Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Head of team – Test and Learn and Making Land Digital
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Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York
Job Summary
This is a new role in a new team set up to implement the recently published Land Use Framework. You will play a critical role in the set up of the Defra Land Use Unit including launching new research and analysis projects and being an intelligent customer for them too.
The Land Use Unit will enable Government to make more coherent, strategic decisions about how England’s finite land resource supports nature recovery, climate resilience, food production, water quality and economic growth. At present, land use decisions are often fragmented, with competing objectives pursued in isolation, inconsistent evidence, and no shared spatial framework for understanding trade‑offs or aligning priorities.
The Unit will address these barriers by acting as Government’s spatial “operating system” for land use. By improving the consistency, accessibility and use of spatial evidence, and linking policy with real-world delivery insights, the Unit will strengthen confidence in decision-making. Ultimately, it will help ensure land is used more effectively and sustainably, enabling Government to deliver the Outcomes Framework in a coordinated way.
Job Description
You will head up a new team focused on making land digital. You will work with spatial data scientists to develop new projects to improve access to data and transform the way decisions are taken about land use in England. You will also be responsible for new research projects focused on the evidence gaps identified in the Land Use Framework.
You will work across Defra Group to collate and drive relevant data and digital reform activity; with external partners to open up access and test data sharing initiatives, and; cross-Government to ensure spatial planning tools are integrated and develop solutions to address gaps in decision tools.
Person specification
Key Responsibilities
- Set the vision and strategic direction for improving access to spatial data and analytical products across the Land Use Unit and Defra to inform land use change decision-making
- Translate ministerial priorities and strategic goals into clear data and digital priorities and outcomes
- Lead the development and delivery of approaches to improve access, usability, and interpretation and application of spatial data
- Lead cross-Defra efforts to collate, align, and drive forward data and digital reform activity
- Identify evidence gaps on land use policy and commission research projects and be an intelligent customer for wider research
- Manage a research budget
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships across Defra Group to drive reform, with other government departments to integrate spatial planning tools and, with external partners to harness innovation.
- Provide strategic overview and coordination of analysis, evidence and policy within the Unit (including spatial targeting)
Essential Criteria
- Experience leading and advising on complex research and analysis projects
- Experience managing data, digital, or analytical reforms, working across multidisciplinary teams and Government
- Ability to set a clear strategic direction for land use policy, analysis, research and digital reform across Defra
- Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively and influence senior leaders including Ministers
- Ability to interpret and apply evidence to real-world policy challenges
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
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Salary
Alongside your salary of £67,730, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £19,621 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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 provide a CV and Personal Statement to demonstrate your experience relating to the Essential Requirements listed in the job advert.
- A name-blind (anonymous) CV covering your previous job history, qualifications and experience.
- A Personal Statement should be no more than 500 words to detail your experience
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
You will also need to complete 250 word statement on 3 behaviours which are:
- Leadership
- Seeing the big picture
- Delivering at pace
Sift
A sift will be conducted against your CV and Personal Statement as well as the 3 behaviours
Interview
If Successful At Application Stage, You Will Be Invited To Interview, Which Will Be a Blended Interview Assessing Behaviours And Strengths
- Leadership
- Seeing the big picture
- Delivering at pace
Strengths are tested at interview stage. The strengths tested are not shared before the interview.
Interviews will be held via MS Teams and are expected to last for 60 minutes. You will receive a link to join the interview, sent to the email address you provide on your application.
Further Information
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).
Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.
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.
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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.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
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:
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Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
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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 you’re 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.
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.
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.
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.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 applicant’s 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
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