Senior Delivery Manager (Recyclability Assessment Methodology)

Job summary

The Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy, reducing waste, and improving how resources are used across the UK. Packaging plays a central role in this shift, and the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) is a key tool to ensure packaging is designed and managed in a way that supports effective recycling.

PackUK (Scheme Administrator) is responsible for delivering key elements of packaging policy, including the RAM, which underpins consistent, evidence‑based recyclability assessments across the four nations of the UK. This framework supports regulatory decision‑making, drives improvements in packaging design, and enables greater transparency for industry and consumers.

As Senior Delivery Manager for the Recyclability Assessment Methodology, you will lead the technical and strategic development, delivery, and continuous improvement of the RAM. You will ensure the methodology remains accurate, evidence‑based, and aligned across the UK, while supporting strong governance, stakeholder engagement, and consistent application by regulators.

You will act as a delivery and subject‑matter expert, working closely with colleagues across PackUK, government, regulators, and industry to ensure the methodology evolves in line with changes in packaging formats, recycling infrastructure, and policy priorities. You will bring strong project delivery skills, technical understanding, and the ability to operate confidently in a complex and fast‑moving environment.

Job description

Job Summary – Senior Delivery Manager (Recyclability Assessment Methodology)

The Senior Delivery Manager for the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) is responsible for overseeing the technical & strategic development, delivery, and continuous improvement of the UK’s packaging recyclability assessment framework. The role ensures RAM remains accurate, evidence-based and aligned across the four nations, while supporting effective governance, stakeholder engagement, and consistent regulatory decision-making.

The postholder will manage project delivery, lead updates to the methodology, coordinate cross-government and industry input, and ensure high-quality outputs for senior leaders and boards. They will provide subject-matter guidance, support regulatory alignment, and oversee processes for industry enquiries and challenges related to recyclability assessments.

Key Responsibilities

• Support and deliver the RAM strategy, work programme, and improvement roadmap.

• Lead the annual review and update cycle, ensuring RAM reflects changes in packaging formats, recycling infrastructure, and materials management.

• Manage end‑to‑end project planning, governance coordination, progress tracking and reporting.

• Facilitate four‑nation and regulator alignment to ensure consistent application of the methodology.

• Produce clear guidance, documentation, and governance papers, ensuring accuracy and high quality.

• Provide analytical insight and briefing material for Committee Chairs, decision‑makers, and senior leadership.

• Lead presentations, workshops and industry engagement on RAM requirements and updates.

• Offer subject‑matter expertise to internal teams, including training and technical interpretation.

• Oversee the process for handling producer enquiries and challenges to recyclability classifications.

• Liaise with regulators to support consistent, proportionate enforcement of RAM outcomes.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including trade bodies, producers, and government agencies.

• Ensure effective risk and issue management within the RAM programme.

Key Deliverables

• Updated, annually reviewed Recycling Assessment Methodology.

• High‑quality governance papers, decision packs, and technical briefings.

• Clear and accessible RAM guidance and communication materials.

• Regular stakeholder engagement outputs (workshops, presentations, written updates).

• Timely and robust responses to industry queries and challenges.

• Programme plans, risk logs, and progress reports to governance groups.

Person specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Experience within packaging, waste, recycling or environmental compliance sectors.

• Strong project management experience, including delivery planning, risk management and strategic alignment.

• Demonstrated experience supporting or coordinating governance and approval processes.

• Experience working with senior leaders and supporting decision-making through clear insight and evidence.

• Ability to assess and interpret evidence on material flows, packaging formats and recycling processes.

• Proven experience engaging diverse stakeholders, including industry, regulators, and government.

• Experience managing or leading a small team, with strong interpersonal and people‑development skills.

• Skilled at managing competing priorities, fast-paced workloads, and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.

• Excellent communication skills, able to present complex technical information to varied audiences.

• Strong writing ability, capable of distilling complex material into clear, concise summaries.

Additional Information

• This role requires strong analytical thinking, cross‑government collaboration, and the ability to navigate complex policy and technical issues.

• The postholder will play a key role in ensuring recyclability assessments are trusted, transparent, and consistently applied across the UK.

• Occasional travel for stakeholder meetings, workshops or presentations may be required.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Role requires strong technical knowledge of packaging materials, recyclability, and waste management, alongside project delivery expertise.

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 (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, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a 500 word personal statement, CV and three behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement and CV. 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 invited to interview where you be assessed on Behaviours and Technical skills.

Your interview will be conducted via MS Teams.

A presentation may also be included in the 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.

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.

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.

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 /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

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.

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.

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.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 : cepeopleteam@defra.gov.uk
• Email : cepeopleteam@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