Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Group

Our work ranges from supporting the UK’s world-leading food, farming and fishing industries to providing robust defences against natural threats. Whatever your background or specialism, you will find that this is work with a more profound purpose. As we navigate the challenges of delivering ‘A Green Future’, our 25 year plan to improve the Environment within a generation, our focus is on working in a transformative way, and we are embracing every opportunity to become more agile, efficient, focused and innovative than ever before.

The Defra Group is a collection of government agencies and departments, working closely with different partners, industries and communities, across the country. An outline of their different responsibilities is as follows; Natural England aims to protect, improve and encourage people to enjoy their surroundings. The Environment Agency protects and improves our environment by, for example, managing flood risks. The Rural Payments Agency supports agriculture and rural communities to create better places to live. The Animal Plant and Health Agency’s mission is to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of all.. The Marine Management Organisation ensures that marine activities in our seas are carried out in a sustainable way. Lastly, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is the regulatory authority for veterinary medicine, aiming to protect animal health, public health and the environment. Our responsibilities are as varied and vital as the many lives, natural habitats and industries we protect. To reflect this, our workforce is equally diverse and critical. From Policymakers to Project Managers, from Economists to Scientists, and from Communications Specialists to Commercial Advisors, Defra is home to many talented individuals. Each bring a unique mindset to what they do. 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.