Head of Office to DG Strategy and Change

Job summary

We are looking for someone to lead the Private Office of the Director General (DG) for Strategy and Change here at DEFRA.

This stretching, varied and rewarding role at the heart of Defra group covers both policy and organisational issues including supporting one of the governments priorities on Water regulation.

Often operating with a high level of autonomy and judgement on the DG's behalf, you will gain a rich oversight of Defra's business, engage with a wide range of senior figures and help to make a significant difference to the future of the Director General group.

Strategy and Change DG Group is made up of directorates leading on Defra Group Communications, Portfolio Directorate and Change Deliver, Strategy, Support for Ministers and SOS, Growth, Resilience, Devolution and Legislation and Legal Services.

The group's responsibilities include setting Defra's overall strategy, leading our response to big cross-government issues and crisis management and leading on major reforms in legislation and Water. It is a busy, complex environment and you will play a key role in ensuring the success of the group.

This post provides an unparalleled experience of Departmental business, Ministerial decision-making and high level politics. The role offers direct and senior exposure across the fullest range of issues, from legislation to national crisis management and a level of leadership that cannot be found in normal policy roles.

Candidates must display adaptability, initiative, leadership, intellectual agility, resilience, likability and drive. They will need the personal presence and effectiveness to operate at a very senior level across the Department. That means showing excellent judgment coupled with an ability to drive progress in the face of uncertainty, competing views and divergent priorities.

Job description

Working in a DG's Office is really rewarding but you will need to be resilient to the challenges that arise, make tough decisions and be able to adapt quickly to changing situations. The nature of the work in a DGs Office means that you need to work flexibly in order to support the needs of the Director General and excellent prioritisation and efficient working will be essential.

You will need to work closely with the other members of the team to share knowledge across your portfolio. The post provides an unparalleled experience of Departmental business, Ministerial decision-making and high-level politics. It offers direct and senior exposure across the fullest range of issues, from legislation to national crisis management and a level of leadership that cannot be found in normal policy roles.

Whilst recognising the importance of the role and the work we do, it is also hugely enjoyable - and fun!

Candidates must display adaptability, initiative, leadership, intellectual agility, resilience and drive. You will need the personal presence and effectiveness to operate at a very senior level across the Department. That means showing excellent judgment coupled with an ability to drive progress in the face of uncertainty, competing views and divergent priorities.

The role offers an opportunity to work with particularly dynamic Ministers responsible for some of the most interesting and complex policy questions in Government. The breadth of policy portfolio provides an excellent big-picture vision of Defra's work.

Learning and development has an important place in the way we work in Defra and is an intrinsic part of our offer to you, and you will play a part in the broader DG Office leadership team.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Work closely with the Chief of Staff to the Director General and the Director General themselves to identify and drive forward their priorities -you'll be anticipating and unblocking problems, triaging issues and driving progress on their behalf, and navigating competing views and divergent priorities
  
  
• Ensure the group has, and is monitoring progress against, a strong business plan aligned with Detra priorities, enabling the DG and her senior leadership team to prioritise, make trade-offs and align available resources to the group's strategic objectives
• Set the strategic programme for the Strategy and Change senior leadership team and ensure the cycle of regular meetings is used effectively to generate decisions and move priorities forward
• Develop and oversee the DG's group communications and staff engagement strategy
• Handle sensitive personnel activity, including leading senior recruitment exercises when required
• Lead and develop the private office team, currently consisting of a private secretary and a diary manager, ensuring the office runs efficiently and delivers to high standards, and benefit from being part of the wider business management function that supports Strategy and Change Group
• Ensure the DG is supported in their wider corporate roles within the DG Group and across the Department

Person specification

• The ideal candidates will demonstrate adaptability, initiative, leadership, drive and flexibility.
• For successful candidates, strong written communication and critical thinking skills are essential, as is the ability to organise yourself and others to deliver busy and often conflicting workloads effectively.
• Candidates will require tenacity and personal resilience and given the differing priorities that the Department deal with and will need to demonstrate good political judgement to grip and manage reputational risks and identify opportunities in the role.

There is a significant line management responsibility in what is a high profile and potentially exposed role, and this is therefore not a post for a first-time manager. This role will place the successful candidate in a good position to support future career progression.

