Packaging Modelling Quality Assurance Lead

This job is with HM Land Registry, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly. Job summary How can we reduce packaging pollution in land and marine environments? How can we incentivise companies to reduce unnecessary and difficult to recycle packaging? How can we support Local Authorities to improve their waste collection infrastructure and enable the public to do the right thing? In this role you will play a major part in delivering the Collection and Packaging reforms which set out to accomplish all the above. The introduction of an Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging will incentivise companies to take greater responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products resulting in more sustainable use of resources, mitigation of climate change and reduced waste and pollution. We are looking for a lead analyst to join the Resources and Waste evidence team, to take responsibility for the analytical quality and robustness of the numerical models which will be critical to delivering this policy. The role will be delivery focused leading to the implementation of a major government project in a technically complex policy area. You will work closely with policy colleagues, analysts from all professions, and external contractors. The role will also involve engaging with stakeholders from industry, local authorities, other government departments and the Devolved Administrations. This is a brilliant time to join the team as the transition from policy design towards delivery offers huge opportunity for direct impact and a blank slate for creative analysis. Job description The Resources and Waste Team are developing business critical numerical models to calculate local authorities waste management costs and ensure the charging of producers placing packaging on the UK market. These complex models, incorporating large amounts of data, analysis and coding, are at the core of delivering Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging. You will be responsible for the overall framework to ensure the analytical quality and robustness of these models through: Implementing through your team a quality assurance process meeting relevant standards already in use for other business critical models, in Government and elsewhere; Overseeing the work of modellers and data specialists to ensure they embed best quality assurance practices in their day-to-day work; Coordinating quality assurance activities across internal and external teams, for instance to invite scrutiny of the quality assurance process from external parties; Documenting quality assurance process for auditing and stakeholder engagement purposes, and to support the development of future business critical models. Beyond the specific area of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging, we anticipate that you will be offered opportunities to support and engage with other policy areas in Resources and Waste and beyond, where similar business critical models are being developed. Person specification We are looking for an outstanding analyst, with proven skills in data science, statistics, coding and quality assurance of numerical models. Development of our models is highly collaborative so ability to work with others is key. This extends to our external contractors and stakeholders, for whom you will need to adapt your communication style to convey analysis to technical and non-technical audience. You will be confident working in a high-profile, fast-moving environment, with little supervision at times. You will also be comfortable making decisions in a context of uncertainty, basing your decisions on the best available evidence available at the time. Essential criteria: Extensive knowledge and depth of understanding of modelling and data techniques, and coding experience Previous experience in a lead analyst role, or able to demonstrate an ability to work at this level Previous experience managing (ideally) or contributing to the built and/or maintenance of business critical models Significant experience of undertaking and/or overseeing quality assurance of numerical models of similar complexity and scale Experience using R or a willingness to learn, especially collaboratively through the use of Git and Github Outstanding leadership skills, with an ability to oversee technical work and prioritise workstreams Strong collaborative skills, across professions and as part of multidisciplinary teams Outstanding communication skills, including an ability to adapt to and engage with various audiences e.g., waste technical experts and government analysts, wider industry, policy specialists and Ministers Strong organisational skills with experience of using or engaging with project management tools Line management experience Memberships Membership or accreditation of a Government analytical profession or meeting the required criteria Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Managing a Quality Service Working Together Developing Self and Others Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Technical Skills and Knowledge relevant to a Government Analytical Profession BenefitsAlongside your salary of £52,120, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £14,072 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. 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 average employer contribution of 27% Specialist pay awarded to this post - £3k Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Application Process As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete: A CV detailing your career history A Personal Statement (max. 500 words) demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the role based on the essential criteria. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Sift The sift panel will use the information in your CV and Personal Statement assessment to assess your experience and knowledge. Sifting is likely to occur w/c 9th September 2024. Interview dates will be confirmed with successful candidates in due course. Interview If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours, technical skills and experience. A presentation may be required at interview. Presentation criteria will be confirmed to successful candidates upon invite to interview. Interview dates to be confirmed. Interviews to be held via video link. 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 Defras location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes. Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed 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. 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. Salary New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 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. 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. 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: Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 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 an interview, or if youre 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. 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.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. NSV For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following pagehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting. Higher Security Clearance This post may require CTC should the successful candidate be based in London. Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter. All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. 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 applicants 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 carrying out internal fraud against government. 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. Determine your eligibility athttps://www.childcarechoices.gov.ukFeedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. 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).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further informationThis vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : RWPeopleTeamdefra.gov.uk Email : RWPeopleTeamdefra.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : defrarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact: Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Clickhttps://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/to visit Civil Service Commission. LI-DNI