Economic Adviser, Soils and Peatlands

Job summary

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day lives, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

About the Directorate

Strategy, Governance & Climate (SGC) leads Defra’s overall strategy and plan for the natural environment. Key goals of the Directorate including delivery of the Environment Improvement Plan, increasing access to nature, restoration of peatlands, support to growth in rural areas, development of Defra’s contribution to climate mitigation, and leadership of government’s efforts to adapt to climate change.

About the Team/Division

Access, Landscapes, Peat and Soils Division (ALPS) sits within SGC playing a central role in increasing access to nature, restoring peatlands and enhancing soil quality. It has substantial programmes of work to restore degraded peatland and decontaminated soil, and enhance soil quality. These deliver contributions to Defra’s climate mitigation and other environmental goals, better health, and development opportunity.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for an embedded G7 economist to operate hand in hand with policy and be willing to understand and engage fully with policy issues in a proactive, constructive and dynamic way. This must be balanced by providing pragmatic evidence-based solutions/analysis/challenge.

As a G7 analyst your key responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Work with policy leads to provide a robust evidence and analysis function for the Peat and Soils policy areas and ensure work is joined up and supports broader objectives.
• Provide advice from a strong economic toolkit and deliver high quality economic analysis for impact assessments and business cases, and support policy development across the team.
• Build credibility and be regarded as an authoritative expert over time – develop strong relationships with policy leads and colleagues across Defra and ALBs.
• Identify evidence gaps and proactively fill these to support current and future policy design decisions. Provide economics input to the development, management and use of R&D projects in peats and soils
• Lead a small team, working closely with your G6 policy and evidence leads to deliver an analytical work programme. Take responsibility for team outputs and support the wellbeing and professional development of team members. You will manage one junior economist
• Provide economics support to peats and soils’ contribution to Defra’s climate goals, making links to Defra’s Net Zero Strategy evidence function. This includes working with science and policy to estimate emissions projections and develop ambitious climate policies.
• Provide evidence support to M&E work in relation to large programmes of work in peats and soils
• Develop and integrate green finance strategies to support peat and soil projects, ensuring alignment with government sustainability objectives and international climate commitments.
• Design funding models and business cases for nature-based solutions, leveraging public-private partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms

Person specification

You must have a credible academic qualification in economics and be able to demonstrate strong knowledge and skill in economics. You must be (or have been) an economist in UK government. You must have significant experience of providing economic and evidence support to policy development, working with policy officials and other non economists.

Your personal qualities are as important as your professional experience, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. We are looking for proactive, enthusiastic people who can work confidently on their own initiative, be able to identify opportunities for evidence and economics to add value, communicate clearly, draw together information effectively, be a strong team player and are motivated by public service.

Defra values a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve and is committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging, and is empowered to speak up and challenge openly at work.

We want everyone, whatever their background, to be able to contribute fully to our success.

Essential Criteria

The successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following:

Essential Technical Skills
Candidates must either:
• Be a member of the Government Economic Service (GES), or
• Meet GES eligibility requirements (typically a degree with significant economics content)

Essential Experience
• Experience of applying economic theory to policy or operational issues
• Experience of economic appraisal using HM Treasury Green Book
• Experience of delivering analysis to inform decision-making in complex or uncertain environments
• Experience of communicating complex analysis clearly to non-specialist audiences
• Evidence of managing projects or leading workstreams
• Understanding of Defra objectives and the role of peats and soils in meeting those objectives

Qualifications

An Honours degree with at least 50% of the modules in economics, or Masters in Economics.

Memberships

Badged Member of the Government Economic Service (GES).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• GES G7 level competencies.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,375, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £16,331 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:

• A CV detailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications). CVs will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification section of this advert.
• A Personal Statement (max 250 words) It must be ‘personal’ connecting to characteristics of the candidate and the role, giving clarity on what this role means to the candidate – it MUST NOT reproduce generic statements or Civil Service ‘behaviour’ statements. We suggest the Personal Statement may explain what the candidate can bring to the role and how the role will support the candidate’s career development.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

For guidance on how to construct your personal statement, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers. Links – Statement

Sifting and Interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

Candidates successful at sift stage will be invited to a video assessment/interview that will consist of a blended interview of Behaviour, Experience and Technical Skills questions.

Candidates will in addition be asked to produce a presentation on the following:

Estimates suggests that there are 1000s of ‘contaminated’ sites in the UK. Contaminated sites refer to land where substances in the ground pose a significant threat to health and the natural environment, typically arising from historic industrial activity or waste mismanagement. A government minister wishes to understand the economic case for decontaminating the land and what policy options may be available. The candidate should present for five minutes maximum on how the candidate would approach providing this advice to the minister.

This will test the candidate’s skills in applying economics methods and confronting a challenging problem.

Please note that interviews via video use Microsoft Teams and you will need to use your device to access the video link.

You will receive a link to join the interview at the appointed time through the email account you provide us with on your application.

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.

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.

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 perform 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.

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.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to prove your preference.

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.

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-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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

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 defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 are 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.

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

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : Nigel Miller
• Email : Nigel.Miller@defra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here