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General information

Posting ID
PSR1JP00099998
Type of employment
Contract
Organisation
Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
Contract duration
6 months
Workplace Type
Remote

Description & Requirements

On behalf of DEFRA we are looking for a Strategic Engagement and Communications Team Lead (Inside) for a 6 month contract based remotely.

In the Defra group, 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. We have developed a set of three strategic objectives covering our policy outcomes and corporate objectives. These objectives help us to deliver our ambitious vision to build our green and healthy future and provide a framework for all the important work we carry out.

Our objectives are:

  • To pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future. 
  • To lead the world in food, farming, and fisheries with a sustainable model of food production. 
  • To be an outstanding organisation focused on making a difference, with world class delivery capability. 

 

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (https://www.gov.uk/)

25 Year Environment Plan - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/)

 

About the Role

The UK is committed to tackling global deforestation and promoting sustainable forest management. As agriculture accounts for approximately 90% of global deforestation — largely driven by internationally traded commodities — the Government is introducing legislation to eliminate illegal deforestation from UK supply chains.

This role plays a central leadership role in shaping and delivering the Division’s strategic engagement and communications function. The postholder will lead high-profile domestic and international engagement, support consultation and implementation of secondary legislation, ensure clear and consistent industry messaging, and manage key bilateral and multilateral relationships that underpin the UK’s legislative and diplomatic objectives.

The role requires strong strategic oversight, stakeholder leadership, and the ability to align communications and engagement activity across government, business, and international partners.

 

As a Strategic Engagement and Communications Team Lead your main duties will be:

  • Plan, oversee, and deliver strategic Ministerial, Parliamentary, and senior official engagement, including high-profile visits and engagement moments
  • Lead the communications strategy, including forward-looking communications planning, stakeholder messaging, and high-quality briefing for Ministers, senior officials, and external audiences
  • Lead bilateral relationships and multilateral engagement with priority international partners (e.g. Brazil, Indonesia), ensuring strong collaboration and alignment with UK policy objectives
  • Work closely with Defra Strategic Communications, the International Biodiversity and Climate Directorate (IBC), and cross-Whitehall teams to ensure coordinated engagement across multilateral fora, Ministerial visits, and major events
  • Provide strategic advice on international engagement priorities, risks, and opportunities to support legislative and diplomatic aims
  • Lead structured engagement and consultation with international partners, businesses (including major retailers, commodity traders, and SMEs), trade bodies, civil society, and devolved administrations
  • Oversee the development of high-quality communications products, external guidance, and tailored stakeholder messaging
  • Lead and motivate a multidisciplinary team, fostering an inclusive and high-performing working culture

 

Essential Criteria:

  • Proven ability to design and deliver high-profile domestic and international engagement strategies for complex policy proposals
  • Strong stakeholder management experience across international partners, business, trade bodies, Parliament, and civil society
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a broad range of stakeholders
  • Strong programme and project delivery capability, including planning, RAID management, and milestone tracking
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a multidisciplinary team, fostering inclusion and high performance

 

Desirable Criteria:

  • Knowledge of supply chain due diligence, sustainable commodities, responsible business conduct, or sustainability reporting frameworks
  • Experience working with industry and expert groups on sustainability or commodity-related issues
  • Familiarity with regulatory compliance, digital service design, and data standards
  • Background in environmental policy related to forestry, land use, or agricultural commodities (e.g. palm oil, soy, cattle, cocoa, rubber, timber)

 

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, Defra guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

This scheme encourages candidates with a disability and/or neurodivergence to apply. In exceptional circumstances, we may also need to apply the desirable criteria in our shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

 

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following: this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different.

 

 

 

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