Details
Reference number
427884
Salary
£41,220 - £49,020
National: £42,655 - £46,765
London: £46,060 - £50,495
In addition this role offers a non-pensionable, non-consolidated Specialist Skills Supplement of £3000 per annum (pro rata as appropriate).
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 - Environment - International Biodiversity & Climate - International Science, Evidence & Analysis
Type of role
Analytical
Policy
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 Defra, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly affect people's lives. We are responsible for England's environment, countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have a lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. Defra is also an important international Department, and we leverage our domestic expertise and learning to drive transformational and systemic change globally.
Over the next five years, the International Biodiversity and Climate Directorate will work to deliver the Global Biodiversity Framework and its vision to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. This includes policy development and implementation, preparing legislation, Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme delivery, international negotiations, evidence and analysis, and engagement with national and international partners. Our work will enable you to develop a wide range of skills, with a particular emphasis on working collaboratively, influencing others and thinking creatively.
As part of the International Environment Negotiations Evidence Team, you'll join a dynamic group of scientists and economists working to make sure the UK's international environmental policies are built on the strongest possible evidence.
We work side by side with policy and negotiation colleagues to shape the UK's voice in major global forums—from the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Environment Assembly to the Ramsar Convention, the G7, the G20, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Our aim is simple but powerful: to ensure the UK's positions in these negotiations are informed, effective, and backed by world-class evidence.
To achieve this, we bring together a wide range of approaches: carrying out tailored evidence reviews and analysis, commissioning cutting-edge research, collaborating with external experts and funders, and influencing the agendas of multilateral organisations.
We also coordinate the UK's engagement with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This includes organising its 12th Plenary meeting—an international event coming to Manchester in February next year—as well as a range of activities designed to amplify its impact and reach.
Joining this team means being at the heart of the UK's efforts to tackle global environmental challenges—helping to turn evidence into real-world impact on the international stage.
Job description
* Be a trusted advisor to negotiators and policymakers. You will act as the main point of contact for one or more negotiating teams—anticipating evidence needs, providing clear analysis and advice, and keeping on top of policy developments. Depending on your expertise and the team's priorities, this could mean researching and advising on proposed UN Resolutions or Decisions, shaping Ministerial Declarations, or providing input on documents under major agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity or the UN Environment Assembly.
* Shape the UK's contribution to global science-policy platforms. You will take the lead on aspects of the UK's engagement with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This may involve drafting formal UK submissions, coordinating reviews across government, and ensuring that science-policy assessments are robust, accessible, and relevant to UK priorities. You'll work on reports aligned with your expertise and interests—whether that's the next Global Assessment or specialised work such as spatial planning and ecological connectivity.
* Represent the UK on the international stage. You will take part in global science and policy forums as a negotiator on technical and scientific topics. You could be involved in shaping the future IPBES work programme, negotiating how its findings feed into the Convention on Biological Diversity, or tackling cross-cutting issues such as biodiversity and climate change.
* Deliver high-quality evidence through research and innovation. You will scope, commission, and manage external Research & Development projects that directly inform international negotiations. In the near term, this will include overseeing the final stages of a major modelling project supporting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as helping to design a new evidence programme to guide negotiations on post-2030 action under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
* Manage and develop colleagues. From March next year, you will line manage one Higher Executive Officer and provide activity management for an R&D fellow until that time—helping to build capability and support professional growth within the team.
Person specification
Essential Skills and Experience:
* Postgraduate degree in a relevant scientific subject (biological, climate, or environmental sciences) or equivalent professional experience
* Experience negotiating in multilateral fora such as UN Conventions
* Experience and knowledge of domestic and international environmental policy
* Project management, particularly in scoping, procuring, and managing externally commissioned R&D projects
* Stakeholder management – both in maintaining an active network of external contacts to support our work, as well as maintaining productive relationships with internal policy teams
* Demonstrated ability to build and apply scientific knowledge to improve the evidence base of UK policy
* Communication skills – specifically the ability to communicate complex scientific topics to non-expert audiences, adapting communication styles and tools to different audiences
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Interfacing with Policy
* Disseminating Science & Engineering
* Applying Knowledge
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
* Interfacing with Policy
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £41,220, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £11,941 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 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 Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a 1000 word personal statement, CV, two behaviour statements and a technical skill. Further details about what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 1000 words) to set out how you meet the skills and experience for the role.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Sift
Applications will be sifted on the personal statement, CV, behaviours and technical skill.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where we will assess you against behaviours and technical skills.
A 10 minute presentation of the technical skill, Disseminating Science & Engineering, will also be assessed.
Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate, and based on your own experience. Plagiarism - including presenting others' ideas or AI-generated content as your own - may result in withdrawal of applications or disciplinary action for internal candidates. Please refer to our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Artificial intelligence and recruitment, Civil Service Careers
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 : IBC Resourcing Team
* 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