Defra is a ministerial department with principal locations in London, Bristol, York, and Newcastle. It currently directly employs over 6800 Civil Servants, but has a broader workforce of 33,000 across its Defra group network which is made up of 8 major agencies and public bodies. 

Defra's mission is to safeguard what matters most: food, water, air, and the safety of the country to create a world where businesses grow, people thrive, and our natural environment is protected for future generations. This is underpinned by our Secretary of State's five priorities:

• to clean up Britain's rivers, lakes and seas; 
• create a roadmap to a circular economy; 
• support farmers to boost food security; 
• ensure nature's recovery; and, 
• and protect communities from the dangers of flooding. 

Defra's impact extends beyond borders, sharing our expertise and shaping policies globally. Our delivery approach is rooted in the collaboration of independently unique professionals working together from across the Defra group network, seamlessly blending the skills of civil and public servants, and using the application of science, data, and innovation to deliver our ambitious outcomes, efficient services and strengthen resilience.  

Our people are therefore at the heart of making this happen, and we are committed to building an inclusive, dynamic workplace and investing in our people, so together, we can improve living standards, support better public services and create a more sustainable future. 

The Permanent Secretary is the lead adviser to the Secretary of State; they represent the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at the highest level. 

Specifically, the Permanent Secretary:

• Acts as the primary policy adviser to the Secretary of State and his Ministerial team in setting the overall strategy and policy for the Department, ensuring it is cost effective, evidence-based and achievable. 
• As Accounting Officer, is accountable to Parliament for the Department's performance and expenditure, managing a budget of approximately £7 Billion. To do this successfully the Permanent Secretary will have the breadth and depth of experience to fulfil the significant Accounting Officer responsibilities, including the ability to interact confidently and expertly with HM Treasury counterparts. 
• Provides strong engaging leadership to the department by translating Ministers' ambitions into a clear vision to our people, setting a clear direction for that vision and ensuring it is organised, resourced and motivated to support Ministers effectively, and deliver their key priorities. 
• Drives reform and transformation, providing strong change leadership to optimise opportunities, focused on organisational reform, embedding innovation and adopting greater flexibility and agility in ways of working to deliver operational efficiencies.
• Motivates and engages staff to develop their capability and is a role model for the values of the Civil Service, reinforcing and supporting a culture of continuous improvement, high performance and excellent delivery. 
• Works with the departments Arm's Length Bodies, ensuring they use their resources effectively in the delivery of the government's aims.

To help you succeed in this role, you must have a strong commitment to the Civil Service values of impartiality, honesty, integrity and objectivity, and you will likely have the following essential criteria: 

• The ability to secure the confidence of Ministers and senior leaders in developing and delivering complex policy and strategy alongside a successful track record of working collaboratively across organisations;
• Well-developed political judgement with experience of working closely with senior stakeholders, whilst providing constructive challenge and candid advice;
• Exceptional strategic capability and the resilience to work under sustained pressure and scrutiny and lead through ambiguity; 
• Experience and confidence in managing large and complex budgets and for maintaining strong, effective governance arrangements to drive efficiency and value for money; and, 
• Confident, inclusive and engaging leadership skills, with a proven commitment to inclusive leadership, with exceptional capability to lead others through transformational organisational change.

• 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%

Job contact :

• Name : Jo Whitehead
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]