PAT Campaign Managers & PBPT Sponsorship Maturity Advisor

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.

Strategy Directorate

Strategy is a fast-paced, dynamic, and challenging environment. Our purpose is to give a high quality and timely service to Ministers and the Permanent Secretary, and to ensure that Defra group is able to achieve the strategic objectives we set out in our Business Plan.

We work in support of Defra’s strategic objectives, look at how we can join up with other initiatives across the organisation to get things done, support each other to deliver excellent work, help Defra to make good decisions and we identify and unblock barriers to change.

Encouraging diverse applicants

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups.

These  are exciting opportunities in the Strategy Directorate within the Public Appointments Team (PAT) & the Public Bodies Partnership Team (PBPT). Each role  will provide candidates a unique insight and develop a broad understanding of how the Department operates and the organisations within the Defra Group.

There are two roles available, one in PAT and one in PBPT. Details of the roles are as follows:

Public Appointments Campaign Manager:    

The Public Appointments Team delivers a crucial service to Ministers and the wider department in the delivery of appointments to Defra Arm’s Length Bodies.

High calibre appointments are important in helping to deliver the department’s objectives. The successful candidate will be part of a dedicated centralised centre of excellence across all of Defra’s policy areas. This is often a fast-paced, high-profile role which involves a wide range of stakeholders across the department and beyond, including working closely with Ministers’ Private Offices, senior stakeholders, Cabinet Office and No.10.

It is a combination of policy and operational delivery, managing a high-quality service to Ministers, policy teams and candidates, regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The role also offers opportunities to deliver change management and service improvement, contributing to projects such social media strategy, events, data and building a diverse talent pipeline.  

Our Arm’s Length Bodies need strong and diverse Boards to help shape the vision of their organisations and support their Executive Teams in fulfilling their statutory functions and deliver their strategic objectives. Appointments to these Boards are made by Ministers, based on advice from the Public Appointments Team. This post delivers an end-to-end service for Ministers that offers them a choice of excellent candidates from a wide and diverse talent pool that is representative of the public and communities that they serve.    

The role involves working in a flexible way in undertaking other duties to support wider central commissions as required that are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of these posts. You will operate with a significant amount of autonomy on a day-to-day basis. 

You will support the PAT vision: To deliver a streamlined public appointment service and deliver high-quality, diverse appointees who add the best value to Defra ALB Boards, enabling good governance, challenge and sound decision making. In doing so, responsibilities will include:   

• Managing recruitment campaigns for new Defra body Chairs or Board members: setting up and running public appointment campaigns often to tight timescales
• Providing policy advice to Ministers and senior officials on appointment issues. This means working with Minister’s Private Offices, and other senior officials across the Defra Group
• Providing guidance to policy teams dealing with public appointment issues and the running of campaigns
• Contribute towards maintaining excellent data for reporting purposes and on occasions ad hoc briefings
• Contribute to the team’s on-going work to develop the Defra group’s capacity to deliver diverse and good quality candidates for its public appointment roles

Possible wider opportunities: 

• Liaise with Cabinet Office, and possibly No 10 throughout the selection and appointment process
• Wider strategic work, for example helping to develop Defra group’s capability on public appointments through project work to improve team procedures and capability, for example the delivery of a diversity strategy, managing PATs social media accounts and data capture and analysis
• Line Management of an EO or AO

Sponsorship Maturity Advisor in PBPT x 1

The Public Bodies Partnership Team is a dynamic and busy team at the core of the Department established to secure strong governance between Defra and its Public Bodies. The team is also a hub for advice and expertise on public bodies and to achieve this we reach out to a very wide number of teams across the department and beyond.  

