Technology Innovation Consultant

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

Defra is seeking a Technology Innovation Consultant to join their DDTS team. The ideal candidate will drive business transformation through emerging technologies, providing expertise in consulting engagements and leading innovative projects. This role plays a pivotal part in shaping Defra's digital strategies, fostering collaboration, and engaging with technology stakeholders. A strong focus on strategic thinking and the ability to clearly communicate complex concepts is essential.

Benefits

25 days’ leave (rising to 30 days after 5 years)

Civil Service pension with average employer contribution of 28.97%

Flexible working options

Health cash plan

Access to retail discounts

Learning and development budget

Qualifications

• Experience in IT consulting and emerging technology transformation.
• Ability to build networks with senior business leaders and suppliers.
• Strong strategic judgment and ability to navigate ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Scan Defra’s environment for disruptive trends.
• Develop thought leadership materials.
• Lead delivery of proof-of-concepts and pilots.

Skills

Knowledge of emerging technologies

Strategic thinking

Exceptional communication skills

Ability to lead business transformation

Job description

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Our main Defra DDTS hubs are in York, Warrington, Newcastle, Reading and Bristol, however the successful candidate may be contractually based at any Defra office. Please be aware that space within the London office is restricted and it may not be possible to be based in this location.

Job Summary

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.

Digital, Data, Technology and Security (DDTS) is the trusted team for digital across the entire Defra Group.

We have around 1000 colleagues across DDTS and our ambition is to make it easier and faster than ever for people to interact with Defra. If you are ready to drive innovation and push boundaries, we want to hear from you. Join us and together we will create a great place for living, and a green and healthy future for all.

Find Out More About DDTS

Defra digital, data and technology blog

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Job Description

Architecture, Data, Information, and Innovation (ADII) is home to the Technology Innovation team. We drive business transformation across the Defra group through proactively identifying and exploiting disruptive information technologies by providing horizon scanning, exploration, and consultancy capabilities.

Examples of the team’s work over the last 12 months include the creation of working Proofs of Concept for AI Chatbots, Computer Vision for digitising physical media, AI Automation for Form Submissions, Internet Surveillance for illegal Trading and Virtual and Augmented Reality applications for field workers and training. We also create Research Papers on developing technologies like autonomous drones and Quantum Encryption.

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join us at Defra’s DDTS Technology Innovation team to support this important work. This role is instrumental in ensuring that Defra’s business strategies, policies, and operations are informed by emerging digital technologies. As Technology Innovation Consultant, you will provide subject matter expertise on emerging technologies, support horizon scanning, consultancy engagements, and lead proof-of-concept and pilot initiatives. Extensive collaboration across Defra and the broader technology landscape is essential for delivering innovative projects in the evolving tech space.

Architecture, Data, Information, and Innovation (ADII) is home to the Technology Innovation team. We drive business transformation across the Defra group through proactively identifying and exploiting disruptive information technologies by providing horizon scanning, exploration, and consultancy capabilities.

Examples of the team’s work over the last 12 months include the creation of working Proofs of Concept for AI Chatbots, Computer Vision for digitising physical media, AI Automation for Form Submissions, Internet Surveillance for illegal Trading and Virtual and Augmented Reality applications for field workers and training. We also create Research Papers on developing technologies like autonomous drones and Quantum Encryption.

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join us at Defra’s DDTS Technology Innovation team to support this important work. This role is instrumental in ensuring that Defra’s business strategies, policies, and operations are informed by emerging digital technologies. As Technology Innovation Consultant, you will provide subject matter expertise on emerging technologies, support horizon scanning, consultancy engagements, and lead proof-of-concept and pilot initiatives. Extensive collaboration across Defra and the broader technology landscape is essential for delivering innovative projects in the evolving tech space.

Person specification

Responsibilities

• Continuously scan Defra’s business environment and technology market for disruptive trends that could transform operations.
• Develop thought leadership materials such as reports and explainer videos to promote strategic and policy-driven technology adoption.
• Lead the delivery of proof-of-concepts, pilots, and proof-of-value initiatives, securing executive sponsorship and reporting findings to business leaders.
• Work with strategy, policy, and technology architecture teams to shape business models and roadmaps that incorporate emerging technology trends.
• Engage with key technology suppliers and vendors at senior levels to explore partnership and innovation opportunities.
• Build strategic relationships with academia, innovation centres, and government-backed initiatives, driving collaborative IT-enabled innovation projects.
• Champion and lead the Defra Innovation Network, fostering knowledge exchange and ideation within the technology and innovation community.
• Support the continuous improvement of Defra’s Technology Innovation exploration processes and associated tools.
  
