Environmental Contracted Services (ECS) Claims Officer - ( Ref : 6739 )

This position is based Nationally

The Environmental Training Advice and Facilitation Framework (ETAFF) is a flexible tool used by NE and other Defra family bodies to buy in farm and land management advice services under contract from vetted and approved advice suppliers.

The Environmental Contracted Services (ECS) Team run the operation of the Framework on behalf of Defra, (supported by Defra Group Commercial) and lead on the procurement of the contracted advice program. The team currently contract in advice to support farmers but the ETAF Framework itself has scope to deliver a broader program of support.

The ECS team is part of National Operations and dispersed around the country. The team is comprised of senior contract managers, contract managers and a claims team, all supported by a senior officer and operations manager. They work closely with the commissioning team’s key staff and the advice suppliers themselves.

Job description

The claims officers within the ECS team process claims for payment from suppliers in accordance with the framework requirements, including raising purchase orders and providing updates for contract managers and suppliers.

Key Tasks

• Thoroughly and systematically check details of claims received from suppliers, liaising with Contract Managers to ensure claimed items are eligible.
• Act as lead on allocated claims, including liaising with suppliers regarding any issues or errors found.
• Ensure claims are processed within service level agreements (30-day turnaround).
• Monitor SOP (NE Finance System) for claim payment and confirming with suppliers once payment is made.
• Process Grant In Aid (GIA) contract information on SOP.
• Raising requisitions for new ETAFF contracts on SOP.
• Processing amendments following any contract changes.
• Update records, including claims trackers and KPI database.
• Add claims documentation to online shared folders as necessary.

Additional duties can include:

• Providing general contract management administrative support.
• Providing updates on claim progress during team calls
• Assist with the development of claims elements of future frameworks

Competencies

Competence 1

Professional competency

Detail

Technical Skills and Knowledge

Description

Good clerical and administrative skills, especially use of Excel. (Essential)

Good communication skills (Essential)

Able to work systematically, with attention to detail (Essential)

Confidence in engaging with colleagues and external customers over the phone and via email. (Essential)

Experience of procurement or claims processing. (Desirable)

Competence 2

Professional competency

Detail

Personal Effectiveness

Description

Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and Natural England and inspire others to act. (Practitioner)

Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence. (Practitioner)

Competence 3

Professional competency

Detail

Work Delivery

Description

Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines. (Practitioner)

Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies, and procedures. (Basic)

Competence 4

Professional competency

Detail

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

Description

Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England. (Practitioner)

Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims. (Basic)

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)

Please refer to Job Description

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