Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

England is undertaking the most significant reform of agricultural policy and spending in decades, moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes support farmers to provide public goods in return for public money, incentivising delivery of water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. The Environment Agency aims to influence the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of shaping the organisation’s response to recent government reviews and to help grow and maintain a resilient, productive agriculture sector in line with the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate.

The Environment Agency ELM team seeks dynamic, strategic thinkers to join us at the forefront of informing and shaping the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). The role involves delivering key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, contributing to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery. You will provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and oversee Programme milestones, and identify future risks and resource requirements. You will work across a variety of teams and organisations, with senior leaders, to articulate a scheme that supports and delivers our outcomes.

The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, working with government, statutory bodies and industry. We work in an agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative environment, managing uncertainty to deliver clarity. We foster a welcoming, safe, supportive environment where everyone feels valued. We are a dispersed team and use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.

Experience/skills Required

The role will represent EA expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and improve collaboration. Essential experience includes:

• Experience of Agriculture and working with Defra and other statutory bodies
• Political awareness with excellent communication and networking skills
• Understanding of environmental sensitivities tied to significant agriculture sector reform
• Experience interpreting/evaluating evidence to propose risk-based solutions for challenging problems
• Ability to prioritise and deliver complex work
• Self-starter who actively develops and advances ideas

Ideal candidates will show they can:

• Get things done, including through others
• Embodies our culture
• Ensure information is trusted
• Cascade key information
• Build relationships quickly
• Soothe troubled waters

Capabilities: Shapes Organisational Approach & Delivery; Achieves Results; Seeing the Bigger Picture; Focuses on Customers and Partners; Delivers Results Through Others

Contact and additional information

• You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. Appropriate training will be provided.
• EA Office base location is flexible/hybrid in England; some travel/overnights required.
• Smart tools help reduce travel; read the Candidate/Additional Information Pack for details. For more information contact:
• Kate Bayley: kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk
• D-J Gent: dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk

Applications are assessed using competency questions. Interviews expected to be held via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. If you consent to being held on a reserve list, details may be kept for 6 months for potential alternative posts. Flexible working patterns are welcome, including job share. We guarantee interviews for applicants with a disability meeting minimum criteria.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management and Manufacturing

Additional related postings and generic notes about the role have been omitted to maintain a clear, job-focused description.