International Nature, Climate and Development Deputy Director

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

On-Site

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Policy

Flexible

£81,000 per year

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 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. We will catalyse shifts to end poverty on a liveable planet and shape systems which are nature-positive world and climate smart. In Defra we use negotiations, development programmes, deep political engagement, legislation and science to reduce global biodiversity and species loss and protect, conserve and restore critical ecosystems.

This post offers an exceptional opportunity to be at the heart of this important agenda, to be part of a dynamic, high performing and collaborative team and lead our work to creatively and energetically drive change globally. As the Head of the International Nature, Climate and Development Division you will lead a team of approximately 25 staff initially (rising to 45 FTE), demonstrate visible global leadership on nature (including blue) finance, supply chains and bioeconomy. You will lead policy, strategy and delivery programming across these areas.

Given the nature of the role, you must have a strong strategic approach with a background in international nature or climate finance and international development and be willing to travel. I am very open to applicants from a wide range of backgrounds – particularly to those who may not always see themselves in the Senior Civil Service.

Job description

Key responsibilities will include:

Leading on international nature finance policy for Defra, including blue finance from 2027. This will include working with the multilateral system, businesses and the private sector to ensure greater volume, accessibility and equity in nature finance flows. You will develop and implement a nature finance strategy with FCDO covering nature risk, natural capital valuation and working with private investors.
Providing leadership and oversight of Defra valuing nature and sustainable agriculture ODA programming (approximately £300m of live programming), ensuring programmes deliver strong results, are value for money and support Defra policy objectives, including leveraging significant volumes of private sector finance.
Reconfigure and reshape the Defra valuing nature and sustainable agriculture ODA portfolios, ensuring new programming, business cases and strategy are in place to underpin investment of £9m/£9m/£8m over the SR period to deliver visible impact and outcomes. Your will ensure responsible closure of programmes, maximising learning and benefits, while minimising risks - especially fraud and safeguarding.
From April 2027, taking on responsibility for the current international sustainable blue finance team (approximately 25 FTE) and 6 marine ODA programmes spending approximately £40m a year over the SR period, mainly in East Africa, SIDs and South East Asia delivered through a mix of multilateral and bilateral instruments and a live portfolio of £315m.
• Policy leadership on nature security - building on the Global Ecosystems Assessment to shape and grow an important nature security portfolio
• Leading and managing a team of 25 FTE, growing to approximately 45 FTE by March 2027, and guiding the team through organisational change

Person specification

This role is part of a strong collective leadership team. It has strong overlaps and interdependencies with other Deputy Director roles in the Directorate. The successful candidate must be able to work well and flexibly alongside the existing team and agree to an effective division of responsibilities. Some international travel is required for this role.

You must know how the government works and have experience of working internationally. You will be able to demonstrate the following behaviours and meet the following essential criteria:

1.Strong leadership experience in a global, multilateral context, with an understanding of the political, economic and financial systems affected by the nature crisis, and a track record of working with partners across diverse cultural and geopolitical settings.

2.Experience and knowledge of green finance and the international green finance architecture, including how to deploy ODA alongside private finance, and the confidence to engage business and the private sector in shifting towards nature‑positive pathways.

3.Proven ability to lead large, complex ODA portfolios, ensuring strong delivery, value for money, effective risk management and high‑quality oversight of diverse delivery partners across multiple countries.

4.Strong interpersonal skills and empathy to build strong senior and load-bearing relationships with colleagues from a range of contexts and organisations. You should be an emotionally intelligent influencer and communicator.

5.Excellent strategic thinking, particularly on global and environmental issues, with sound judgement on deploying ministers and political capital to build bilateral relationships and influence multilateral systems. You should be able to articulate a compelling global vision and encourage creativity, diversity of thought and constructive challenge.

6.Ability to deliver at pace in a changing political context, demonstrating adaptability and resilience. You should have experience managing risks in overseas delivery portfolios and leading teams through organisational change.

7.Excellent communication skills – an ability to be impactful in external engagement and hold delivery partners to account. An understanding of the policy issues would help establish credibility and impact more quickly.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £23,465 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

Application Process

As part of the application process, candidates are asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (no more than 1250 words) on how your relevant skills and experience meet the essential criteria. Completed applications must be submitted no later than the closing date of 23:55pm, Monday 23rd February 2026.

Sift

A sift will be conducted against the key criteria above and will assess your experience. Applications will be assessed by the selection panel and shortlisted.

*If you are successful at the shortlist stage, should you have further questions about the role, you may be able to (subject to availability) have an informal discussion with the vacancy holder Andrea Ledward, if you request to do so.

Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE)

These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision.
Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision-making
and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted
candidates at the earliest opportunity. For further information regarding the assessments please visit -
https://scs-assessments.co.uk/

Interviews

You will be asked to attend a panel interview, to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the essential criteria for the role. This will be confirmed in the interview invitation.

Interviews will be held face to face in London, 2 Marsham,Street.

Other Information

Please let us know what adjustments we can put in place to help you through the recruitment process if you are disabled. To discuss your requirements in more detail, please contact: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk in the first instance.

Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be offered similar roles across the department.

Defra Is committed to ‘name blind’ sifting. That means that identifying characteristics such as your name, gender, age, or address are removed from your application until after shortlisting for interview has taken place.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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 security 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

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Contact point for applicants

Salary range

£81,000 per year