Job Summary
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), delivering over £2 billion in payments to farmers, traders and landowners each year.
We are an Operational Delivery Profession organisation, with the majority of our people delivering day to day services to our customers and stakeholders.
We make excellent delivery happen, empowering agricultural and rural communities to create a better place to live.
We manage over 40 schemes, and also make payments on behalf of Natural England, to ensure we have a healthy rural economy, strong and sustainable rural communities, and to protect and enhance the natural environment.
Our vision is to create a great place for living for people in this country. We have developed a set of four 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 of the important.
Further information can be found on the Rural Payments Agency website www.rpa.gov.uk.
Job Description
Junior Data Engineer
As a Junior Data Engineer, you will be joining a team of data engineering professionals, who are committed to delivering high-impact, secure data solutions to achieve departmental and directorate objectives.
You will be working on Azure cloud-based tech stack.
You will drive high data quality across the data engineering solutions you develop.
You will help facilitate the communication of technical processes to different technical and nontechnical audiences.
You will partner and collaborate with other data engineers and business users to understand data needs and deliver on those needs.
You will be adapting and embedding practices such as Devops within the products you develop. In addition to assisting in the development and maintenance of repeatable and reusable data products and technical documentation.
You will help build and maintain our data engineering community to facilitate knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration across the department.
Above all, you will be proactive and want to make an impact, and this may sometimes involve challenging current methods.
Person specification
This is a good opportunity to join a fast paced and developing data engineering team. We would encourage applicants from IT & analytical backgrounds who want to further develop their programming skills. Structured training will be provided to support this.
You will be a proactive individual, with a can do approach, used to working at pace, and taking responsibility for their work. You will adapt well when circumstances or priorities change and, operate as a good team player.
Essentia skills: The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:
Technical Expertise
- Experience of building basic data processes that ingest, transform and present data.
- Working knowledge in one or more of the following - Python, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse, Informatica DEI, Databricks, Apache Spark (Pyspark, Spark SQL), TSQL.
- Experience or demonstrable interest of working with either structured or unstructured data using either data lake or data warehousing tools /techniques
Working Practices
- Strong problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and resolution.
- Working alongside others to ensure the stability, robustness and resilience of the products you build, and support affecting changes to those products where necessary
- Curiosity, self-motivation and enthusiasm for understanding and learning the latest data engineering practices, tools, and trends
- Willingness to step outside of your comfort zone and grow.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Experience of building basic data processes that ingest, transform and present data.
- Working knowledge in one or more of the following - Python, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse, Informatica DEI, Databricks, Apache Spark (Pyspark, Spark SQL), TSQL.
- Experience or demonstrable interest of working with either structured or unstructured data using either data lake or data warehousing tools /techniques.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £30,317, Rural Payments Agency contributes £8,186 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a 750-word personal statement and CV.
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.
Sift and interview dates are detailed in the candidate pack.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Strengths and Technical Skills.
As part of the interview, you will also be given a technical exercise where you will be asked to analyse code, and asked a range of technical questions.
Interviews will be conducted virtually via MS Teams.
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a RPA group workplace/office. 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.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
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 are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
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 defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 may be 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-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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.
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.
Apply and further information
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 : RPA Recruitment Team
- Email : hrresourcingsupport@defra.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : DefraRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
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: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.