Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Our main Defra DDTS hubs are in York, Warrington, Newcastle, Reading and Bristol. Please be aware that space within the London office is restricted and it may not be possible to be based in this location. Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is not possible for the successful candidate to be based at any other Defra office than the ones listed above. 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, Technology and Security (DDTS) is the trusted team for digital across the entire Defra Group. We have around 1000 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: Defra digital, data and technology blog LinkedIn Defra Jobs Job description The Data Access Services team within Digital, Data, Technology and Security is looking for an enthusiastic leader to deliver and manage access to Defras vast range of data and information. This role is crucial for meeting statutory and cross-government requirements for open access to Defras data. As the Head of Data Access Services, you will be responsible for the acquisition, curation, cataloguing, sharing, and publishing of data through our data access services. These services include earth observation, geospatial data services, and Defra's externally facing data services platform. You will drive the continued improvement of the data services platform, engage with collaborators across the Defra Group, acquire data from external sources, and liaise with other government departments to deliver Defras open data access policy. Please note this post requires Counter Terrorist Check clearance. To gain CTC clearance, applicants will usually need to have been a UK resident for a minimum of 3 years. If this requirement is not met, the individual will not be able to progress their application further. Person specification Responsibilities Set the strategic direction and drive the delivery of data access services, managing associated costs and ensuring underpinning technologies are well managed. Lead on Defras Geospatial Technology strategy, liaising with wider Defra Group Arms-Length bodies and across government. Engage with other government departments to ensure Defras needs are understood in the development of UK Government data policy and strategy. Provide strategic oversight for the successful delivery of projects such as replacing and modernising the MAGIC Platform and implementing the Geospatial Data and Technology Roadmap. Acquire data resources for customer organisations and ensure they are well managed to reduce licensing costs. Enable the exploitation of data across the Defra Group by making it widely available in a ready-to-use form, working with data owners to meet Data QFAIR rules. Lead a multidisciplinary team of 10 permanent staff, fostering a positive and productive team culture. Skills & Experience Proven experience in managing multidisciplinary teams of data specialists in an agile delivery and continuous service improvement environment. Experience in managing suppliers and providing strategic oversight in delivering technical Data Services in accordance with contractual terms and conditions. Excellent engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to collaborate with a range of senior internal and external partners. Inspiring leadership skills, with the ability to provide direction in a high-pressure and fast-paced environment. Experience working in partnership with policy, digital delivery, and operational delivery colleagues, as well as other disciplines such as communications, commercial, and finance. Subject matter expertise and a passion for data management and sharing, with the ability to translate this into high-quality service. Experience in project management and service delivery, with a track record of successfully leading data projects and/or service improvement initiatives across complex organisations. Proven ability to lead and implement geospatial technology strategies within an organisation. 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 and your Personal Statement to the 'responsibilities' and 'skills and experience' section of the job advert by providing examples on how you are suitable for the role. You may find the STAR method helpful when writing your personal statement. For further information on STAR, you can check out our hints and tips document. Application As part of the application process, you will be assessed on your experience and will be asked to complete: A CV A 1000-word personal statement: "Referring to the 'responsibilities and 'skills and experience' sections of the job advert, please demonstrate how you are suitable for the role by providing relevant examples." 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 personal statement. 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 the Behaviours listed below. You will also be asked to do a presentation, details of this will be sent to you prior to the interview. Interview dates are to be confirmed. Please note that these may be subject to change. Interviews for this role will be held face to face in London, at our Marsham Street office. For further information on Success Profiles, please use the links below and watch our videos on Defra Jobs. Behaviours Experience Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Managing a Quality Service Changing and Improving Working Together Benefits Alongside your salary of £65,430, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £18,955 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 28.97%. 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) The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy Check out the video below from Jane McGeagh, Chief Operating Officer on why DDTS is a great place to work: Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. For further information on the selection process for this role, please refer to the person specification section of the job advert. 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). Please note that due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will need to be based at one of our main Defra hubs, which are York, Warrington, Newcastle, Reading and Bristol. It is also possible to be based in London but this is dependent on there being available space. 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. Reserve list A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Near miss Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match. 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. Where an individual is on a salary in their previous department above the Defra maximum for a role at the equivalent grade, they will keep their salary by being placed on the Defra maximum and the rest will be paid as a pensionable and erodible mark time allowance. 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 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 circumstance 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-Employment.Checkscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 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 (GRS) via DefraRecruitment.GRSCabinetOffice.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. 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. NSV For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting 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 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. Please note this post requires Counter Terrorist Check clearance. To gain CTC clearance, applicants will usually need to have been a UK resident for a minimum of 3 years. If this requirement is not met, the individual will not be able to progress their application further. 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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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 the Civil 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 : ddtsonpayrollrecruitmentdefra.gov.uk Email : ddtsonpayrollrecruitmentdefra.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : defrarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.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.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/ to visit Civil Service Commission. 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