About us

Our vision is to place commercial expertise and excellence at the heart of sustainable business delivery. We are high performers operating in some of the most challenging markets delivering the maximum value from our £2-4bn annual expenditure.

Together, we are constantly collaborating to arrive at better solutions for our environment, and the whole of the UK. This makes for truly fascinating work.

Career development

We activiely support staff to develop their skills and capabilities. There are a wide range of development opportunities both formal and informal to help our people reach their potential. We care about our Talent Pool. Through talent schemes, internships and reverse mentoring, we support career development at every level.

Our Culture

We build inclusion into every team. We encourage colleagues to participate in our networks for Social Mobility, Ethnic Minority, Disability and Break the Stigma (mental health).

We are a welcoming community,  and we actively promote a culture which supports inclusivity. We employ people from a range of backgrounds and all walks of life, and we respect and celebrate our differences.

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Our employees

Defra is where you can enjoy an ethos of flexibility and innovation, alongside hard work and dedication. It is where you will be able to balance the requirements of your role with your responsibilities and passions outside work, while receiving endless encouragement to hone your skills and progress your career.

Our employees tell us that Defra is a great place to work, and that they feel respected and valued by their colleagues, managers and our customers.  

Brand values

Our core values are: a shared vision and endeavour, creating an honest space, taking collective responsibility, fast and informed decision making, working together to get the job done, and being kind and staff wellbeing. 

DEFRA

Meet the team

Joanne
Senior Commercial Officer - NW

I really enjoy working in the Infrastructure category – our work is always interesting and varied. I love seeing our projects when I’m out and about, and knowing that we really are making a difference to the communities that our main client - the Environment Agency’s work protects. The Infrastructure team is a great bunch of people who are motivated by the same things, and are always willing to share learning and experiences to constantly improve ourselves and drive the department forward to be one of the best in the Civil Service. 

We work flexibly – we can choose our hours, we accrue if we have a busy spell and can use that time when we need an afternoon off or a later start. We aren’t pressured to be back in the office post covid, although they’ve made safe provision for us to do so should we wish.

The Civil Service itself is large, well known and respected. There’s lots of schemes and benefits to join and knowing we have a very good pension scheme is reassurance for the future.

Kerrie
Senior Commercial Officer - SW

I have been part of the EA/Defra commercial team for over 13 years and I have learnt and developed so much during my time here.  I have also been able to benefit from the fantastic flexible working on offer, making the work / life balance work perfectly for me and my family.  There is such a breadth of project type and although I have worked in construction commercial activity for years now, there is often a new and exciting challenge to overcome.  One thing that stands out working within the Infrastructure team is the fantastic people.  We have many experienced colleagues across the team who are friendly and approachable and keen to share their knowledge and experience.  As our key customer, the EA welcomes us to become part of the collaborative team to help ‘create a better place’, enabling us to manage commercial risk and achieve value for money.

Ruksar
Senior Commercial Officer - East Hub

I started off in the organisation as a Commercial Assistant, with little to no experience of procurement, over 5 years ago. In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in several challenging and interesting projects and have worked up to my current role of Senior Commercial Officer.

My team, and the wider business, have provided an excellent arena to develop and understand not just procurement, but my own potential. They have encouraged me to work towards my MCIPS qualification, with ample study leave and financial support being provided. The DgC team is a supportive team where mistakes are seen as an opportunity to learn and better yourself, rather than a negative. Despite being geographically disperse, a message of a single team that recognises each other’s success is fostered.

Ben
Senior Commercial Officer - Midlands Hub

I’ve been part of the Infrastructure category for a number of years – my great colleagues and the challenging and varied projects make this a great place to work.
There are very good opportunities for development both within the category and right across Defra. 

Management are really supportive and encourage everyone to undertake further development, such as CIPS, for which you get financial and time allowances to see you through the exams. 

The Defra terms and conditions are very good. We have generous annual leave and pension schemes, a flexitime arrangement and blended working is now the norm, although office space is available and covid secure if required.