Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Sustainability and Utilities Officer
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Job Summary
As a key member of the Property Sustainability and Energy team, you will assist in a range of activities to ensure the provision and payment of utilities (inc. gas, electric, water) for Defra Group and Environment Agency Properties.
This Will Include:
- Collating invoices, working with colleagues to arrange payment of c.£3m of energy bills per month
- Updating data sheets to reflect changes in property ownership/ utility meter
- Allocation and distribution of costs between sites
- Driving efficiencies in our team processes, including through the use of AI/CoPilot.
- Reporting performance on the Greening Government Commitments (government sustainability targets)
- Assistance in wider sustainability, energy efficiency and resilience projects as required
Job Description
The Property Sustainability & Energy team reports to Defra’s Chief Sustainability Officer and is part of the Centre for Environmental Resilience and Efficiency in Government (CEREG). Collectively, we are responsible for driving positive environmental change within Defra, including energy management, decarbonisation, nature recovery and climate change adaptation.
As a key member of the Property Sustainability and Energy team, you will assist in a range of activities to ensure the provision and payment of utilities (inc. gas, electric, water) for Defra Group and Environment Agency Properties.
This Is Likely To Include:
- Collating invoices, arranging payment of c.£3m of energy bills per month
- Updating data sheets to reflect changes in property ownership/ utility meter
- Allocation and distribution of costs between sites
- Driving efficiencies in our processes, including through the use of AI/CoPilot.
- Reporting performance on the Greening Government Commitments (government sustainability targets)
- Assistance in wider sustainability, energy efficiency and resilience projects as required.
You will be part of an immediate team of 7-8 people, working together to deliver our goals. The wider CEREG team has around 35 FTE.
Our team are passionate about our work, investing in our people to increase capability and professionalism in Environmental Sustainability (and related fields).
Person Specification
Experience
- Experience of data management/interpretation, Excel, Power-BI, or similar.
- Excellent written, IT based professional and verbal communication skills.
- Experience with managing large data sets
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Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Making decisions/recommendations using data
Salary and Benefits
- Salary: Alongside your salary of £30,681, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £8,888 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- 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%
- Flexi Time Policy
- Leave: 25 days’ leave (rising, over 5 years, to 30 days’)
- Privilege day: time off for the King’s birthday and 8 public holidays a year
- Career breaks: unpaid extended breaks from work
- Volunteering leave: 3 days paid volunteering leave every year (pro-rata)
- Season ticket loan: interest-free loan for train and bus season tickets
- Tenancy deposit loan: interest-free loan for your privately rented home deposit
- Salary advances and loans: for new entrants, bicycle purchase, holidays, and religious holidays
- Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme
- Support to buy a bicycle: Cycle to Work Scheme and Bike loan scheme
- High-street and online discounts through SmartSpending™
- Maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave: 52 weeks leave
- Professional Membership: Defra group will fund one professional membership per employee
- Eye care scheme: regular eyesight test and help towards purchasing new glasses
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): free 24/7 confidential telephone advice service
- Civil Service Sports Council membership
Selection Process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience, and Technical skills.
- Application: Complete a CV, personal statement, and behaviour statements.
- Sift: Initial sift on Managing a Quality Service may be conducted. Full sift or direct assessment/interview may follow.
- Interview: Scheduled w/c 16th November. Assessment may include a presentation or other assessment.
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Location
Successful candidates can agree a contractual workplace from the listed locations. The agreed workplace is the permanent place of work. Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces are subject to departmental policies.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and cannot sponsor individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Commonwealth countries with the right to work in the UK
- EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein nationals with settled or pre-settled status under the EUSS
- EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein nationals with valid settled or pre-settled status application under the EUSS
- Individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who applied for EUSS by 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals and certain family members with the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
- The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
- Recruitment is based on merit and fair competition.
- The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.
- Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities.
- Redeployment Interview Scheme for at-risk civil servants.
Diversity and Inclusion
- The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining, and investing in talent.
- Part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
- Welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction.
Contact Point for Applicants
- Job Contact:
- Name: Tom Norton
- Email: Thomas.Norton@defra.gov.uk
- Recruitment Team:
Further Information
- If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, contact Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
- If unsatisfied with the response, contact the Civil Service Commission.
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