Skip to main contentDeputy Director for Resources & Waste – Science & Analysis
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 1st October 2023
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Environment and Sustainability
Senior leadership
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About the job
Job summary
This a major Government programme, reforming how packaging is handled within the UK, through distinct projects: An Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for Packaging in the UK (pEPR). Consistent Collections, Deposit Return Scheme and Waste Tracking. It will also be pivotal to shaping and supporting policy and strategy—underpinned by sound science and data—covering waste’s contribution to Net Zero, extended producer responsibility for batteries, waste electricals and end of life vehicles, resource efficiency, plastics, waste crime and local environmental quality and food waste.
pEPR will require obligated producers to pay the full costs of managing packaging when it becomes waste. It will provide financial incentives through variation of the fees charged to packaging producers to encourage sustainable design, production and use of packaging.
A Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. A DRS will see a redeemable deposit placed on each drink container in-scope. When a consumer purchases a drink, they will pay this deposit. The consumer will redeem their deposit when they return the drinks container to a return point for recycling. This provides a financial incentive for consumers to recycle in-scope containers.
With Consistent Collections, increasing the consistency of materials collected for recycling, for both households and businesses, in England. Through improved collection provision at home and at work, this policy is expected to help change behaviours and to reduce confusion over the materials that can and cannot be recycled.
Finally, waste tracking will be a new digital service, mandated for use by the waste industry via secondary legislation. Waste tracking will require waste holders to record details in a central digital service when waste is moved, transferred, or treated/disposed of, replacing existing aggregated, and inconsistent waste recording requirements. The provision of more timely information will mean regulators will be able to better tackle issues such as illegal waste exports and waste site regulation. The increased transparency will make it easier for legitimate waste companies to comply with their duty of care and reporting requirements, whilst making it harder for rogue operators to compete in the industry.
Job description
This is a key leadership role with the responsibility for delivering on the Analysis and Science needs for the Directorate. We are looking for a highly visible leader, capable of leading and developing a high performing team forward on the use of Analysis and Science in decision making to support the directorates vision, with the improved use of Analysis & Science being integral for better outcomes.
The successful candidate ideally will have an interest or experience of the waste, recycling and packaging sectors and will a strong track record as an analyst with experience working in a responsive policy and delivery environment. Comfortable working at pace to produce proportionate analysis that is fit for purpose, timely and impactful, even if significant uncertainty remains.
Your personal qualities will be just as important as your professional background, as having the ability to drive a positive, inclusive and authentic organisational culture is critical. You will need to take people – both within the organisation and across its wide network of stakeholders - with you by being committed to inspiring and empowering people at all levels. You will need to be able to connect with people regardless of their background, and you will have excellent networking and collaboration skills to ensure operational excellence and business delivery is achieved. If you have the blend of skills, experience and enthusiasm to support us through this exciting new era of complex change and beyond, we look forward to hearing from you.
This a 3-year role focused on leading on analysis and science for Resources & Waste (Inc. collection and packaging reforms).
The Deputy Director will report directly to the Defra Director of Resources and Waste, Emma Bourne OBE, Director of Resource & Waste.
The responsibilities of the Deputy Director will include:
To serve as the lead analyst and/ or scientist for R&W, assuring the director/ SRO and other members of the senior leadership team of the accuracy, credibility and integrity of all outputs.
To lead the development and implementation of the Fees & Payment Calculator methodology and obligations within the EPR scheme, co-designing the approach with key external stakeholders and transferring the function into the EPR Scheme Administrator.
To lead an economics function, owning relevant inputs into programme business cases, impact assessments, and critical policy and delivery analysis (e.g. Net Zero modelling, resource efficiency)
To lead the fulfilment of all statistical reporting requirements, including Environment Act targets, Environment Improvement Plan targets, and municipal recycling rates.
To lead and develop social research and behavioural insights function that supports programme objectives to drive consumer and industry behaviour change in order to reduce, re-use and recycle resources.
- To own the R&W R&D budget, set the R&D strategy and oversee its implementation to meet the programme’s needs and ensure Defra has the evidence it needs to meet is medium and long-term R&W objectives.
