Soil Scientist

A unique science specialist opportunity has become available in the Soil and Peat Science Team in Defra. Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-Leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.
The Strategy, Governance and Climate (SGC) Directorate, within which our team is located, works across a broad range of domains including climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental governance, and the 25-year environment strategy. The Access, Landscapes, Peatlands and Soil (ALPS) division is within the SGC Directorate and leads on a range of policy areas for soils and peatlands, protected landscapes and access to nature. The ALPS division offers a friendly, collaborative and supportive environment in which to develop. We attach importance to what we do, as well as how we do it, by valuing learning and development and rewarding success.
The Soil and Peat Science and Evidence team support several policy teams responsible for delivering ambitious targets set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan and Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan. Both soils and peat are recognised by the government as natural assets which deliver a range of ecosystem service benefits including flood mitigation, carbon storage and biodiversity, supporting nature recovery, and have key roles to play in meeting Defra's environmental objectives. We are seeking a Senior Scientific Officer to join the team who has experience in soil science or a closely related discipline.
We are a small, friendly team of natural scientists whose principal role is to support the soil and peatlands policy teams by delivering scientific evidence and acting as subject matter experts to the department.
The post holder will develop, manage and deliver a range of scientific evidence and research activities that support soil and peatland policy and their contributions to Defra’s objectives. Policy must be based on the best available evidence and analysis and so it is essential that the post holder is able to critically assess the evidence available as well as effectively communicate the evidence to expert and non-expert audiences. They must build and maintain networks with senior leadership as well as the research community, guide and advise policy as a subject matter expert, and work effectively within a larger evidence and analysis community. Scientists in this team will work alongside other evidence teams across the department and other government departments, regularly feeding into policy or contributing their knowledge on a diverse range of issues affecting soils and peat both domestically and internationally.
Soils policy is focused on improving soil health and the resilience of our soils. The science team will therefore deliver supporting evidence that considers the biological, chemical, and physical attributes of soil. Policy areas currently supported include soil health measuring and monitoring, development of robust soil health baseline data and a soil health indicator, soil mapping products, sustainable soil management, and understanding the threats to soil health and soil resilience.
The post holder will drive the delivery of research projects to fill evidence gaps. this will include commissioning of external research, scoping and developing research specifications, managing the procurement process, contract management to ensure delivery of evidence needs, managing relationships with researchers, quality assuring evidence outputs and communicating research findings to policy. The post holder will be required to work closely with a diverse range of stakeholders including other organisations in the Defra Group (Natural England, the Environment Agency, JNCC etc), academic institutions, research organisations, and third sector organisations.
We are a small, friendly team of natural scientists whose principal role is to support the soil and peatlands policy teams by delivering scientific evidence and acting as subject matter experts to the department.
The post holder will develop, manage and deliver a range of scientific evidence and research activities that support soil and peatland policy and their contributions to Defra’s objectives. Policy must be based on the best available evidence and analysis and so it is essential that the post holder is able to critically assess the evidence available as well as effectively communicate the evidence to expert and non-expert audiences. They must build and maintain networks with senior leadership as well as the research community, guide and advise policy as a subject matter expert, and work effectively within a larger evidence and analysis community. Scientists in this team will work alongside other evidence teams across the department and other government departments, regularly feeding into policy or contributing their knowledge on a diverse range of issues affecting soils and peat both domestically and internationally.
Soils policy is focused on improving soil health and the resilience of our soils. The science team will therefore deliver supporting evidence that considers the biological, chemical, and physical attributes of soil. Policy areas currently supported include soil health measuring and monitoring, development of robust soil health baseline data and a soil health indicator, soil mapping products, sustainable soil management, and understanding the threats to soil health and soil resilience.
The post holder will drive the delivery of research projects to fill evidence gaps. this will include commissioning of external research, scoping and developing research specifications, managing the procurement process, contract management to ensure delivery of evidence needs, managing relationships with researchers, quality assuring evidence outputs and communicating research findings to policy. The post holder will be required to work closely with a diverse range of stakeholders including other organisations in the Defra Group (Natural England, the Environment Agency, JNCC etc), academic institutions, research organisations, and third sector organisations.
Support, guide and critique policy as it is developed, communicating the best available evidence from a range of sources and ensuring that policy development is evidence-based.
Scope, develop, procure and manage research projects and contracts to address specific evidence gaps and inform policy development.
Act as the key point of contact for soil and peatland science activities and developments across Defra.
Build effective relationships and networks with leading academics and researchers, engaging with external research projects relevant to Defra, representing Defra on project advisory boards and steering groups.
A scientific understanding of soil science, and a good general awareness of the broader policy issues affecting soils and peatlands in England.
Experience of undertaking research and in the development and management of research.
Good project management skills including the ability to lead the delivery of research projects, monitor the budget and delivery of research outputs, and manage multiple pieces of work or projects at the same time.
The role requires a postgraduate qualification (preferably but not necessarily doctorate level) in a relevant natural science discipline (e.g. soil science, environmental science, geography, agronomy or similar), or significant experience that is related/transferable to soil or peat science.
Communicating science and engineering for government - Providing and handling evidence – drawn from the Government Science and Engineering Career Framework

Alongside your salary of £42,665, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £12,360 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:
A CV detailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications). A Personal Statement (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience evidence of your suitability for this role in reference to the essential criteria.
Candidates successful at sift stage will be invited to a video assessment/interview that will consist of a blended interview of Behaviour, Strengths, Experience and Technical Skills questions.
The presentation topic will be emailed to candidates who have passed the initial online application stage 1 week prior to interview. This presentation will assess candidates against the technical skills set out in the Government Science and Engineering Career Framework..
Please note that interviews via video use Microsoft Teams and you will need to use your device to access the video link.
You will receive a link to join the interview at the appointed time through the email account you provide us with on your application.
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 Defra’s location policy and site capacity, 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. 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 perform all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.
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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website .
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.
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. 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.
All these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. 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. 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. 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.
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 interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional.
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.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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.
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) .
smedley@defra.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.