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Job summary

We would like to thank you for considering the role of Senior Fees and Payments Advisor within the Scheme Administrator for the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility pEPR scheme (PackUk).

pEPR requires obligated producers across the UK to pay the full costs of managing packaging when it becomes waste (this covers a significant proportion of the UK’s total waste, including for example the wrappers, bottles and cans your food comes in , all the way to the cardboard boxes and plastic bags used to for online shopping orders) Through pEPR. PackUK will provide financial incentives through variation of the fees charged on different types of packaging to encourage sustainable design, production and use of packaging, helping support a transition to a more circular economy, deliver net zero and reduce waste.

pEPR will charge fees worth around £1.5bn per annum and therefore represents a hugely powerful lever to deliver positive environmental change. Revenue raised through pEPR will be funnelled into Local Authorities across the UK to support improvements in their waste management services, providing further benefits.

We are looking to recruit a talented individual to fill a key role within the friendly and supportive fees and payments team in PackUK. This team sits at the heart of PackUK’s work and is responsible for setting fees across all packaging material types and determining how much funding each UK LA receives. This role will focus on Local Authority payments.

Job description

This is a high profile, fast moving and complex area, with opportunities to put to practice and further improve your leadership, delivery and analytical skills, and regular exposure to senior leaders and decision makers.

You will:

• Be confident working with analysts and waste management experts, including established operational researchers responsible for the building and operating the Local Authority payments model. This role does not require any formal analytical training, but the candidate must be willing and able to work closely with operational researchers to understand the method used to calculate payments and help to develop ideas for and design improvements to this method (operational researchers will be responsible for implementing agreed improvements in the model via writing code).
• Lead discussions and negotiations with policy and delivery teams in all four UK nations to agree any changes or improvements to the way we calculate payments and ensure that payments are fair across all LAs.
• Lead delivery of tasks required to support analysts and modellers to implement model improvements (e.g. by helping to locate required data, building relationships with external specialists to help test methodologies).
• Advise ministers and senior leaders on decisions relating to payment calculation at key touchpoints (for example each year we will need to obtain ministerial agreement to payments and method used to calculate them). You will need to deliver effective and clear explanation of how calculations are performed to support approval. Operational researchers will support you in this engagement but, together with the team’s LA payments G7, you will need to lead this advice
• Work closely with our financial services supplier to ensure that payments to Local Authorities are made on time and to the correct amounts.
• Working closely with our comms and engagement team, take part in stakeholder engagement with Local Authorities and develop products and materials to help explain the method used to calculate payments to others, including to support readiness, contribute to answering specific queries, manage challenge and collect feedback on improvements to the model.
• Lead on data collection for the LA payments model. Several key data sources for the model are being retired and replaced with new data collection platforms and you will need to work closely with digital leads for these platforms. This may also include supporting procurement and management of science and evidence projects through PackUK’s supplier relations team.
• Be the subject expert to go to for matters related to calculation of LA payments, working closely with colleagues across Whitehall and key bodies. This may include for example giving advice on impact and deliverability of any changes to the underpinning legislation the payment models are based on.

Person specification

We are looking for an exceptional candidate with a strong record of delivering high quality work in complex, fast paced environments. You will be confident in communicating with stakeholders and supporting LA readiness and engagement with the scheme. You will have strong written communication skills with ability to grasp and distil technical information. You will have strong presentation skills and experience of briefing senior leaders.

Given the highly technical nature of this delivery area, and the need to engage and collaborate with specialists, we encourage applications from candidates with background in technical skills, such as in operational or social research, or science.

We also encourage applications from candidate with significant experience in the waste sector, for instance gained in an industry, consulting or regulatory setting whilst also encouraging candidates with experience in the wider environmental sustainability field to apply to these roles.

Essential Criteria

• Delivering Across Boundaries - The successful candidate will be able to work effectively with different professions and disciplines, particularly evidence (modelling, data, research), policy and digital and be able to work effectively across different levels of seniority and experience.
• Analytically minded – The modelling methodologies used are on the whole relatively simple maths, but the model has a high degree of granularity, with many different data inputs and individual calculations. Successful candidates will be comfortable in working in highly complex environments and with analytical tools and analysis
• Communicating Between the Technical and Non-Technical - The successful candidate will be able to communicate about the model with both technical and non technical stakeholders
• Management of Projects - The successful candidate will be able to help plan and manage across multiple projects and tasks; support seniors to recognise when it is right to move projects and tasks forward and when it is right to stop or pause; and help plan and engage with appropriate experts, stakeholders and approvers at a particular stage in the project.
• Maintaining Momentum - The successful candidate will be able to support optimisation of the delivery flow of projects, tasks and teams; help actively address the most complicated risks, issues and dependencies associated with bundles of work, including where ownership exists outside the team or no clear ownership exists; and identify and suggest innovative ways to unblock issues

Making Processes Work - The successful candidate will be able to identify and challenge processes including those that are unnecessarily complicated or unhelpful to delivery; help inspect and adapt processes to facilitate smooth and pacey delivery; and support affected teams implement new processes.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

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 and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a 500 word personal statement and a CV. 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. 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.

Your interview will be conducted via MS Teams.

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.

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.

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.

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 /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

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.

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.

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
• Telephone : 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