Job Description

Details

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Reference number

430728

Salary

81,000 - 100,000
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

SCS Pay Band 1

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

NBC Programme

Type of role

Project Delivery

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Weybridge and London (presence at both required routinely)

About the job

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Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the development of a world class science facility delivering infrastructure critical to animal health and farming in the UK. The NBC programme is designed to deliver the new facilities over a ten-year programme of work, with a cost in excess of 1B.


Defra group is responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Its mission is to protect and enhance the environment - with policies and actions that are also key to sustainable national growth.


The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) works to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy. APHA is responsible for veterinary research and surveillance; itis at the forefront of research into diseases such as TB, TSEs, Blue Tongue and Avian Influenza; it is critical in protecting the UK farming and food industries from the impact of animal disease and for ensuring that outbreaks of animal disease are successfully contained.


The NBC Programme involves the re-development of APHA's science laboratories based at Weybridge. The site has a wide range of specialist and complex scientific facilities, laboratories and a range of other buildings, and is one of only a small number of such sites across the world. The Weybridge site is the largest facility in terms of size and complexity across the Defra network.

Job description

This Programme will oversee the re-development of this large site over a 10-year period. It is critical to the continued successful running of APHA's science business to enhance the capability and upgrade the research facilities. The programme includes the clearing of part of the site, by temporarily relocating a substantial part of the APHA team and facilities to allow the construction of a new consolidated Science Hub. This major redevelopment has the added challenge of maintaining science operations on the site during the development of the new facilities. The vision of the NBC Programme is to bring all facilities, laboratories and associated functions together into new fit for purpose facilities, together with the required infrastructure and public realm improvements.

Role Purpose

As Deputy Director, Capital Works (Enabling and Infrastructure) within the NBC programme, the key immediate challenge will be to act as lead sponsor for enabling and infrastructure works to clear and prepare the site for the main construction to begin in 2027, as well as ensure the infrastructure is in place for live operations. The urgency of the re-development at Weybridge means this must be achieved to meet the Defra strategy for the site. This will be a critical role given the complex interdependencies on a site which must remain operational throughout the works. The post-holder will work closely with the NBC Programme Delivery Partner, responsible for delivery of capital works, and the programme Technical Partner as well as other key stakeholders on the site, including APHA and Defra Group Property, to ensure works are aligned with overall site wide strategies and requirements.


This is a specialist Deputy Director role that will operate within the Defra Group Project Delivery Profession. Reporting to the NBC Programme Director with specific responsibility for sponsorship of the delivery of defined capital works, they will be a key part of the NBC Senior Leadership team, working closely with the NBC Programme Executive, the main Internal Governance Board for the Programme.

Key Responsibilities

Acting as Sponsor for capital works delivery (enabling and infrastructure) on behalf of the NBC Programme Intelligent Client Function (ICF), responsible for strategy, investment approvals, and leadership of the Delivery Partner/Supply Chain for projects within scope through requirements elicitation, design, construction, commissioning and handover. This primarily encompasses enabling projects, infrastructure and site logistics in the near term, but other capital projects may form part of the role/portfolio in future. Working with the Programme team to support the development of project delivery strategies, collaborating with the Delivery Partner to integrate all enabling, infrastructure, and early works including energy, power, services and logistics. Overseeing the delivery of a Master Outline Planning Application, dealing with reserved matters and ensuring compliance with planning conditions for all projects within the portfolio. Ensuring projects achieve their objectives (e.g. clearing the footprint on time and within budget), focusing on value-for-money throughout their lifecycle, and reporting progress, issues, risks and mitigations to the Programme Executive and Board. Building and maintaining respected and trusted relationships with APHA, Defra group Property, consultants, contractors, government stakeholders (i.e. Government Property Unit, Health & Safety Executive, and Home Office) and key regulators to ensure safety, ethical, and biosecurity standards are met. Acting as a member of the Senior Leadership Team for NBC, building team capability, supporting the delivery of corporate objectives for the Programme and DEFRA.

Person specification

Your CV and Statement of Suitability should provide evidence and examples which demonstrate capability and potential against the essential criteria

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Essential criteria

Experience of overseeing, as sponsor, the delivery of major, complex construction projects from within an Intelligent Client function, working alongside scientific, engineering and construction delivery professionals across a diverse, complex organisation. Experience of managing the design and construction of complex, technical design-led programmes, which may include multi-discipline high containment laboratories, scientific facilities or other complex infrastructure. Strong leadership skills with a track record of leading high-calibre, multi-disciplinary teams (across multiple suppliers) to deliver against demanding timescales across diverse customer groups. Experience of the governance and oversight requirements associated with leading a complex public sector project, such as those within the GMPP Portfolio or similar. A sound understanding of the regulatory, legal and financial aspects of delivering complex, technical, design-led programmes and experience of engagement with regulatory authorities.

Desirable criteria

Professional membership of a recognised accrediting body such as RICS, ICE, CIOB, CIBSE, RIBA or equivalent. Accreditation at senior or master practitioner level under the government project delivery profession scheme or working towards it - or a willingness to achieve such accreditation, supported by the Department.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:


Leadership Communicating and Influencing Making Effective Decisions Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 81,000, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes 23,465 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Selection process details:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Engagement event:

There will be a webinar hosted by

Colin Dingwall, Senior Responsible Officer, NBC Programme

on

Thursday 30th Oct at 12.30-13:00pm

.To give candidates a chance to hear more about the role and to ask questions. Please use the following link to access this event Here

Application Process:

As part of the application process, candidates are asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement

(no more than 1250 words)

on how your relevant skills and experience meet the

essential criteria.

Completed applications must be submitted no later than the closing date of

23:55pm 10

th

November 2025

Sift:

A sift will be conducted against the key criteria above and will assess your experience. The sift is to be conducted w/c 10th November 2025.

Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA):

This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panel's decision-making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates at the earliest opportunity.


For further information regarding the assessments please visit - https://scs-assessments.co.uk/

Fireside conversation:

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a discussion with the vacancy holder prior to the interviews. This will not result in a pass or fail decision, but instead support the panel in its decision-making. Conversations will take place on Friday 21st November 2025 in person in 2, Marsham street, SW1P 4DF.

(Please note: These are in person only and there are no alternative dates available.

Interviews:

You will be asked to attend an in person panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the essential criteria for the role


As part of the interview, we would ask you to prepare and present a short presentation and will confirm the topic in the interview invitation. You will be assessed on the following behaviours at the interview stage:

Leadership,

Communicating and Influencing

Making Effective Decisions

Managing a Quality Service

Other Information:

Please let us know what adjustments we can put in place to help you through the recruitment process if you are disabled.


Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be offered similar roles across the department.


Defra Is committed to 'name blind' sifting. That means that identifying characteristics such as your name, gender, age, address are removed from your application until after shortlisting for interview has taken place.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.




As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .



See our vetting charter .
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) 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : SCS Recruitment Team Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

* Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk