Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Private Secretary Business Officer
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Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York
Job Summary
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (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.
Encouraging diverse applicants
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups.
Location
This role can be based at any Main Defra Policy Hub. You will be expected to work in the office at least 60% of the time.
Job Description
Water is vital for life - clean, freshwater for drinking and sanitation, providing for farms and industry, creating and sustaining the ecosystems on which all life depends. Yet water is a finite natural resource, facing increasing pressures from climate change and population growth. Defra has been given a mandate to make some once in a generation changes. This is a fantastic opportunity to support leaders who will be delivering reforms that will make a difference to everyone in the country: delivering safe and secure drinking water and a cleaner environment.
You will be part of a small, friendly team working together to provide business administration support. We all have our own directorates to support but work together through sharing issues, providing cover and finding solutions. You will have a clear role of your own to deliver but with a backdrop of help and advice from supportive team members.
As Senior Business Officer you will provide comprehensive Private Secretary support to the Director, ensuring the smooth running of their office and the effective management of diaries, meetings, governance activities and general administrative support. Working closely across multiple teams, you will ensure the Director is kept informed of key developments, and high-priority issues. Through the coordination of meetings, tracking actions and management of Directorate communications, you will support effective decision making and delivery. You will act on behalf of the Director where appropriate, representing their interests at all times, building strong relationships and influencing stakeholders to help drive forward Directorate priorities.
Person specification
- Lead the management and coordination of the Director’s diary and meetings, including the regular Senior Leadership Team, planning agendas and distributing papers
- Synthesise information from emails/briefings and highlighting the key points for the Director’s attention
- Line management of two Executive Assistants supporting Deputy Directors
- Liaise with colleagues and stakeholders to deal with enquiries and to coordinate appointments and engagements, arranging meetings for internal and external attendees, booking rooms, preparing materials, etc.
- Compose and circulate emails as needed on Directorate corporate issues
- Identify issues and possible conflicts that may arise to make sure the Director’s priorities are delivered.
- Act as a liaison between the Director and other colleagues to ensure clear communication
- Take a proactive approach, liaising with key staff/stakeholders for information on tasks’ progress to support the Directors’ decision-making.
- Responsible for a full range of secretarial, administrative support and assistance including taking minutes where required and keeping notes of arising actions.
- Arrange business travel and accommodation for the Director when necessary
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Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Alongside your salary of £34,765, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,071 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).
A career in the Civil Service is like no other. If you’re looking to join a world class team and develop your career with us, then the Civil Service is the place for you! You might be wondering, “what’s in it for me”? Take a look below at some of the benefits available to you as a civil servant in Defra.
Learning and Development
Everyone in Defra is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, Defra, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role, while also working with you to connect you with a civil service mentor to help empower you in your new role with the opportunity to benefit from paid for coaching.
Most importantly, we’re keen to invest in you! As a civil servant, you will also have access to Civil Service Learning where you can participate in professional development programmes across a wide spectrum of subjects and professions.
Department Benefits
Technology
We’re a firm believer in agile and flexible working. When you join Defra, we’ll kit you out with a new Windows 10 Laptop, smartphone and rucksack to make sure that you perform your best wherever you are.
Leave
- 25 days' paid leave per annum rising to 30 days after five years’ service, in addition to eight public holidays and the King’s Birthday privilege day. We also offer
- competitive maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave;
- study leave for the pursuit of academic studies;
- 3 days paid leave for volunteering per annum;
- 15 days paid leave per year for reservist training; and,
- generous paid sick leave.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Defra loans you a bike for your commute as a tax-free benefit. At the end of the loan period, you have the option to buy the bike, saving 30% of the original cost.
Season Ticket and Bicycle Loan
We offer interest-free season ticket loans, to all Defra employees with more than three months’ service, for purchasing train and bus season tickets, as well as station car parking. For those unable to take advantage of tax-free benefits, we also offer an interest-free bicycle loan to enable the purchase of a bicycle for commuting.
Gym, Social and Sports Activities
Our offices have a range of different onsite facilities, including gym, fitness facilities, games room, showers and cycle storage. There are also a variety of networks and social groups to join. Ask your line manager for more information.
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Restaurant and Café Facilities
A range of our offices offer onsite restaurant and café facilities.
Civil Service Benefits
Pension
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package, and you will be given the chance to join one of three different pension plans. You can find more information on the Civil Service Pension on the MyCSP Website at www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk
Civil Service Sports Council
The Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) organises a wide choice of activities throughout the UK, from art, gliding, abseiling and orienteering to cabaret weekends and quiz and curry nights. Your CSSC membership will provide you with FREE access to hundreds of national and local sites, in addition to savings at many high street stores, cinemas, restaurants and historic houses.
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 complete a Personal statement of 500 words and 250 words for Communicating and Influencing and 250 words on Delivering at Pace.
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 Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sifting is likely to be occur w/c 13th September, with interviews likely to take place 21st September to complete. These dates are indicative only.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Experience, behaviours and strengths.
Interviews are expected to last no longer than 45 minutes.
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
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