Senior Scientific Officer

Job summary

Are you passionate about using evidence to improve people’s lives and the environment?

Can you work independently to lead scientific projects, communicate complex findings clearly to stakeholders, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment?

Do you have the strong environmental and/or water science and organisational skills needed to deliver high-quality evidence and develop expertise in the water sector?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist for our Water Quality Research Team. This is a particularly exciting time to join the Defra group and play your part in meeting the Government’s goals for reducing water pollution. Working with us will provide significant opportunities to develop your own skills and future career. This is a great opportunity to have a high profile, impactful role.

Your personal qualities will be as important as your professional experience; and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. You must be passionate about using evidence to deliver better outcomes for our communities. You will play an active role in working creatively and collaboratively with others to deliver excellent outcomes.

If you believe you have the skills and qualities we are looking for, then we would like to hear from you. The Defra group is dedicated to promoting equality and valuing diversity. We are committed to ensuring that every talented and hard-working person has the opportunity to rise to the top, whatever their background and whoever they are.

Job description

The Floods and Water (F&W) Directorate within Defra is currently undertaking a large programme of regulatory reform for Water as well as holding responsibility for ambitious, legally binding targets to improve the water environment. These include targets to address diffuse agricultural pollution and the overall health of the water environment. Alongside this, F&W looks after a range of activities relating to water or the water environment that relate to public and environmental health. These activities include the recreational use of bathing waters, anti-microbial and anti-fungal resistance and the spreading of biosolids to land.

Each of these challenges are highly technical, complex and interlinked and therefore require a strong scientific evidence base to drive meaningful, sustainable progress towards improving the water environment. This role is critical to the planning and delivery of a programme of scientific research that will be required. The specific areas of responsibility will be responsive to priorities and deadlines and will include support on high priority areas such as:

• Diffuse agricultural pollution
• Public health
• Overall health of the water environment

• Diffuse agricultural pollution

Diffuse pollution from agricultural entering surface waters is a significant source of contamination in waterways. In particular, the presence of excess nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment in the water system can create considerable water pollution challenges. As such, Defra holds responsibility for meeting a legally binding target to reduce total nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution from agriculture into the water environment by at least 40% by 2038, compared to a 2018 baseline. Working alongside colleagues from a range of professions, this role will contribute to the delivery of a multi-year programme of research aiming to build evidence to better understand our progress towards the target as well as to support the development of policies that will reduce this form of diffuse pollution.

• Public health

Water impacts public health in a large variety of ways ranging from using water for recreation to the impact of waste from water treatment. Working alongside a range of colleagues from across F&W, other government departments and the Environment Agency, this role will contribute to developing the evidence base relating to bathing water regulations, anti-microbial and anti-fungal resistance and the spreading of biosolids to land.

• Overall health of the water environment

The F&W Directorate is responsible for large scale reforms to the water system, making changes based on recommendations from the Independent Water Commission. As part of this we are considering the best ways to represent and drive change to the overall health of the water environment. This ranges from considering target development to understand the cause-effect relationship between systemic changes and the impact on the water environment over time. This role will contribute to the development and delivery of a multi-year programme of research and development aiming to understand the most effective means of improving the quality of the water environment.

Person specification

In this post you will:

• Lead the design, procurement, delivery, management, publication and dissemination of evidence projects as part of a multi‑year programme of water quality research. This includes managing commissioned projects and oversight of supplier performance and financial budgets.
• Lead internal evidence gathering activities, including evidence reviews, data analysis and synthesis of complex evidence.
• Ensure appropriate quality assurance and governance is applied across all research outputs, providing confidence in robustness and reliability.
• Provide robust evidence to inform Defra’s water policy, targets and regulatory reform, working across Defra and Arm’s Length Bodies.
• Provide authoritative scientific leadership on water quality issues, including interpretation of water quality monitoring, modelling and complex datasets.
• Be highly collaborative, working closely with other analytical, evidence and policy teams in Defra, other Whitehall departments, Arms Length Bodies and academia.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex research and analysis into meaningful advice, informing and influencing policy or delivery decisions. Advise on risks, gaps and trade‑offs inherent in the evidence base.
• Balance multiple objectives, prioritising your time accordingly, managing expectations where necessary and be willing to work flexibly across priorities.
• You will be an environmental scientist / researcher with experience delivering environmental evidence and R&D projects/programmes. You will be experienced in developing approaches to answering complex questions, delivering R&D, and delivering high quality scientific advice, sometimes to demanding timelines, balancing robustness and pragmatism where necessary.
• You will meet the behaviours, skills and experience requirements at SEO level (see Success Profile - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-pro…) and for the Government Science and Engineering profession. (Government science and engineering: career framework - GOV.UK).
• You will display excellent interpersonal skills, with the credibility to influence and challenge effectively. You will bring excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to present complex technical analysis to a diverse, often non-specialist, audience. With exceptional collaboration skills, you will confidently engage to build constructive relationships within your own team and with colleagues across the Department and externally.

Qualifications

A postgraduate degree (Masters or PhD) in a scientific domain relevant to the post, for example: water science, chemistry, environmental science, biology, biochemistry, geochemistry, geology, microbiology and environmental public health.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• GSE technical skills – Building and Applying Knowledge and Technical Oversight and Management(You will be heavily tested on the technical skills including a Presentation – Topic will be delivered along with your interview invite.)

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).

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.

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

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 Personal Statement (750 words) and CV (for sight only) and 1 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 assessment/interview.

Sifting is likely to be occur week commencing 20th July, with interviews likely to 10-14 days after. 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 Technical Based Questions

A presentation may also be included in the interview that will assess your scientific and project management skills. Details will be sent out in advance of the interview.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 60 minutes.

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).

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.

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.

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 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.

Higher Security Clearance

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

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.

This is a permanent role as an SEO in the Water Reform Directorate.

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 : Floods and Water Resourcing Team
• Email : FandW.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