85 Full time Jobs in Yorkshire and the Humber

Job summary

Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

As part of the Synergy Programme, we are modernising how we manage our HR, Finance, and Commercial activities by replacing outdated systems such as SOP with a new digital solution called Synergy. This will provide efficient, end-to-end transactional and functional shared services across the cluster.

This isn’t just a system change; it’s about enabling faster, simpler, and more efficient ways of working across Defra, our arm’s length bodies (EA, NE, RPA, APHA, MMO, VMD), and cross-government partners the Home Office, DWP, and MoJ. In total, Synergy will support nearly 250,000 public and civil servants.

This role is a great opportunity to work in large and complex change programme, as the lead for Expenses related activity and engagement. This will be part of a step change in how we will deliver corporate functions in the Defra Group as part of the Government’s Shared Services strategy. Working across Expense will require the need to manage complex structures and relationships, working with colleagues and experts across Corporate Services, and Defra’s ALB’s.

Job description

We are looking for a highly driven individual who is an excellent team player and comfortable operating in a complex programme environment. They will play a critical role in supporting system, process and policy design, ensuring compliance with the key outcomes of the synergy programme. The position focuses on delivery of the Expenses programme milestones for Defra Group including local design through to user acceptanence testing. This role provides an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance lead with strong organisational, analytical, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

The Role

1. To be the lead Subject Matter Expert (SME) for expenses for the Defra Group. This is a critical role in helping to understand how the Synergy Programme will impact the expenses process and in helping design the necessary process changes and improvements. The role holder will work closely with Synergy product leads and System Integration (SI) team, and all ALB stakeholders to deliver this.
2. To be the lead Expenses SME for Defra across all aspects of both system and user testing in the run up implementation of the new system.
3. Deliver a range of projects and process reviews, covering policy updates, system integrations, reporting, and service enablement. As part of this, the role holder will be expected to identify opportunities to converge policy and adopt best practice, while ensuring business needs and standards are met.
4. Act as a key member of the cross-cluster Expenses design squad working with SMEs across DWP, Ministry of Justice and the Home Office.
5. Work within the Defra Group Expenses Stakeholder forum to test recommendations, seek expert advice to inform policy decisions, and resolve novel and contentious queries. This will involve close working with a variety of stakeholders, including ALB leads, tax, HR, and contract owners.
6. Work across a number of complex stakeholder groups (including the central Synergy program, the Defra Synergy workstream leads, Finance BAU teams, ALB business areas and the wider user community) to ensure a joined up view and common understanding, while also influencing delivery outcomes.

Person specification

Experience and Skills

The successful candidate will have the following essential skills and experience:

• Analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to present information clearly to senior audiences in an understandble and impactful way.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build influence and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Well developed written and oral communication, with the ability to convey complex information and concepts in a concise and useable way.
• Experience of establishing the most efficient ways of working, harmonising and standardising processes and polices across entities.
• Flexible approach to work across teams with the ability to be able to deliver results through others.

Essential qualifications:

Formal qualifications are not essential for these roles, but candidates should be qualified by experience and ability to demonstrate key skills and experience. This should include experience and understanding of financial processing and policies, shared services delivery or project management.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

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

• Working Together

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).

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 25 days paid leave, in additional to public holidays and the King's Birthday.
• 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, 1 behaviour, and a Personal Statement. The CV should cover your previous job history and will be assessed against the Essential Skills and Experience in the Person specification.

The Personal Statement should be no more than 1000 words and demonstrate how you meet the Essential Skills and Experience criteria outlined in the Person specification.

You will also be required to provide a 250 word statement on the lead behaviour - Working Together

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.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, strenghts and a pre-prepared presentation.

Your interview will be conducted by video.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 60 Minutes.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

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.

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 toDisclosure 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.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as a Synergy manager on the Synergy Programme.

The post is not permanent. It is time limited due to a fixed funding period or as part of a specific project. The fixed term will end when the funding or the project expires.

This post will therefore begin from the candidate's start date and end on 12 months..

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.

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 : Charlotte Jones
• Email : charlotte.jones1@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