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Salary
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade
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Business area
Type of role
Digital
Information Technology
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Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
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.
Digital, Data and Technology Services (DDTS) is the trusted team for digital across the entire Defra Group.
We have around 1,200 colleagues across DDTS and our ambition is to make it easier and faster than ever for people to interact with Defra. If you are ready to drive innovation and push boundaries, we want to hear from you. Join us and together we will create a great place for living, and a green and healthy future for all.
Find out more about DDTS:
Job description
Are you passionate about delivering quality business support services that enable delivery of widespread digital change? Are you interested in providing world class service?
The Architecture, Data Information, and Innovation (ADII) within DDTS is looking for a Business Support Officer to join our team and support us with reporting, finance, and resourcing.
The role will suit someone with strong organisational and communication skills. There will be regular engagement with other teams and people of all grades. We are small friendly team, where the work is often fast paced, with competing demands. It is essential to prioritise the delivery of work and be confident and comfortable with team working.
We are looking for people with transferable skills and a keen interest in delivering quality business support and a real passion and ability to make a difference. Your learning, development and career growth journey doesn’t end when you join Defra. It’s just getting started!
Please note regular travel to either Bristol or London office will be required, where the successful candidate is not based in one of these offices.
Person specification
Responsibilities
- Working with hiring managers to support the joiners, movers, and leavers process. This will include supporting with recruiting approvals, ordering IT equipment, and managing distribution lists
- Raising and processing of purchase orders and invoices
- Facilitate data gathering and managing deadlines for reporting and supporting documentation. This includes supporting work on finance, budgets, recruitment, and workforce planning
- Manage the teams shared mailbox, ensuring requests are assigned to the right person and responded to in a timely manner
- Ownership of the organogram, ensuring that it is accurate and regularly updated. This list isnt exhaustive but provides an overview of the activities the role will carry out
Skills and experience
- Sound administrative skills, able to organise and prioritise when under pressure and meet deadlines
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Experience in relationship building skills with strong written and verbal communications skills
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Experience providing business support to efficiently deliver resourcing, recruitment, and/ or workforce planning activities
Selection process
The Civil Service marks each element of the selection process on a merit basis. You can visit the gov.uk website for further information on the Civil Service rating scale.
Ensure you have tailored your CV to the ‘responsibilities’ and ‘skills and experience’ section of the job advert and Statement to the Behaviours listed below by providing examples on how you are suitable for the role. We would recommend using the STAR method.
For further information on STAR, you can check out our hints and tips document.
Application process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- A CV
- A 250 word statement on the Behaviour: ‘Managing a Quality Service’
- A 250 word statement on the Behaviour: ‘Seeing the Bigger Picture’
Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your word statement, how you meet these requirements, as, the information you provide will form a key part when the panel is scoring your application.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
Sift will begin shortly after the advert closes.
Should there be a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted using your word statement on the Lead Behaviour Managing a Quality Service.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment or interview.
Interview
If successful at sift stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Strengths and the Behaviours listed below.
Interviews dates are to be confirmed. Please note that these may be subject to change.
Interviews will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams.
For further information on Success Profiles, please use the links below and watch our videos on Defra Jobs.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
Benefits
£7,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 25 days leave (rising to 30 days over 5 years) plus bank holidays
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- A day off per year for the King’s birthday
- Access to a range of retail discounts (these include supermarket, tech, gym, holiday, phone and more)
- Flexible working options such as condensed hours, part-time and flexi time
- 3 paid volunteering days per year
- Funding for professional membership of a recognised professional body
- Learning and development tailored to your role and budget for training or qualifications
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Cycle to work scheme
- Health cash plan to help you manage health costs for a reduced monthly fee
- Access to the Employee Assistance Programme open 24 hours, 7 days a week, that provides support to you during any times of stress or difficulty
- Free access to Headspace for wellbeing
- Season ticket loan for public transport
Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
We celebrate and act on equality, diversity and inclusion at Defra.
We welcome and encourage candidates from all backgrounds and with a range of diverse experiences. We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying, harassment, victimisation, or negative stereotyping.
We treat all employees at all grades with value and respect to create an inclusive working environment. We celebrate individual differences and aim to cater to diverse needs.
You can read more in our diversity and inclusion strategy.
Check out the video below from Jane McGeagh, Chief Operating Officer on why DDTS is a great place to work.
Office attendance
Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the office locations listed in this advert. Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
For further information on the selection process for this role, please refer to the person specification section of the job advert.
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. 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.
Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.
All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice.
Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
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.
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.
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 youre 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.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another government department, a criminal record check maybe 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 applicants 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.
Higher Security Clearance
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.
All these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. However, due to the nature of the role, you will also require the higher level of counterterrorist check (CTC) clearance.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility on the Childcare Choices website.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : DDTS Recruitment Hub
- Email : DDTSonPayrollRecruitment@defra.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DefraRecruitment.GRS@CabinetOffice.gov.uk
Further information
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: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