- To lead a strong science function, underpinning Defra’s carbon reduction objectives.
- To lead and grow a strong analysis and science capability and drive a culture and practice of data-led policy and delivery across R&W.
- To lead the Resources & Waste Directorate, working as part of the senior leadership team, ensuring the wellbeing, development and performance of the whole directorate. You will deputise for the Director and alternate for other Deputy Directors as required.
- A strong interest in, and aptitude for, Defra’s policy and delivery priorities, with the ambition to bring new insights to bear, through the use of data, analysis and evidence, on major issues including biodiversity net gain and other major environmental targets, net zero and climate adaptation, economic resilience and productivity.
Civil Service success profiles relevant to this role are set out below (click here to view more information on Civil Service Success profiles).
Your application (personal statement and CV) should set out your evidence in relation to the person specification below (i.e. success profile behaviours, strengths and experience listed).
Person specification
- Strong technical analytical skills, with a track record of promoting, shaping and using analysis in an impactful and influential way.
- Proven experience of setting and leading the strategic direction for analysis, clearly linked to policy or delivery outcomes and evidence based decision making.
- The ability to communicate complex evidence issues clearly, succinctly, with credibility and gravitas to senior decision makers, Ministers and wide range of stakeholders.
- The ability to persuade and influence others; establish collaborative relationships with a wide range of senior, influential stakeholders across organisational boundaries.
- The ability to lead teams in a fast-paced environment and through times of change, including anticipating strategic changes and adapting to new priorities.
- The ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment and across different organisations with different priorities, to produce identifiable and effective outcomes.
- A focus on building your own capability and that of your team to be effective both now and in the future.
- The ability to lead, inspire and create positive and supportive teams who consider the diverse needs and feelings of other colleagues.
Technical
You must be a member of one of our Civil Service analytical professions or be prepared to be assessed to join one of them.
You must be able to demonstrate that you satisfy the eligibility criteria and have the competencies required at the Grade 5 / Deputy Director level for the profession within the Government Analysis Function that you want to join.
Information about each of the four professions can be found as follows:
- Economists are members of the Government Economics Service (GES). https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-economic-service
- Operational Researchers are members of the Government Operational Research Service (GORS). Information about the GORS. http://www.operational-research.gov.uk/recruitment
- Social Researchers are members of Government Social Research (GSR). https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/government-social-research/
- Statisticians are members of the Government Statistician Group (GSG). https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/government-social-research/
If you are an Analyst and are applying from outside of the Civil Service, you must be prepared to gain membership of the relevant analytical profession. (Government Economics Service, Government Social Research Service, Government Operational Research Service or Government Statistical Group). Please state your analytical or other profession (e.g. Scientist or Data Scientist) In your application.
Memberships
You must be able to demonstrate that you satisfy the eligibility criteria and have the competencies required at the Grade 5 / Deputy Director level for the profession within the Government Analysis Function that you want to join.
Information about each of the four professions can be found as follows:
Economists are members of the Government Economics Service (GES). https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-economic-service
Operational Researchers are members of the Government Operational Research Service (GORS). Information about the GORS. http://www.operational-research.gov.uk/recruitment
Social Researchers are members of Government Social Research (GSR). https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/government-social-research/
Statisticians are members of the Government Statistician Group (GSG). https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/government-social-research/
If you are an Analyst and are applying from outside of the Civil Service, you must be prepared to gain membership of the relevant analytical profession. (Government Economics Service, Government Social Research Service, Government Operational Research Service or Government Statistical Group). Please state your analytical or other profession (e.g. Scientist or Data Scientist) In your application.
Benefits
- 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 average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
You will be asked to enter some personal details, upload your CV and to provide your responses to the role’s advertised essential criteria.
When prompted to upload your CV, please upload a single document consisting of:
- A CV (including the names of 2 referees and your current remuneration) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities, achievements and your academic qualifications, specifying subject and degree level achieved. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
- A statement of suitability explaining how your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria provided in the person specification. (max. 2 pages)
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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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
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SCS Recruitment
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : scsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
