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We are immersed in an exciting period of change. At the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) our work ranges from supporting the UK’s world-leading food, farming and fishing industries to protecting the environment and providing robust defences against natural threats. Leaving the EU will fundamentally transform the work we do and how we deliver it. We are embracing this opportunity to become even more efficient, focused and innovative. Join us, and you will be at the heart of this change - helping us to secure a more sustainable future for the UK.

Guiding a small team of experts on EU Exit related challenges, you will:

  • Take responsibility for a workstream in which you will support the UK’s exit from the European Union, and identify the best solutions for life after the EU. The workstreams you could lead are: Agri-Food Chain; Animal and Plant Health and Welfare; Biosecurity and Food Projects; Environmental Regulations; EU and International Trade; EU Exit Domestic and Constitutional Affairs; EU Exit Overview; Future Farming and Countryside; Marine and Fisheries or Strategy;
  • Prioritise and plan the work of the team, guiding them as they develop future strategies and policies. Encouraging them to share ideas and contributions, you will build a supportive structure in which junior colleagues are being developed;
  • Work with a broad array of stakeholders such as Ministers, industry bodies, non-government organisations and other key delivery bodies to seek out and analyse the most-up-to-date information. You will then combine evidence with your expertise to inform decisions relating to strategy development and delivery;
  • Work flexibly in an ambiguous environment. Maintaining a strong awareness of information as it emerges, you will think creatively to anticipate potential issues and devise solutions, at times pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to achieve these.

With great leadership and self-management skills, you will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment that relies on collaboration and team-work. Naturally, you will have the confidence to make effective decisions in a variety of situations, and your outstanding verbal and written communication skills will be cemented by the capacity to influence others. Calm when under pressure, you will have the resilience to learn from setbacks, taking this knowledge into your next challenge. While you will not have had to specifically come from a policy background, you will show plenty of initiative around the ability to work with research (policy, social and qualitative) and you will be able to perform complex analyses of information. Essentially, you will also have experience of working with stakeholders in both a technical and non-technical environment.

Candidates who are interested in this opportunity will be assessed against the ‘Success Profile Framework’ in which your suitability for the role will be matched against a variety of elements. This flexible framework is the new and improved application process for all civil service roles, and will look at your ability to perform the role, your relevant experience, your strengths and behaviour, as well as your technical skills, knowledge or qualifications.

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. 

Closing date

Applications for this post closed 11:59pm on Sunday 17th February 2019