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Head of Policy (EU Exit)

Employer
Defra
Location
London, Bristol or York
Salary
£55,989 - £65,250 (National) or £60,491 - £70,490 (London)
Closing date
17 Feb 2019

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We are immersed in an exciting period of change. At the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) our work ranges from supporting the UK’s world-leading food, farming and fishing industries to protecting the environment and providing robust defences against natural threats. Leaving the EU will fundamentally transform the work we do and how we deliver it. We are embracing this opportunity to become even more efficient, focused and innovative. Join us, and you will be at the heart of this change - helping us to secure a more sustainable future for the UK.

Leading a team of policy professionals and experts on a range of issues relating to EU Exit, you will: 

  • Manage a team of around 15 people in one of the following workstreams: Agri-Food Chain; Animal and Plant Health and Welfare; Biosecurity and Food Projects; Environmental Regulations; EU and International Trade; EU Exit Domestic and Constitutional Affairs; EU Exit Overview; Future Farming and Countryside; Marine and Fisheries or Strategy.
  • Prioritise challenges and guide the team to devise evidence-led solutions to complex projects. In such a fast-paced environment, you’ll be no stranger to constantly assessing all available information, seeking to identify issues and put appropriate measures in place before they become a problem.
  • Collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, proactively seeking out other people’s opinions in order to create a shared vision for the future. It will fall to you to brief Ministers and senior colleagues on the proposed approach to strategy development and delivery.
  • Encourage a sense of innovation in the team, learning from setbacks, while remaining accountable for what you have set out to achieve. You will naturally have great resilience and the capacity to think on your feet.

This is a unique opportunity to be involved in nationally-important challenges. As such, we are seeking people from all backgrounds to bring a broad array of perspectives to the team. It is possible that you will come from a research, analytical or project management role, or that you have transferable skills. It would be useful to have the ability to interpret social and policy research, to work with qualitative research or undertake complex analyses. Report-writing skills are essential, as well as having the ability to manage your own workload and take initiative. You will also no stranger to working with ambiguous information and making recommendations to colleagues on key drivers. Able to see the bigger picture, you will be a natural leader with excellent communication skills and the confidence to set direction.

Candidates who are interested in this opportunity will be assessed against the ‘Success Profile Framework’ in which your suitability for the role will be matched against a variety of elements. This flexible framework is the new and improved application process for all civil service roles, and looks at your ability to perform the role, your relevant experience, your strengths and behaviour, as well as your technical skills, knowledge or qualifications.

We support the professional and personal wellbeing of everyone in Defra. Our benefits include generous annual leave, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme. We also offer flexible working and a wide variety of learning and development opportunities.

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