Publications & Digital Support

On behalf of Defra, we are looking for a Publications and Digital Support (Inside IR35) for a contract up to 31/03/27 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. 
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• To be an outstanding organisation focused on making a difference, with world class delivery capability.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs www.gov.uk. 

25 Year Environment Plan - GOV.UK www.gov.uk.

The role:

Natural England is looking for a Publications and Digital Support professional to join its Publications Team and provide short-term operational and technical support across publications, digital and administrative activities.

The Publications Team is responsible for publishing Natural England-commissioned reports and journal publications. The role will have a particular focus on preparing, formatting and quality-assuring documents for publication, requiring strong Microsoft Word skills and exceptional attention to detail.

You will also support wider digital and information-management activities, including Microsoft 365 applications, publication records, Microsoft Lists and Forms, mailbox management and process improvements.

This is a varied role where priorities may change, so the successful candidate will need to be adaptable, organised and comfortable supporting a range of activities.

As a Publications and Digital Support, your main responsibilities will be:

• Prepare and format complex documents for publication using advanced Microsoft Word skills.
• Apply and manage Word styles, structured formatting and multilevel heading numbering.
• Use section breaks, headers, footers, tables, captions and cross-references to produce professional documents.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex Microsoft Word formatting issues.
• Quality-assure documents before publication, checking accuracy, consistency, presentation and accessibility.
• Review documents to identify errors, inconsistencies and areas requiring correction.
• Support the preparation and publication of reports, journal publications and other digital content.
• Maintain accurate publication records and information, including applying appropriate categories and metadata.
• Support information and records management activities across relevant digital systems.
• Create and maintain Microsoft Lists and Microsoft Forms within the Microsoft 365 environment.
• Identify practical opportunities to improve and streamline administrative and digital processes.
• Manage and monitor the team mailbox, triaging enquiries and allocating actions where appropriate.
• Draft or coordinate clear and professional responses to enquiries and correspondence.
• Support wider communications, quality-assurance and administrative activities within the Publications Team.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues while managing competing priorities and responding flexibly to changing requirements.

Essential:

• Strong publications experience, including preparing, formatting, reviewing or quality-assuring documents or content for publication.
• Advanced Microsoft Word skills, including styles, structured formatting, multilevel heading numbering, section breaks, headers and footers, tables, captions and cross-references.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex Microsoft Word formatting issues and produce consistently professional documents.
• Excellent Microsoft 365 skills and confidence working across digital systems and applications.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify errors, inconsistencies and quality issues.
• Experience of copywriting or drafting clear, accurate and professional written communications.
• Experience of mailbox management, including monitoring, triaging and responding to enquiries or allocating actions.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and provide support across publication, digital, administrative and quality-assurance activities.

Desirable:

• Experience of quality-assuring publications, reports or digital content.
• Knowledge of publication or digital-content quality-assurance processes.
• Experience of records management, information governance, metadata or document categorisation.
• Experience creating or maintaining Microsoft Lists and Microsoft Forms.
• Experience working with shared or functional mailboxes.
• Experience contributing to digital, administrative or process-improvement initiatives.
• Previous experience within a publications, communications, information-management or digital-support environment.
• Experience supporting the publication of reports, research outputs, journal articles or similar technical content.

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.

Armed Forces Covenant / Commitment

Defra guarantees to interview veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. 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".