164 Flexible Jobs in Yorkshire and the Humber

Job summary

The Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes form a core part of Defra’s Farming Directorate through rewarding farmers and land managers for environmentally beneficial activities. There are three ELM schemes – the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery Scheme. The schemes collectively offer a mix of action-based payments and the opportunity to co-design long term, bespoke agreements to deliver landscape-scale land use change and habitat restoration.

ELM is a large and fast-paced division comprising policy, delivery and evidence teams working together to develop the new schemes. Staff are geographically dispersed with a mixture of office and home-working arrangements in place. A range of technologies are used to connect between members as part of our day to day working.

We have an exciting and challenging Higher Scientific Officer role within the ELM Science, Monitoring and Evaluation team. This team is multi-disciplinary, comprising of natural scientists, social scientists and analysts.

This role will complement, expand and develop the science and monitoring capacity, working closely with the existing teams on the policy development and improvement of the schemes.

Job description

We are seeking an enthusiastic and capable Natural Scientist, with excellent technical ability, leadership potential, communication and co-ordination skills, to coordinate and deliver cross-cutting evaluation of our agri-environment delivery at a project and scheme level. This analysis will support the assessment of environmental outcomes, project deliverability and value for money, helping to ensure the schemes are delivering intended environmental benefits.

The roles will also include close collaboration with analytical, policy and delivery teams, as well as effective engagement with external stakeholders to support scheme delivery.

Person specification

The post holders will be responsible for conducting, coordinating and presenting analysis, reviewing monitoring and evaluation approaches, producing analytical products and technical documentation, negotiating long-term agreements, developing guidance, and delivering internal training. They will provide specialist advice on their areas of expertise, and environmental monitoring.

• Conduct, coordinate and present a cross-cutting evaluation of project/scheme deliverability, environmental benefits, monitoring and evaluation approaches, contribution to environmental targets, alignment to scheme objectives, and value for money.

• Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of environmental monitoring approaches across a range of asset-based indicators and apply this to the review of monitoring and evaluation plans and provision of expert advice to relevant policy and delivery teams to support scheme design and delivery decisions.

• Produce technical supporting documentation to formalise long-term project commitments and guide future implementation.

• Communicate effectively with external stakeholders to provide guidance and support, negotiate project implementation terms, and achieve favourable outcomes aligned with scheme objectives and environmental targets.

• Develop and produce analytical products for project and scheme evaluation.

• Develop guidance and deliver internal training on analytical assurance tasks.
  
  
• Work closely with economic, evaluation, social research, modelling, and policy colleagues on Landscape Recovery assurance and analysis. Provide expert advice on scheme monitoring.
  
  
• Promote and disseminate research/evidence and analysis to relevant policy and delivery teams and more widely within the Department and across government departments to ensure key learning feeds into ongoing and new policy development and products have maximum impact.
  
  
• Support the delivery of externally commissioned research projects to ensure robust, impactful designs that achieve value for money and provide insights that feed into scheme development.

Essential Criteria

• The following criteria apply:
• Hold a degree in a relevant scientific discipline or have equivalent workplace experience.
• Have specialist knowledge of monitoring in one of the following areas: trees and woodlands, soils, water quality, biodiversity, habitats, agricultural landscapes
• Have demonstratable knowledge of environmental monitoring methods including: earth observation, field survey, and modelling approaches.
• Have excellent analytical skills covering evidence synthesis, qualitative and quantitative research methods, data collection and analysis and interpreting data. Including experience delivering products using GIS software and dealing with large complex datasets.
• Have demonstratable knowledge of metrics and indicators relating to natural capital assets, outcome indicators, cross-cutting evaluation, and conceptual ecological models.
• Ability to manage a complex portfolio of work and manage your work flexibly to adapt as priorities change, often at short notice.
• Experience of partnership working, negotiating, and attention to detail to balance conflicting priorities or needs.
• Experience disseminating complex research findings to diverse and non-specialist audiences, using effective interpersonal, verbal, and written skills.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,765, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,071 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 £34,765, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,071 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 and Experience.Application Process

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to set out how you meet the skills and experience for the role.

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the 2 behaviours. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where we will assess you against the behaviours set out in the advert

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

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.

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 perform 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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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 : Felicity Bennett
• 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