Performance Analyst

Job summary

The Data and Analysis for Delivery team is nimble, multi-disciplinary group of performance and risk professionals, data scientists and engineers, product owners and project managers with a mandate to transform how Defra gets and uses performance, portfolio and risk data.

We sit within the Director General-lead Delivery Group and Group Corporate Services and work across departmental and group boundaries. We work collaboratively and across boundaries; from improving performance systems between Defra and its Arms Length Bodies to risk management at departmental and group levels, we are at the heart of Defra Group’s strategic delivery capability. And from the £5.2B floods defences investment programme to a National Biosecurity Centre for UK to reforms to move towards a circular economy, we are at the centre of some of the most exciting and impactful work in government.

Come join us to help put data and analysis at the heart of all we do!

Job description

The strategic performance team sits at the heart of Defra's delivery group and plays a key role in establishing how the department assesses performance and makes effective decisions about delivery. The team collates and analyses both quantitative and qualitative data and presents their findings to senior leaders and governance forums in engaging ways. We focus on drawing out insight that helps the department understand how to adapt its plans to maximise delivery. The team also leads conversations with counterparts in Treasury and Cabinet Office to agree the right metrics that support the department’s Outcome Delivery Plan.

Alongside performance monitoring, the performance team drives culture change to embed a robust performance system. We help to articulate the role and function of senior level performance conversations, identify the right range of data that is needed to support those conversations and put in place mechanisms that will draw out insight in a suitable and structured way.

The team is recruiting for a performance analyst who will:

• Refine how to monitor performance effectively by looking to improve data and metrics that with enable evidence-based decision making on how to adapt our delivery and overcome challenges to achieve our goals.
• Establish strong working relationships across Defra group to understand the most effective outcome metrics, leading indicators, and wider indicators necessary for robust performance monitoring.
• Collaborate and influence effectively to remove barriers to accessing data; and obtain agreement to present improved performance data to key audiences including our senior leaders, Permanent Secretaries, our Executive Committee and cross government audiences including HM Treasury and Cabinet Office.
• Analyse key performance information and advise on the insights and areas to highlight in key conversations to help support departmental performance.
• Work with others to understand the needs of key audiences in what they require for effective performance monitoring from Senior Responsible Officers of our Outcomes to the Executive through improving interactive dashboards and curating data visualisations using the consolidated data we collect.

Person specification

We are looking for a self-motivated, organised and proactive person who is enthusiastic about working alongside teams across Defra and with people from multiple professionals to support Defra in improving and embedding robust performance monitoring across Defra.

Essential Criteria:

• Performance Monitoring - Have significant experience in using a range of data sources to monitor performance and drive delivery of key goals and outcomes.
• Performance metric design - Have experience in being able to advise on the design of robust and insightful metrics to monitor performance
• Data Analysis - A demonstrable strength in quantitative analysis, including on what conclusions can appropriately be drawn from the data.
• Communication – Good verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex issues and analysis to non-specialists.
• Data Visualisation – Proven experience in creating insightful data visualisations including through interactive dashboards to drive decision-making.
• Problem Solver – Able to engage with and understand complex, strategic problems and work with leadership to plan and implement effective solutions.
• Project management – Able to balance and prioritise across a range of work to ensure successful delivery of products on time.
• Teamwork - You will be a team player and be willing to cover and support your teammates as the need arises.

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• At interview, a presentation on technical experience will be required. Further details will be sent in an email to candidates before the interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,665, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £12,360 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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 My CSP 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, a personal statement and lead behaviour. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

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

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be required to complete a short technical exercise and invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours.

• Behaviour 1 (Lead behaviour) Changing and Improving
• Behaviour 2 Communicating and Influencing
• Behaviour 3 Seeing the Big Picture
• Behaviour 4 Making Effective Decisions

Candidates invited to interview will also be asked to complete a presentation in the interview. Further information on this exercise will be shared with candidates separately. Interviews are expected to last no longer than 60 Minutes.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Further Information

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.

Reserve List

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

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

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.

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.

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

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

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.

Feedback

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 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

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 : Megan Riddell
• Email : megan.riddell@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