Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

The Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce. England is reforming agricultural policy and spending, moving from the CAP to the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes incentivise farmers and land managers to deliver water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. This role will influence the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of the organisation’s response to government reviews and aims to support the EA2030 strategy and 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).

Responsibilities

• Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, contributing to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery.
• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and provide oversight of Programme milestones, and identify future risks and resource requirements.
• Work across a variety of teams and organisations, with senior leaders, to articulate a scheme that supports and delivers outcomes.

The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, working with government, statutory bodies and industry. The environment is agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative; smart tools are used to stay connected and reduce travel.

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience of Agriculture and working with Defra and other statutory bodies is essential.
• Politically aware with excellent communication and networking skills.
• Understanding of environmental sensitivities associated with significant agriculture sector reform.
• Experience interpreting/evaluating evidence to propose effective risk-based solutions for challenging problems.
• Ability to prioritise and deliver complex work.
• Self-starter who actively develops and takes ideas forward.

Ideal candidates will show they can: get stuff done (including through others); embody 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 (Business of the EA)
• Focuses on Customers and Partners
• Delivers Results Through Others

Additional Information

You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan; appropriate training will be given. You’ll have an EA Office base location, but as a national role the working location is flexible/hybrid in England. Some travel/overnights will be required. Read the Candidate/Additional Information Pack for more information. For more information contact:

• Kate Bayley: kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk
• D-J Gent: dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk

Applications are blind assessed using competency questions. Interviews are expected 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 and you may be offered an alternative post.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns, including job share. We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support applicants with disabilities.

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses Central Government frameworks and contracts for external recruitment; we are unable to engage directly via post, email or phone for recruitment purposes. For supplier opportunities, visit the Crown Commercial Service information at gov.uk.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management and Manufacturing