Grants Higher Officer - ( Ref : 6484 )

Job summary

This position is based Nationally

Job description

The Peatland Team provide advice, support and delivery of work for Natural England’s four programmes. In the main our work sits within the priority outcomes of the Resilient Landscape and Seas Programme which includes the outcome to continue to deliver the peat action plan including actions to reverse the decline in peatlands. Specific relevant Programme priority actions relevant to our work include:

• maximise the contribution of peat action plans, towards the Nature Recovery Network and Government’s net zero targets.
• improve understanding of how land management changes can support net zero targets.
• developing our people, continuously improving our evidence and therefore understanding of, current condition of protected sites, pressures affecting them and the best action to recover sites in dynamic ecosystem.

The team provides advice to Government on the development of its environmental policy relevant to peatlands and uplands which include management, burning and wildfire, and the environmental land management schemes; we develop and deliver new programmes and pilots for the government to support major strategies such as the 25 Year Plan (Nature for Climate Peat Grant Scheme and the Paludiculture Exploration Fund); lead stakeholder relationships with key national level partners across our work and, new for this year, the development of the Peatland Restoration Roadmap which outlines how we will deliver the England Peat Action Plan; and develop internal standards and guidance on novel issues.

The Peatland Team is appointing a Grants Officer to work as part of an established team of Grants Officers. The team maintain good communication and relationships with grantees, process quarterly claims from restoration projects, respond to queries from projects, and ensure all required documentation/evidence is provided by projects. The Grants Officers keep accurate financial records, update team online trackers, and file documentation according to existing protocols. Grants Officers also assist with process improvements, and accompany experts on compliance visits.

Job description

To support Strategy teams in the development and delivery of grant schemes for the organisation. They will work across Natural England’s four main programmes and will help coordinate the delivery of this work through engagement and participation with operational teams.

• Support colleagues both within Strategy teams and Operations.
• Area of impact – Government funded grant schemes for nature recovery.
• Nature of impact – delivery, coordination, and support.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide support to seniors developing technical advice/guidance for internal and external stakeholders around grant scheme policies and processes that cut across the organisation’s business.
• Lead or contribute directly to the implementation and consistent use of financial systems and procedures for grants to ensure financial management requirements set by Natural England and Defra are met.
• Help to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders to help Natural England develop, implement, and deliver grant schemes.
• Provide administrative and technical support (including procurement and project management) for teams working on the development and delivery of new programmes and pilots.
• Participate in and support co-ordination of relevant internal networks to share ideas and information with operational teams.
• Support and promote the development of more efficient, effective, and consistent processes within the team and wider organisation through continuous improvement.

Key Performance Measures

Success in this role will be measured by strong administrative and technical support within team that leads to the effective delivery of Government-funded grant schemes administered by Natural England. It will also be reflected in the achievement of relevant nature recovery and wider societal goals.

Grant Claims – Review and authorise payment of grants claims using the relevant financial management systems. Provide specialist knowledge both internally and externally (to grantees) on budget and financial aspects of the grant scheme management, interrogating financial data to identify and resolve issues.

Budget Management - Produce and manage budget profiles for projected spend and receipts from Defra and Natural England. Monitoring spend and highlighting risks and propose solutions with the Scheme Manager and Grants Coordinator.

Maintaining Information Systems - Ensure that information systems including databases, electronic and paper files hold accurate and relevant information on the financial and budgetary aspects of the scheme and individual grants and meeting the expected audit needs of Defra and Natural England. Work with and support internal and external audits of the scheme.

Grant Scheme Delivery - Develop an understanding of the grant scheme and contribute on occasions to other aspects of the scheme delivery, including undertaking monitoring visits of grants and contributing to the evaluation of the scheme and its promotion internally.

Building a Successful Team - Be a full and active member of the grant team, taking advantage of opportunities for personal development and cross-team working, and participating in team meetings

Engagement Contract Management - Attend meetings and act as secretariat for formal contract progress meetings. Maintain accurate records and checking understanding to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the contract.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Sound administrative skills and a basic understanding of project management processes.
• Experience of working in finance/grant related roles
• Good knowledge of the breadth of Natural England’s role and delivery responsibilities.
• Experience of collaborating with a range of stakeholders to achieve pragmatic outcomes.
• Ability to use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques to share information and guidance across the organisation, particularly in explaining complex financial processes.
• Knowledge of how to handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies, and procedures.
• Experience of delivering work against agreed targets and deadlines in line with relevant project/programme management structures.
• Ability to manage competing demands/deadlines and multiple cases simultaneously.

Key Relationships

Higher Officer will have a key supporting role within their immediate team and may also be called upon to support other teams across Strategy. They will engage with and motivate colleagues across the organisation through their participation in internal networks. They will maintain a close relationship with their relevant Senior Officer.

In collaboration with their Senior Officer, they may interact with external national stakeholders relevant to their grant scheme.

The Higher Officer role is in every team within Strategy. They will typically report to their line manager and receive functional direction from a Senior Officer.

Competencies

Competence 1

Professional competency

Detail

Technical Skills and Knowledge

Description

• Experience working on grant schemes or other financial projects (essential)

Competence 2

Professional competency

Detail

Personal Effectiveness

Description

• Through your networks, offer strategic solutions to financial implications and share best practice to influence informed decision making (practitioner)
  • Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (basic)

Competence 3

Professional competency

Detail

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

Description

• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and the organisation you represent (practitioner)
  • Work proactively and collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to identify and secure opportunities to deliver gains for people and nature (practitioner)
  • Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims (practitioner)

Competence 4

Professional competency

Detail

Work Delivery

Description

• Use systems and reports to ensure they give a true and fair reflection of grantees’ financial position and undertake remedial action when required (practitioner)
  • Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (practitioner)
  • Review budget performance and maintain accurate forecasts so that your financial submissions and commentaries are complete (basic)

Contact information

Shelley Foster: Shelley.Foster@naturalengland.org.uk

Rachel Knott: rachel.knott@naturalengland.org.uk

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,240, Natural England contributes £9,339 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

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

Please refer to Job Description

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.

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

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 : Shelley Foster
• Email : Shelley.Foster@naturalengland.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defra-recruitment-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

https://networkrecruitment.tal.net/vx/appcentre-7/brand-4/spa-1/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/6484-6484-Grants-Higher-Officer/en-GB

Attachments

DEF-001h - Candidate Pack Natural England v2.5 Opens in new window (docx, 424kB)