thematic research; procuring, managing, evaluating, and communicating outcomes of R&D projects. Setting and shaping their portfolio of projects, ensuring that research is high quality, consistent, and in alignment with policy objectives, and wider Defra strategic priorities.
• Leading on Defra's food surveillance interests, working with policy teams to identify Defra's priority food standards sampling areas and surveillance needs. Acting as lead point of contact on food authenticity surveillance with FSA.
• Providing committee secretariat for the Authenticity Methods Working Group – a Defra expert committee that evaluates research developed under the programme.
• Managing the Authenticity Programme budget, in co-ordination with the Agri-Food Science Programme Manager.
• Providing scientific support across the wider team, as required to support crosscutting and high-profile Defra policy issues
Leading on provision of technical/evidence-based advice including briefing Ministers and senior officials.
Essential criteria:
• Proven experience of working collaboratively with others - within and across teams and organisations, developing positive partnerships to the benefit of the business.
• Strong communication skills, with the confidence to engage clearly with Ministers, senior officials and team members, defending the integrity of your analysis when needed. Proven experience of translating complex technical information and communicate findings to a range of audiences, including non-specialists.
• An ability to see the big picture within which you are operating is essential, linking the work within your portfolio to the wider team with the ability to think strategically about how your work fits into organisational objectives.
• Programme or project management experience, working on projects in a complex environment, with the ability to think strategically about how your work fits into your organisation's agenda and adapting accordingly, and to manage project or programme delivery to deadline and to budget.
• The ability to deliver quality analysis to tight deadlines, identifying risks and issues and focusing on what matters most to inform decision making. Good problem-solving skills, making use of best-available evidence when faced with uncertainty.
Qualifications
BSc (or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline including natural science, biological sciences, chemistry, food science/technology, or similar.
A postgraduate degree in a relevant scientific discipline or equivalent experience (i.e. workplace experience in a scientific setting for a similar period of time).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
* Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Communication consistent with the Government Science and Engineering profession requirements.
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 Leadership.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Leadership.
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 Working Together, Communicating and Influencing, and Making Effective Decisions.
A 5 minute presentation on what you think are the top 5 priorities for government R&D on food authenticity and why.
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.
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 : Sophie Rollinson
* 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