Experience

The following experience is essential to this post and will be tested at sift and interview and you should demonstrate this in your statement of suitability:

Essential skills:

• Demonstrate resilience and adaptability to deal with challenges
• Demonstrate confidence to have difficult conversations with senior people and make tough decisions
• Proven track record of using judgement in complex situations.
• Have the ability to demonstrate the understanding of departmental priorities and when to delegate and escalate
• The ability to see, scan and scope the needs for the team and be a team player in order to deliver
• Ability to organise yourself and your workload effectively, showing initiative and proactivity
• A willingness and ability to commit fully to delivering the policies and plans of the department as directed by the Government of the day, regardless of personal political preferences
• Experience of line managing teams
• Understanding of how Government works, or Parliament
• Evidence of developing effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,000, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £17,961 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

A career in the Civil Service is like no other. If you’re looking to join a world class team and develop your career with us, then the Civil Service is the place for you! You might be wondering, “what’s in it for me?” Take a look below at some of the benefits available to you as a civil servant in Defra.

Learning and Development
Everyone in Defra is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, Defra, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role, while also working with you to connect you with a civil service mentor to help empower you in your new role with the opportunity to benefit from paid for coaching.

Most importantly, we’re keen to invest in you! As a civil servant, you will also have access to Civil Service Learning where you can participate in professional development programmes across a wide spectrum of subjects and professions.

Department Benefits

Technology
We’re a firm believer in agile and flexible working. When you join Defra, we’ll kit you out with a new Windows 10 Laptop, smartphone and rucksack to make sure that you perform your best wherever you are.

Leave
25 days' paid leave per annum rising to 30 days after five years’ service, in addition to eight public holidays and the King’s Birthday privilege day. We also offer
- competitive maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave;
- study leave for the pursuit of academic studies;
- 3 days paid leave for volunteering per annum;
- 15 days paid leave per year for reservist training; and generous paid sick leave.

Cycle to Work Scheme

Defra loans you a bike for your commute as a tax-free benefit. At the end of the loan period, you have the option to buy the bike, saving 30% of the original cost.

Season Ticket and Bicycle Loan
We offer interest-free season ticket loans, to all Defra employees with more than three months’ service, for purchasing train and bus season tickets, as well as station car parking. For those unable to take advantage of tax-free benefits, we also offer an interest-free bicycle loan to enable the purchase of a bicycle for commuting.

Gym, Social and Sports Activities
Our offices have a range of different onsite facilities, including gym, fitness facilities, games room, showers and cycle storage. There are also a variety of networks and social groups to join. Ask your line manager for more information.

Restaurant and Café Facilities
A range of our offices offer onsite restaurant and café facilities.

Civil Service Benefits

Pension
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package, and you will be given the chance to join one of three different pension plans. You can find more information on the Civil Service Pension on the MyCSP Website at www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

Civil Service Sports Council
The Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) organises a wide choice of activities throughout the UK, from art, gliding, abseiling and orienteering to cabaret weekends and quiz and curry nights. Your CSSC membership will provide you with FREE access to hundreds of national and local sites, in addition to savings at many high street stores, cinemas, restaurants and historic houses.

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 and Experience.

Application Process

The Civil Service marks each element of the selection process on a merit basis. You can visit the gov.uk website for further information on the Civil Service rating scale.

As part of the application process, you will be assessed on your Personal Statement and CV. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Ensure you have tailored your Personal Statement to the 'responsibilities' and 'skills and experience' section of the job advert by providing examples on how you are suitable for the role. We would recommend using the STAR method.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using your Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sifting is likely to occur in/around W/C 15th June with interviews likely to take place approximately 10-14 days later. These dates are indicative only.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours and Experience.

Interviews will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams.

For further information on Success Profiles, please use the links below and watch our videos on Defra Jobs.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 45 Minutes.

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

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 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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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’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.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe 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 recognize in exceptional circumstance 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.

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.

Higher Security Clearance

Job offers are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

If you are successful at interview, we will ask you to undertake Security Clearance due to the nature of this role.

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.

All of these posts require the successful candidate will require CTC clearance as this role is London Based only. 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.

NSV

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers.

You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 : Strategy Resourcing Team
• Email : sandc.resourcing@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