Senior Policy Advisor - Climate Change and Environment
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 28th October 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Policy
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
Ministry of Defence, Abbey Wood, Bristol BS34 8JH
Ministry of Defence, Andover SP11 8HT
Whilst embracing hybrid working, there is an expectation you will attend the office and travel to London will be required as part of this role.
About the job
Job summary
Do you care about the preservation of the natural world and how we deliver battle winning effect while protecting the environment from harm? If so, this is your chance to make a real difference.
The Climate Change and Environment (CCE) Policy team is small team within the Climate Change and Environment Directorate, responsible for setting the direction and ambition level for environment across Defence. The team cover a very broad range of activities, from environmental protection, climate mitigation and adaptation, to engagement, communications and professionalisation.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
We are looking for a passionate and motivated individual to join the CCE policy team, to lead and support the environmental protection portfolio. The successful candidate will be required to:
CCE Policy and guidance development:
- Support/ lead on the development and maintenance of MOD environmental policy and guidance which includes the authorship of Joint Service Publications (JSPs) for environmental protection.
- During policy and guidance development, work with subject matter experts (SMEs) and colleagues across Defence to shape, develop and implement policy.
- Lead efforts in emerging areas, for example PFAS (forever chemicals) to develop strategy and initiatives for Defence to minimise impacts and manage risk.
- Support/ lead on the delivery of working groups, workshops and consultation phases with SMEs during environmental policy development.
- Provide SME advice and support on environmental protection, statutory obligations and best practice.
Compliance, performance, and assurance:
- Identify and embed environmental considerations into Defence and champion the environmental protection agenda within MOD.
- Support/ lead on assurance activities and the review of the effectiveness of CCE policy across Defence.
- Support the development of the Environmental Operating Model and underpinning elements to provide coherence across Defence on environmental matters.
Engagement, coordination and collaboration:
- Maintain good relationships with the Defence internal regulators and external statutory regulators, including maintaining Memorandums of Understanding with statutory regulators to establish a common understanding and partnership working.
- Engage with key MOD and cross-government colleagues, nurturing, and maintaining collaborative working relationships and regular communication.
- Where appropriate, support drafting of papers for key MOD boards/committees such as the Defence Environment and Safety Committee (DSEC), working with relevant stakeholder to escalate risks.
- Provide support the 2x G7 in the wider team when required on additional tasks that arise. This could include, for example, supporting wider policy delivery, secretariat, supporting responses to Ministerial Correspondence.
- Attendance and participation at meetings, presentations, conferences and site visits may be required from time to time.
Person specification
Applicants should have initiative, problem-solving skills, ability to work collaboratively, establish strong networks and handle the pressure of working across a wide range of environmental topics and activities.
Essential:
- A recognised relevant qualification or professional experience in a relevant field.
- Membership with a professional body e.g. IEMA.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Strong written and oral communication skills with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Confidence to engage with, and influence, when necessary, key stakeholders from across MOD and wider.
Desirable:
- Experience of working in a technical policy area.
- Knowledge of Defence climate change and environmental matters.
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Changing and Improving
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%
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
‘London locations may attract locational allowances. The ‘Inner London Weighting RRA Allowance’ is £3,250 per annum and the ‘Outer London Weighting RRA Allowance’ is £1,750 per annum.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD 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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Selection process details:
Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history, full details of education, qualifications and previous experience and skills. Candidates will be required to complete a Statement of Suitability of no more than 750 words. Please provide experience relevant to the role. There will be a sift and interview. The sift will be made on the candidates CV, Statement of Suitability and Civil Service behaviour Changing and Improving.
Behaviours:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and improving (Application and Interview)
- Working together (Interview)
- Communicating and influencing (Interview)
- Making effective decisions (Interview)
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Cara Bentley - Assistant Head Environmental Protection
- Email : cara.bentley109@mod.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk
Further information
info@csc.gov.uk.
