Private Secretary to Anjali Goswami, CSA and DG SDA Group

London

Job Summary
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (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.

This is a high-profile and fast-paced role at the heart of Defra's senior leadership, providing direct support to the Chief Scientific Adviser and Director General of the Science, Data and Analysis (SDA) Group, Anjali Goswami. As Private Secretary, you will play a pivotal role in enabling delivery of Defra's science and evidence agenda, supporting strategic decision-making, and ensuring smooth coordination across the department, wider government, and external stakeholders.

Working to the Grade 7 Head of Office, you will be responsible for: managing complex priorities, briefing flows, and stakeholder engagement. The role offers a unique opportunity to work at the interface of science, policy, and government strategy - supporting a senior leader who is shaping Defra's response to major challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss, and food security.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with excellent judgement, strong communication skills, and experience in private office or senior stakeholder environments. You'll be part of a dynamic and collaborative team, with visibility across Defra's most critical programmes and the chance to make a real impact.

Job Description
As Private Secretary to the Chief Scientific Adviser and Director General of the SDA Group, you will be responsible for working alongside the Head of Office and Assistant Private Secretary to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the private office. You will support the CSA/DG in delivering key cross-cutting priorities and managing a wide range of responsibilities that require discretion, judgement, and excellent organisational skills.

This role requires excellent judgement, discretion, and the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure. You will be trusted to represent the CSA/DG's office professionally and proactively.

Private Office roles are always evolving as priorities shift and we move to the adoption of new ways or working and introduction of new technologies. The post holder will be expected to be flexible in adopting these as well as being comfortable working across the wider team if needed.

As Private Secretary to the Chief Scientific Adviser and Director General of the SDA Group, you will be responsible for working alongside the Head of Office and Assistant Private Secretary to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the private office. You will support the CSA/DG in delivering key cross-cutting priorities and managing a wide range of responsibilities that require discretion, judgement, and excellent organisational skills.

This role requires excellent judgement, discretion, and the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure. You will be trusted to represent the CSA/DG's office professionally and proactively.

Private Office roles are always evolving as priorities shift and we move to the adoption of new ways or working and introduction of new technologies. The post holder will be expected to be flexible in adopting these as well as being comfortable working across the wider team if needed.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

• Briefing coordination: Commissioning, quality-assuring, and tracking briefing materials for internal and external engagements, including ministerial meetings, cross-government boards, and public appearances.
• Stakeholder engagement: Acting as a key point of contact for senior stakeholders across Defra, other government departments, ALBs, and external scientific bodies.
• Strategic support: Supporting the CSA/DG in delivering cross-cutting initiatives.
• Team coordination: Working closely with the wider SDA Group, Defra Private Offices, and policy teams to ensure smooth communication and alignment of priorities.
• Governance and assurance: Supporting the CSA/DG's role in governance boards, assurance panels, and scientific advisory groups.
• Diary and inbox management: Prioritising engagements, coordinating meetings, and ensuring effective time management across a complex and fast-moving schedule.
• Departmental commissions: leading and supporting on response to central commissions.
• Team administration: Supporting the wider team with general business functions including join up with HR, finance, etc.
• Innovation and transformation: Support a culture of innovation and continuous improvement by introducing new technologies including AI to help the office run as efficiently as possible.

Person Specification
Essential Criteria

• Excellent organisational skills: Able to manage competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills: Confident in engaging with senior stakeholders and representing the CSA/DG's office professionally.
• Sound judgement and discretion: Trusted to handle sensitive information and make decisions independently.
• Political awareness: Understanding of government structures, ministerial processes, and the science-policy interface.
• Team player: Collaborative approach and ability to work effectively across teams and disciplines.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Alongside your salary of £38,795, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £11,238 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

A career in the Civil Service is like no other. If you're looking to join a world class team and develop your career with us, then the Civil Service is the place for you You might be wondering, "what's in it for me"? Take a look below at some of the benefits available to you as a civil servant in Defra.

Science And Analysis Directorate Benefits
Learning and Development
Everyone in Defra is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, Defra, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role, while also working with you to connect you with a civil service mentor to help empower you in your new role.

Most importantly, we're keen to invest in you As a civil servant, you will also have access to Civil Service Learning where you can participate in professional development programmes across a wide spectrum of subjects and professions.

Department Benefits
Technology
We're a firm believer in agile and flexible working. When you join Defra, we'll kit you out with a new Windows 11 Laptop, smartphone and rucksack to make sure that you perform your best wherever you are.

Leave
25 days' paid leave per annum rising to 30 days after five years' service, in addition to eight public holidays and the King's Birthday privilege day. We also offer

• competitive maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave;
• study leave for the pursuit of academic studies;
• 3 days paid leave for volunteering per annum;
• 15 days paid leave per year for reservist training; and,
• generous paid sick leave.

Cycle to Work Scheme
Defra loans you a bike for your commute as a tax-free benefit. At the end of the loan period, you have the option to buy the bike, saving 30% of the original cost.

Season Ticket and Bicycle Loan
We offer interest-free season ticket loans, to all Defra employees with more than three months' service, for purchasing train and bus season tickets, as well as station car parking. For those unable to take advantage of tax-free benefits, we also offer an interest-free bicycle loan to enable the purchase of a bicycle for commuting.

Gym, Social and Sports Activities
Our offices have a range of different onsite facilities, including gym, fitness facilities, games room, showers and cycle storage. There are also a variety of networks and social groups to join. Ask your line manager for more information.

Restaurant and Café Facilities
A range of our offices offer onsite restaurant and café facilities.

Civil Service Benefits
Pension
Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package, and you will be given the chance to join one of three different pension plans. You can find more information on the Civil Service Pension on the MyCSP Website at

Civil Service Sports Council
The Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) organises a wide choice of activities throughout the UK, from art, gliding, abseiling and orienteering to cabaret weekends and quiz and curry nights. Your CSSC membership will provide you with FREE access to hundreds of national and local sites, in addition to savings at many high street stores, cinemas, restaurants and historic houses.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.
• A behaviour statement.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sifting is likely to be occur week commencing 24th November with interviews likely to take place week commencing 8th December. These dates are indicative only.

Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed against Civil Service Behaviours.

We'll Assess You Against These Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions

Delivering at Pace

Seeing the Big Picture

Working Together

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

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 based on your own personal experience. Submitting content that has been generated by AI or copied from others and presented as your own may be considered plagiarism. Applications found to contain such content may be withdrawn, and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please refer to our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Location
Due to the nature of this role this role is London Based and Full-Time Only

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. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

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 carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. 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. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Fixed Term Appointment
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This is a Fixed-term Appointment as a Private Secretary . The post requires temporary cover that will end 12 Months after the candidates start date, to Cover Parental Leave from February 2026. This FTA will begin from the candidate's start date and will end 12 Months Later

Reasonable Adjustment
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.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via 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're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe 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.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Higher 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. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

Job offers are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

If you are successful at interview all of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Due to the nature of the role candidates will need to obtain a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

NSV
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

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.

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.

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. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

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 counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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 counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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 Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Strategy Resourcing Team
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

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:

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here