The Sponsorship Maturity team is headed by a G7 with the support of a SEO and a HEO (this post). The team is a central hub for the department for everything around Public Bodies 

The key duties of the team are: 

• Liaise regularly with all our sponsorship teams across the department and ensure that they our relationship is strong and relevant
• Custodian of the Accountability Cycle (shared with the team managing the Ministerial and its Accountability and Governance ALB Dashboard (AGAD)
• Work with sponsorship teams and Arm’s Length Bodie’s (ALBs) to ensure the continuous improvement of Defra’s Sponsorship maturity
• Work with sponsorship teams and ALBs to ensure that all Framework documents are up to date and relevant
• Brief Tamara and senior colleagues on the governance of the ALBs, flagging risks and opportunities
• Provide advice on classification and any other queries on the structure of an ALB
• Liaise with Cabinet Office (CO) and HMT regularly on Accountability and Governance issues

What is the role?  

As a HEO in the Public Bodies Partnership Team, you can expect to be involved in a variety of work to help support the oversight of ALB governance and accountability and contributing to wider strategic projects on maturing sponsorship across the department. Responsibilities will include: 

• The Single Point of Contact for Sponsorship teams 
• Responsible for all teams’ comms i.e., management of shared inbox (inc. diary and contact list management and tackling various queries for the team), commissions to sponsor teams, management of the newsletter and organising the quarterly Relationship Managers Forum
• Own and maintain the AGAD (including commissioning sponsors for updates) and ensure its functionality but also that the information is accurate and up to date. The HEO will also prepare quarterly updates for the Permanent Secretary based on the AGAD
• Support the SEO on the Framework Document refresh programme and lead on some individual FD updates
• Support the G7 and SEO with the engagement and work related to the adoption of the CO Sponsorship Code of Good Practice, in terms of maturity assessment and the work that the team is doing around establishing a regular assessment across Defra which will be ultimately used to inform ExCo
• PPM role to ensure that the various ongoing projects are being followed through correctly, on time and to standard (e.g., FD refresh and Maturity)
• Ad-hoc commissioning
• Develop good understand of ALBs and Public Body classification and their governance
• Be flexible and able to move across team in the PBPT to provide support where needed (e.g., ministerial priorities team)
• Ability to work at a pace with multiple projects whilst maintaining high standards

We are looking for fantastic team players – kind, inclusive, and caring for colleagues and stakeholders – with an eye for quality, continuous improvement and a strategic mindset.  

Person Specification – you are: 

• An inclusive and caring colleague who promotes the wellbeing of the team and colleagues/stakeholders
• Curious and committed to continuous improvement
• Interested in the work of Defra group and keen to play a part in driving forwards Defra’s ambitious agenda
• A strategic thinker with an eye for detail
• Adaptable and able to handle changing priorities and to work flexibly across the team
• Resilient and able to recover from setbacks and learn from them

Essential Criteria: 

• Organised and self-starting, able to run and adapt complex processes to ensure high quality and timely outputs. You will be able to deliver at pace
• Excellent written communication skills and quality assurance of written outputs (both in terms of detail, e.g. spotting typos and inconsistencies; and in terms of the big picture, e.g. thinking critically about the strategic purpose and fit of written outputs)
• Confidence and capability in working closely with senior leaders, including upwards management, leading challenging conversations and maintaining positive and trusted relationships

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

A career in the Civil Service is like no other. If you’re looking to join a world class team and develop your career with us, then the Civil Service is the place for you! You might be wondering, “what’s in it for me”? Take a look below at some of the benefits available to you as a civil servant in Defra.

Strategy Directorate Benefits:

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.

Department Benefits:

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 year for reservist training
• 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.

Restaurant and Café Facilities

A range of our offices offer onsite restaurant and café facilities.

Civil Service Benefits:

Pension

Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package, and you will be given the chance to join one of three different pension plans. You can find more information on the Civil Service Pension on the MyCSP Website at www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

Civil Service Sports Council

The Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) organises a wide choice of activities throughout the UK, from art, gliding, abseiling and orienteering to cabaret weekends and quiz and curry nights. Your CSSC membership will provide you with FREE access to hundreds of national and local sites, in addition to savings at many high street stores, cinemas, restaurants and historic houses.

Office attendance

Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the office locations listed in this advert in order to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. Defra’s current policy is that no more than 40% of the working week should be spent at home, averaged over a month unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or the post-holder is a contractual home worker.

Job contact :

• Name : Strategy Resourcing Team
• Email : Sandc.resourcing@defra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk