Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location New Haw, South East England, KT15 3LS About the job Job summary This exciting and high profile pivotal SEO role sits within a newly created Change and Transformation Team within the VMD. Our primary priority over the next 18 months is the effective delivery and implementation of the Synergy programme, which is a cross government modernisation and transformation of several corporate services such as HR and Finance. Alongside our main objective, the team will also establish a centre of expertise on change, transformation, and continuous improvement, helping to ensure that VMDs wider projects and programmes are delivered in exemplary fashion. This role will involve working on a regular basis across all levels in the VMD and Defra, and with other ALBs in the Defra family including APHA, RPA, NE and MMO. It will provide an exciting opportunity for someone looking for an opportunity (in a fully supportive, friendly and positive environment) to demonstrate the civil service behaviours needed for promotion to Grade 7. Job description The Synergy Delivery & Business Change lead will co-ordinate activities pre, post and during go-live in the VMD and will oversee project and change management activities working closely with subject matter experts in HR, Finance, Digital and other specialists. This will include a mix of project management and governance, change management, stakeholder engagement, business analysis, training colleagues and capacity building. Acting as a deputy to the team leader, you will also work closely with the SyneryDefra Programme and Change team to align the rollout of common activities, in agreed sequence, in order to ensure VMD people are prepared and equipped for the changes. You will actively participate in the SynergyDefra governance meetings, providing updates on VMDs progress and readiness, along with raising blockers or risks, and areas where support is needed from the Defra programme. You will have regular contact (in a fully supported and nurturing environment) with the VMDs Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive and the VMD Executive Management Board. The principles of excellent partnership and collaborative working is fundamental to success, both working within the VMD or within the SynergyDefra wider programme. You will be given encouragement to develop the confidence and initiative to engage appropriate stakeholders at the right stages in the Synergy programme lifecycle, and will ensure impacts are understood and readiness criteria are assessed for each stage of the rollout. Working with the SynergyDefra Change team, you will help shape how successful cultural change lands within the VMD and wider Defra Group. Key responsibilities include the following: Play a leading role in the delivery of the Synergy programme within the VMD. Develop and share expertise and knowledge of Synergys objectives, and act as a deputy to the team leader. Implement and manage appropriate governance arrangements including project plans, risks and issues logs and contributing to effective project board meetings. Ensure appropriate escalation routes are managed in an effective way for a fast-paced transformation. Proactively and positively engage and communicate with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership, articulating the purpose and progress of service improvements. Advise and lead VMD teams to deliver their responsibilities drawing on project and change management expertise. This may involve working across functions and fostering collaboration by coaching teams and assisting with preparations. Drive change management efforts within the VMD and promote a culture of continuous improvement. Line manage Change Champions, as well as managing cross-functional teams on a project basis. The above list of responsibilities is not exclusive nor exhaustive and the post holder (with positive line management support) will need to be flexible and willing to undertake other related tasks that may be needed to deliver Synergy within the VMD. Person specification Were looking for someone that has/is: Experience of working on complex projects / workstreams. Experience of managing change or an awareness of change management. Ideally with a Change Management qualification. Familiarity with business analysis. Proven ability to work closely with cross-functional colleagues and key internal/external stakeholders to deliver strategic objectives and maintain strong relationships. Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the diplomatic skills to effectively convey key messages to various audiences, including senior officials. Ability to produce analysis, including costs and benefits. Comfortable working in an environment of uncertainty and continual change, with the ability to set direction and adjust as new information emerges. Ability to think of, research, and apply new ideas, encouraging innovation from others, and experimenting with new approaches. Ability to manage multiple deadlines while balancing competing demands and delivering on challenging objectives. Demonstrated ability to bring people together, incorporate feedback, and foster a friendly, collegiate, diverse and collaborative environment. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office 365 packages, particularly Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and can learn in-house packages quickly. Experience coaching teams in new ways of working. Experience with digital teams and/or service design. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Changing and Improving Seeing the Big Picture Working Together Benefits Alongside your salary of £44,500, Veterinary Medicines Directorate contributes £12,891 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Free onsite parking Free eyesight test Onsite gym Access to a prayer room Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience. Application Process As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement, and Behaviour Statements. The CV will ask for your past skills and experience. Your Personal Statement should be no more than 500 words and should provide a description of the skills, experience and attributes you would bring to this role, with particular relevance to the responsibilities as listed. When giving examples of Behaviours please use the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) format. Behaviours, Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk) Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Sift Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Changing and Improving. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. Interview If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Experience, and Strengths. A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed. Sift and Interview dates The sift will be conducted week commencing 13th January 2025. Interviews are currently scheduled to take place at the VMD Office week commencing 27 January 2025. Please note that this timeline is indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. Location This role will be contractually based at the VMD, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3LS. This is a fixed location; the VMD does not use hubs located elsewhere in the UK. You will be expected to spend at least 60% of your working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Organisation workplace includes the VMD office as well as time spent at other locations for meetings, conferences, and field-based activities. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations. This role is not suited to a homeworking contract. 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 will be required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location unless they have permission to do so. Working Pattern This is a full-time post. It may be possible for individuals to fill these roles on an 80% FTE basis, but no less due to the tight time constraints of the work commitments. Job shares could be possible, although a degree of flexibility would be required so that the job holder(s) could take full responsibility for all aspects of their own work, including attendance at relevant meetings. In order for a job share to be considered there must be two people who are successful at interview who want to work in this way. Term time / part time working would not be possible due to the short timelines assigned to the tasks and project deadli nes. 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. Salary New entrants are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. 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 may be 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.grscabinetoffice.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 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. Loan and Fixed Term Appointments Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. Fixed Term This is a Fixed-term Appointment as a Synergy Delivery and Business Change Lead in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. This post will therefore begin from a date we will agree with the appointee once we have completed all the necessary pre-employment checks, and will end 31st March 2027. The post is not permanent. It is time limited due to a fixed funding period or as part of a specific project. The fixed term will end when the funding or the project expires. Your responsibilities will include the effective delivery and implementation of the Synergy programme. 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. 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 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 : Karl Nsiah Email : k.nsiahvmd.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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