3,877 Jobs

Job summary

About Circular Economy & PackUK’s role

The UK is committed to transitioning towards a more circular economy, keeping resources in use for longer, extracting maximum value from materials, reducing waste, and improving overall resource efficiency. The Circular Economy Directorate in Defra leads the development and delivery of strategy to support this ambition across the UK.

As part of this work, the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) scheme is shifting the full cost of managing household packaging waste away from taxpayers and local authorities and onto packaging producers, applying the ‘polluter pays’ principle. This incentivises producers to use less and more sustainable packaging, helping to reduce pollution, cut carbon emissions, and accelerate progress towards a circular economy. PackUK is the organisation responsible for administering the pEPR scheme.

Job description

PackUK is recruiting an HEO Operational Researcher. Reporting to the Insights Lead, the post-holder will provide analytical support to PackUK, ensuring our projects are led by data and evidence. This will involve working with teams across PackUK, Defra Circular Economy analysts, partners from administrations across the four nations of the UK and the recycling and packaging sectors, to identify PackUK's data and evidence requirements and develop plans to fill them.

Key Responsibilities

In this role you will:

• Lead on assessing PackUK’s data requirements (for example, local authority performance data or data to assess PackUK’s performance against its 5-Year Strategy) and developing plans to fill identified gaps. This will require assessment of data robustness, suitability of data sources for PackUK’s intended use, and source limitations.
• Support the delivery of a research and development project and the design of a call-for-evidence into future modulation factors to be applied to producer fees.
• Develop and maintain PackUK’s tracking of pEPR policy effects, gathering evidence to ensure the scheme is delivering on its intended outcomes.
• Provide analytical support and capability to PackUK teams, helping the Directorate become a data-driven organisation.
• Engage with external stakeholders across the packaging industry to gain further insights and gather evidence.
• Collaborate with analytical teams within Defra Circular Economy Directorate, working together to build on each other’s expertise and existing workstreams.
• Quality assure analysis undertaken for PackUK, ensuring outputs are robust under external scrutiny.
• Support other team members and contribute to a positive and inclusive working environment.

Person specification

• Experience of numerical modelling/analysis in Excel or R software (with a willingness to learn to use R if not previously used)
• Experience of analysing and interpreting data to produce insights
• Experience of critically assessing and gaining insight from a range of sources, including academic articles and technical reports
• Excellent collaborative skills and ability to work across teams
• Ability to communicate complex analysis clearly to non-technical audiences
• Able to deliver at pace, responding quickly to emerging or changing priorities.

Essential Criteria

• Professional Analytical Background: Current member of the GORS profession or eligible for joining.
• Experience in Working with Data: Experience identifying, managing, and assuring datasets needed for the successful delivery of technically complex projects.
• Technical Expertise in R or Excel: Hands-on experience of numerical modelling/analysis including the ability to validate and interpret data and produce insights.
• Innovative Analytical Skills: Demonstrated ability to explore diverse data and evidence sources, using robust and innovative analytical techniques.
• Collaboration Across Organisations: Proven ability to work effectively across teams, with partner organisations and stakeholders with differing priorities.
• Delivery at Pace: Experience working successfully in fast-paced, high-pressure or high-profile delivery settings, remaining flexible as priorities and deadlines change.
• Communication and Influence: Able to communicate complex analytical material clearly to non-technical audiences and provide confident, evidence-based advice.

Technical Skills

You will be assessed against the technical/professional competency framework relevant to your chosen profession:

• Government Operational Research Service – GORS Technical Framework - GOV.UK

Mandatory Qualifications

Existing member of the Government Operational Research Service (GORS) profession, or meeting the qualification requirements. Please state in your application if you are already badged, or if you meet the following minimum qualifications:

• you have, or expect to have, a 2:1 or higher degree or degree apprenticeship in a highly numerate degree subject; or
• you have, or expect to have, a 2:2 or higher degree and a highly numerate postgraduate degree

If you do not meet the degree requirements, you can still apply by providing evidence of equivalent numeracy through work or study, along with a supporting statement from your line management chain or your department’s GORS Head of Profession if there are no GORS members within your management chain.

Mandatory Memberships & Badging

Current member of the GORS profession or eligible for joining these professions.

If you are not an existing member of these professions, you will be expected to go through the badging process once in the role. See here for more details:

Government Operational Research Service - Badging Process - GOV.UK

This role operates flexibly to support PackUK’s evolving priorities. The post-holder is expected to:

• Contribute to a range of projects or teams, including moving onto new subject matters, where their skills and experience are relevant.
• Apply core transferable skills—such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving, and analytical thinking—in varied contexts across PackUK.
• Adapt to changing priorities over time, responding to shifts in strategic focus and organisational needs.
• Support peak periods and emerging initiatives through a collaborative and responsive approach.

The points above reflect the immediate priorities for this role over the next 6–12 months, based on its position in the to-be structure. However, this role operates flexibly and may be refocused onto new priorities as these emerge.

This flexible way of working enables PackUK to remain agile and deliver effectively across its strategic objectives.

Qualifications

You have, or expect to have, a 2:1 or higher degree or degree apprenticeship in a highly numerate degree subject; or you have, or expect to have, a 2:2 or higher degree and a highly numerate postgraduate degree.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Government Operational Research Service

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).

• 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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

A CV detailing your career history, including any relevant qualifications (for info only)

A Personal Statement (max. 500 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria

An online test

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55pm on 10th August 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Online Test Maintenance

You will be directed to the Talogy - True Talent – Scheduled Maintenance Window Webpage for online tests during an outage.

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between midday - 1.00pm and 4.00pm - midnight on 10th August 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

Interview Process Details

You will also be asked questions based on the following Civil Service Behaviours;

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

You will also be asked Technical Skill based questions as per below:

• Government Operational Research Service

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.

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.

This post offers the successful candidate the opportunity to receive an additional pay supplement of £3,000 upon appointment (pro rata).

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

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