Grade: Executive Officer
Salary: £22,450 (national) or £25,167 (London), rising to £24,918 (national) or £27,963 (London) on successful completion of the scheme
Locations: York, Bristol, London, Warrington, Newcastle
Contract: Permanent, Fixed Term 24 Months

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) plays a vital role at the heart of UK life. The wide-ranging work we do includes safeguarding the natural environment, supporting the UK’s world-leading food and farming industries, sustaining a thriving rural economy and leading the engineering of the nation’s defences against natural threats and hazards. Join Defra and you will be part of a department that is responsible for the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe.

The Project Delivery Profession within Defra delivers initiatives that change the nation’s lives for the better. At a time in which demand continues to grow for exceptional and adaptable Project Management professionals, you will put your career on an exciting path when you join our 24-month apprenticeship scheme. Getting involved in some of the most interesting issues impacting on the UK, you will:

• Be exposed to projects ranging from the building of large flood defences through to the transformation of our digital capacity. 
• Develop comprehensive project management capabilities through a mixture of online learning, classroom tuition and on-the-job experience. As such, you will learn skills in the following areas: project governance and project scope; stakeholder management and communication; project leadership and resource management; project risk and issue management; project quality; and consolidated planning, budgeting and cost control.
• Benefit from the support of an experienced Line Manager and a Talent Coach who will maintain oversight of your progress, and ensure you are thriving in the team. 
• Complete a number of interesting assignments, demonstrating how you are using your new knowledge within your practical work. At the end of your apprenticeship, you will then sit the Association of Project Management (APM) exam and an ‘End Point Assessment’. On successful completion of both, you will become an Associate Member of the APM. 

This is a career-defining chance to help us shape the most innovative programmes impacting on Britain’s food, farming, environment and rural economy, whilst gaining a nationally recognised Associate of Project Management qualification. If you are an ambitious and forward-thinking individual with great communication and team-playing skills, then you will be a natural fit in our progressive department. You need to be aged 16 or over, (there is no upper age limit), and you will be hard-working and keen to learn. Crucially, you will have the right to work in the UK, and you will have been a resident of the UK, the EU or the EA for 3 consecutive years. With a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A-C or 9-4, it is possible that you will have 2 A Levels, an HNC-level qualification or other Level 4 qualification. It is also essential that you have not previously undertaken similar learning or qualifications in the project management field, as this apprenticeship is designed to equip you with new skills and learning opportunities.

Everyone in Defra is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. You will have access to learning and development from quality providers and support from mentors and coaches. We offer flexible working alongside a range of other policies and schemes to support your physical and emotional wellbeing. Our comprehensive benefits offer includes generous annual leave, a contributory pension, staff bonuses and recognition, volunteering days, childcare vouchers and other salary sacrifice options, and an employee discount scheme.

Please apply via Civil Service job search - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK and search using vacancy reference number: 97141.  The ‘Apply’ button provides a direct link.