About this role
On behalf of Defra, we are looking for a Portfolio Support Officer X4 (Inside IR35) for a 3 Month contract based REMOTELY.
In the Defra group, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. We have developed a set of three strategic objectives covering our policy outcomes and corporate objectives . These objectives help us to deliver our ambitious vision to build our green and healthy future and provide a framework for all the important work we carry out.
Our objectives are:
- To pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future.
- To lead the world in food, farming, and fisheries with a sustainable model of food production.
- To be an outstanding organisation focused on making a difference, with world class delivery capability.
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs www.gov.uk .
25 Year Environment Plan - GOV.UK www.gov.uk .
As a Portfolio Support Officer , your main responsibilities will be:
- Develop and maintain function delivery plans in partnership with Function leads and stakeholders, providing support, challenge and assurance to improve delivery outcomes.
- Provide constructive challenge and assurance to ensure plans are aligned, feasible and deliverable.
- Monitor delivery against plans, identifying risks, dependencies and emerging issues.
- Provide cross-service insight and assurance to support organisational delivery.
- Support the escalation, coordination and resolution of critical delivery issues.
- Build effective relationships with Function owners and stakeholders, providing support, challenge and assurance to improve delivery outcome
Essential:
- Experience of developing, coordinating and monitoring delivery plans.
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and dependencies.
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams and build effective stakeholder relationships.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including reporting to senior stakeholders.
- Experience supporting the escalation and resolution of complex operational or delivery risks and issues.
- Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.
Disability Confident
As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, Defra guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.
Armed Forces Covenant
Defra guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.
In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".