  

Skills & Experience

• Knowledge of emerging technologies, global market trends, and the IT landscape, with the ability to assess their business impact.
• Understanding of Defra’s strategic drivers, policies, and IT strategies, ensuring technology trends align with business needs.
• Ability to lead technology-enabled business transformation, from ideation to pilot implementation, delivering clear recommendations.
• Experience in IT consulting, specifically in emerging technology transformation, with the ability to create compelling business visions.
• Proven ability to build networks with senior business leaders, suppliers, and specialist communities, securing investment and sponsorship for innovation.
• Highly creative, with the ability to envision radical business opportunities enabled by technology and deliver persuasive consultancy narratives.
• Strong strategic thinking and judgement, navigating ambiguity while shaping compelling technology adoption strategies.
• Exceptional communication skills, translating complex technical concepts into clear business opportunities for stakeholders at all levels.
  
  

Selection process

The Civil Service marks each element of the selection process on a merit basis. You can visit the gov.uk website for further information on the Civil Service rating scale.

Ensure you have tailored your CV and Personal Statement to the 'responsibilities' and 'skills and experience' section of the job advert by providing examples on how you are suitable for the role using the STAR method. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your personal statement, how you meet these requirements, as the information you provide will form a key part when the panel is scoring your application.

For further information on STAR, you can check out our Hints and Tips document.

Application process

As part of the application process, you will be assessed on your Experience and will be asked to complete:

• A CV
• A 750-word Personal Statement: "Referring to the 'responsibilities' and 'skills and experience' sections of the job advert, please demonstrate how you are suitable for the role by providing relevant examples."
  
  

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

Sift

Sift will begin shortly after the advert closes.

Should there be a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted using your personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment or interview.

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at sift, you will be invited to an interview where you will be required to prepare and present a short presentation which will be assessed against the behaviour 'Communicating and Influencing' and the technical skills 'Architecture Communication' & 'Architecture for the Whole Context'. Further information on this will be provided if successful at sift. You will also be assessed on the Behaviours and Technical skills listed below.

This is a specialised architecture role that blends elements of the Enterprise Architect and Technical Architect roles within the Government Digital Capability Framework. To find out more about them, please visit the website here.

Interviews will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams.

For further information on Success Profiles, you visit the links below and watch our videos on DefraJobs.

Behaviours

Experience

Technical

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
  
  

Technical skills

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

• Architecture communication - Level: Practitioner
• Architecture for the whole context - Level: practitioner
• Commercial perspective - Level: practitioner
• Community collaboration - Level: Practitioner
• Digital Perspective - Level: Practitioner
• Enterprise Architecture - Level: Practitioner
  
  

Alongside your salary of £54,470, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £15,779 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ leave (rising to 30 days over 5 years) plus bank holidays.
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A day off per year for the King's birthday.
• Access to a range of retail discounts (these include supermarket, tech, gym, holiday, phone and more).
• Flexible working options such as condensed hours, part-time and flexi time.
• 3 paid volunteering days per year.
• Funding for professional membership of a recognised professional body.
• Learning and development tailored to your role and budget for training or qualifications.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan to help you manage health costs for a reduced monthly fee.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme open 24 hours, 7 days a week, that provides support to you during any times of stress or difficulty.
• Free access to Headspace for wellbeing.
• Season ticket loan for public transport.
  
  

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

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 D&I Strategy

Check out the video below from Jane McGeagh, Chief Operating Officer on why DDTS is a great place to work:

Selection process details

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

For further information on the selection process for this role, please refer to the person specification section of the job advert.

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. 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.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed 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. 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.

Our main Defra DDTS hubs are in York, Warrington, Newcastle, Reading and Bristol.

Please also be aware that space within the London office is restricted and it may not be possible to be based in this location.

Reserve list

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

Near miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

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.

This post offers successful candidates the opportunity to be considered for an additional Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework Skills Supplement. The level of the awarded supplement is determined following a separate skills assessment process, the outcome of which has no impact on the decision to make a job offer. This is a non-pensionable allowance, and can be reviewed or adjusted periodically. This digital capability supplement ranges from £0 to £24,543 and you may be awarded a pay supplement within this range based on results of your additional skills assessment.

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.

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 [e-mail] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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 [e-mail] 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.

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.

NSV

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to 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.

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.

Feedback

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Security

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.

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 : [e-mail]
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

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: [e-mail]

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

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Part-time

Job function

• Job function

  Product Management and Marketing

• Industries

  Government Administration

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