Senior Policy Advisor

Posting date:	26 January 2026
Salary:	£42,665 to £50,495 per year
Additional salary information:	National: £42,665 - £46,765 London: £46,060 - £50,495 For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’.
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	06 February 2026
Location:	York
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	445656/4

Summary

You will be working in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the UK government department responsible for improving and protecting the environment. Defra’s vision is to make the air purer, the water cleaner, the land greener and food more sustainable, by supporting a productive food and farming sector and resilient rural communities.

Our work touches people’s everyday lives, from the food we eat and the water we drink to the places we live and work. We are responsible for England’s environment, countryside, rural economy and food system, and for reducing risks from flooding, animal and plant disease and other natural hazards. Your role will be vital in helping Defra deliver its priorities and achieve positive outcomes for people, nature and the economy.

As a Senior Policy Officer, you will work as part of a team, engaging with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and contributing to the development of policy and strategy. You will play an active role in shaping and delivering Defra group priorities, working collaboratively and creatively to achieve strong outcomes. Specialist knowledge of specific policy areas is not required, as you will be supported to build your understanding in the role. You will also have opportunities to develop your skills and support your future career progression.

Defra’s profile has never been higher, and its wide-ranging remit offers genuine opportunities to influence policy and outcomes. Work is organised across directorates, workstreams and projects that flex to deliver ministerial priorities.

You will work as part of a collaborative team made up of peers and senior colleagues, supporting shared delivery. In some roles, you may also line manage a small team of Higher Executive Officers (HEOs) and Executive Officers (EOs).

The role involves building strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Internally, this may include Ministers, Directors, and colleagues across Defra. Externally, you may work with industry bodies, non-governmental organisations, and members of the public.

As a Senior Policy Officer, you will help deliver Defra’s top priorities and may be required to work in different directorates. While no two roles are the same, work typically includes:

• Understanding and leading on selected policy areas.

• Using evidence and expert advice from within and outside government to inform policy decisions.

• Supporting policy teams to brief Ministers and senior officials.

• Planning and prioritising work to deliver high-quality outcomes on time, including, in some cases, managing a small team of HEOs and EOs.

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About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.