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- Tasks: Lead budget management for the Nature for Climate Programme and support environmental policy delivery.
- Company: Join DEFRA, a key player in protecting England's natural environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working options, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on climate initiatives while developing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in project budget management and strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team focused on innovative environmental solutions.
The predicted salary is between 56375 - 69105 £ per year.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP.
Job grade: Grade 7
Contract type: Permanent
Business area: DEFRA - Environment - Natural Environment, Trees & Landscapes
Type of role: Finance
Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available: 1
Location: Birmingham, Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York
About the job:
In Defra, 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. The Bio-Diversity, Land Use and Investment Directorate (BLI) delivers on the ambition for the environment to be a healthy and a beautiful place to live, work and enjoy. We are a diverse, multi-site team leading the delivery and policy thinking across a wide range of issues. Our teams deal with a huge range of issues affecting this country's natural environment. Key work areas are focused on Environmental Governance, the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan, a new Nature Strategy, Trees and Forestry, Land Use and Environmental Analysis and Evidence. BLI has an inclusive approach to work that recognises the skills, endeavour, needs and wellbeing of all our staff.
The Trees and Forestry Division of the Biodiversity, Land-use and Investment Directorate is looking for a dynamic and committed Head of Budgets and Data with good experience in the environment sphere. You will help deliver big ambitions to ramp up woodland creation and management in England, getting more of the right trees in the right places. We are wrestling with tricky policy issues, including woodland creation balancing land-use trade-offs, and the tensions between short- and long-term priorities.
Job description:
You will lead the Budget and Data team and support the wider Trees and Forestry policy and delivery work. We have a statutory target to reach, a new green finance mechanism to create and an ambitious Government agenda to support including the creation of new national forests. The role would suit a candidate who is keen to work on a high-profile area with significant political complexity and interest. The role will give you the chance to work at the heart of delivering a government priority and to use your delivery & analytical skills to directly shape environmental policy and delivery. The role holder will be responsible for leading the budget for the Nature for Climate Programme, a Government Major Programme delivering a government priority. You will be part of the Programme Management Office within the wider Trees & Forestry team. This is a multi-disciplinary team, and you will need to work closely with project, policy, finance, analytical and commercial professionals.
Person specification:
Responsibilities:
- Work with project managers and the Programme Director to set and forecast budgets at a programme level and advise on forecasting best practice at project level, across ~10 projects and multiple workstreams.
- Lead the process for reporting spend and delivery against budgets at a Programme level supporting reporting at the project level.
- Lead processes within the programme for ensuring that budgets continue to be aligned to demand and performance through regular reprioritisation of spend across the programme in line with KPIs.
- Monitor resourcing across the programme and make recommendations for reallocation of resource spend in line with demand and performance.
- Ensure that delivery is in line with the Finance Case for the programme and lead on the change control process for financial changes outside of the programme's baselines.
- Be an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting future Business Planning and Spending Review bids for Trees & Forestry, including close working with Defra ALBs.
- Offer financial expertise through training and developing templates that supports project leads with delivering using best practice methods.
Essential criteria:
- Experience of project budget management, ideally on a major government project or programme.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Ability to communicate complex budget and resource information in an accessible and impactful way to different audiences.
Behaviours:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Benefits:
Alongside your salary of £56,375, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £16,331 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.
Things you need to know:
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience. After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 15th December 2025. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn.
Nature for Climate Fund in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: DEFRA
Contact Detail:
DEFRA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Nature for Climate Fund in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its values. Tailor your responses to show how your skills align with their goals, especially around environmental issues and budget management.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online resources to get comfortable with common questions. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s time to shine.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Nature for Climate Fund in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling CV: Your CV is your first impression, so make it count! Highlight your relevant experience and qualifications that align with the role. Keep it clear and concise, focusing on what makes you the perfect fit for the Nature for Climate Fund.
Nail Your Personal Statement: This is your chance to shine! Use the 750 words wisely to showcase your skills, qualities, and experiences. Make sure to directly reference the essential criteria in the job description to demonstrate how you meet them.
Showcase Your Behaviours: For the Behaviour Statements, think of specific examples that illustrate how you've made effective decisions in the past. Keep it under 250 words and ensure it’s impactful – this is your moment to show us what you’re made of!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s straightforward and ensures your application gets to the right place. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at DEFRA
✨Know Your Numbers
Since this role involves budget management, make sure you brush up on your financial knowledge. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've managed budgets in the past, including any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
✨Understand the Environment Sector
Familiarise yourself with current issues in the environment sector, especially those related to trees and forestry. Being able to discuss recent policies or initiatives will show your genuine interest and understanding of the role's context.
✨Practice Your Communication Skills
You'll need to communicate complex budget information clearly. Practice explaining financial concepts in simple terms, as if you're talking to someone without a finance background. This will help you during the interview when answering questions about your analytical skills.
✨Showcase Teamwork Experience
This position requires collaboration with various professionals. Prepare examples that highlight your ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams, focusing on how you contributed to team success and navigated any conflicts or challenges.