Senior Policy Advisor

Job summary

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (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.

We are seeking capable people to contribute to our policy and strategy work. Whilst core policy skills are essential, we do not expect applicants to have specialist knowledge of the area. These roles are a great opportunity to acquire experience in developing new policies to reform and transform a sector, support the development of primary and secondary legislation, work with a wide range of stakeholders, and develop extensive opportunities to brief seniors and ministers on high profile policy areas.

We work in a programmatic way, prioritising work to ensure we’re focusing on the right things at the right time. This means that our teams can pivot onto new workstreams once projects and programmes are concluded, or if circumstances change and they are reprioritised. Through this we are able to offer a wealth of development opportunities and experiences as well as experience working in an agile and flexible way.

Whichever part of the Directorate you’re in, you will play an active role in shaping and delivering our priorities, working creatively and collaboratively with others to deliver excellent outcomes. You will need to build excellent relationships across the Directorate, with wider Defra colleagues, other government departments, arm’s length bodies, and with external stakeholders, inspiring confidence and trust. You can expect frequent interaction with Ministers, Special Advisers and senior officials, including in other government departments. It’s a very exciting time to join the team and be part of supporting important policy areas.

Job description

As a senior policy advisor you may have responsibility for:

• Owning key elements of policy and policy development
• Independently driving progress to meet key milestones
• Briefing Ministers and senior leaders, orally and in writing
• Drafting responses to written correspondence
• Responding to Parliamentary Questions on your policy area
• Negotiating policy positions with other departments
• Drafting consultations and official government responses
• Working with stakeholders and experts to design new policy interventions
• Line and task management for junior colleagues

Our policy vacancies span a number of teams, all of whom are gearing up to play their part in the coming changes.

Person specification

We are looking for proactive and enthusiastic people who are used to working autonomously, are confident at communicating and assimilating information, and are exciting by the opportunity to contribute to once in a generation changes to a sector. Essential Skills for our roles:

• Experience of confidently leading on various aspects of the policy and legislative cycles including the delivery of key policy outcomes
• Experience using analysis and information to develop and assess options for decision makers, drawing on expertise from others as required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills,
• Evidence of working confidently with varied teams or colleagues to deliver common goals
• Good strategic judgement to identify tensions and links between different areas of work and recognise where your work fits with wider organisational objectives
• Excellent task management and prioritisation, with a strong focus on delivery
• Ability to work at pace to deliver with competing deadlines
• Proactive, organised, excellent attention to detail,
• Capable of taking a leadership role in complex and multi-faceted scenarios

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

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

• 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

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.

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 yearfor 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.

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) fo