Policy Lead – Uplands Transformation

Job summary

England's uplands are some of our most important landscapes. They are home to communities, farming businesses and internationally important natural environments, yet they face complex and interconnected social, economic and environmental challenges.

The Flourishing Uplands project is one of the most ambitious place-based change programmes currently underway in government.

Working alongside communities in Dartmoor and Cumbria, we are developing a new approach to creating social, economic and ecological flourishing in England's uplands. Rather than designing policy from a distance, we are building change with people on the ground — listening deeply to communities, supporting local ideas, testing new approaches in practice, and creating the evidence needed for future policy.

Commissioned following the review led by Dr Hilary Cottam OBE for the Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs, the project is exploring new ways for government, communities and organisations to work together. By placing nature, people and place on a par, we aim to create thriving landscapes, thriving rural economies and thriving communities.

This is not traditional policy development. It is about creating lasting system change: breaking down barriers between organisations, uncovering opportunities that cut across conventional boundaries, and developing new ways of working that can transform both upland communities and the way government itself operates.

This work needs a new approach to team design, and a group of people with a different skillset to that which is traditionally recruited.

Job description

We are seeking a Grade 7 Policy Lead to help shape and deliver this work. You will lead on translating place-based, community-led prototyping into policy recommendations, delivery models and ways of working that can scale across different upland contexts. This will require you to be comfortable working on detailed policy across a broad portfolio such as agri-environment schemes, food policy, commons, and nature finance.

You will be part of a small, agile team focused on systems change. This is a non-traditional policy role and should be comfortable supporting across a range of functions including community-led, novel policy development, and evidence and analysis.

As well as helping set the overall strategy for the work, you will need to be able to help advance the case of uplands-specific approaches with communities, policy teams, senior officials and ministers. It will require close working with Defra’s community of analysts, economists and delivery leads in Arms-Length-Bodies.

Person specification

• Lead policy development for one or more strands of the uplands system change programme (e.g. commons).
• Support the project’s community-led work in Dartmoor and Cumbria to develop novel, community-led approaches.
• Work with the G6 Head of Policy to identify risks and opportunities in related policy areas, developing proposals and building consensus for change.
• Draft high-quality ministerial submissions and briefings on uplands policy, including on sensitive or contested issues (e.g. land use trade-offs between food production and environmental outcomes).
• Act as a key link between the national policy team and place-based teams in Dartmoor and Cumbria, ensuring learning flows in both directions. Build and maintain trusted relationships with a wide range of external stakeholders in these places.
• Work with scientist and analysts across Defra, and with external partners, to build the strategic evidence base on uplands-specific policy.
• Build relationships across Defra and HMG and externally to develop policy options and build coalitions for change.
• Line manage and/or mentor junior policy officials within the team (where applicable).
• Support preparation for the quarterly Executive Board chaired by Hilary and our DG and attended by the CEOs of the ALBs.

Person specification and specialist skills:

This role would suit someone looking for a highly varied, strategic role seeking an opportunity to show leadership in a complex policy environment. The post entails working at pace in a rapidly changing context where priorities constantly need to be reviewed and flexed. We’re therefore looking for a dynamic and adaptable policy lead who will be able to learn quickly and hit the ground running.

Essential criteria

• Strong track record of policy development in a complex, cross-cutting environment, ideally including land use, environment, or place-based/local growth policy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting clear, well-evidenced advice for senior officials and ministers. Proven ability to discuss complex policy clearly and sensitively with communities.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to synthesise qualitative and quantitative evidence (including community-derived evidence) into clear policy recommendations.
• Ability to quickly build strong, effective working relationships with people across the department (particularly senior leaders and Private Offices), including those with differing or competing interests.
• Comfortable with a reactive and fast-paced environment; works well under pressure and in an iterative, less linear way than traditional policy development — able to hold ambiguity and adapt as a programme evolves.
• Deploys excellent organisational and prioritisation skills to manage own workload and priorities with limited day-to-day supervision, while keeping others informed.
• Understanding of upland farming and/or land use policy.
• Experience of place-based policy making, community engagement, or co-design/participatory approaches.
• Experience developing business cases and spending review bids.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture

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).

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, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, a Personal Statement (no more than 500 words) and 250-word Behaviour statements for the following behaviours:

• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

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

Sift

Should there be a large number of successful applications, there will be an initial sift assessing the CV and Personal Statement. Those who pass the initial sift will either be progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.

Interview

If successful at the application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the 4 x Civil Service behaviours (Seeing the Bigger Picture, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing & Delivering at Pace) & three strength-based questions. We will assess you against the specified behaviours and professional competencies at interview.

Your interview will be conducted by video using MS Teams.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

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 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.

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.

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.

Near Miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

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.

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.

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

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 : Jamie Sandall
• Email : FD_BusinessManagement@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