Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

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Job Description

The Environment Agency is committed to having an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment.

England is reforming agricultural policy and spending, moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes reward farmers and land managers for delivering public goods in return for public money, with outcomes for water, soil and biodiversity alongside food production. Working with Defra and delivery partners, you will help improve services to farmers. These reforms support our EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate. The role includes influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of organisational response to government reviews, which aim to deliver clean water, greater economic growth and nature recovery through regulation.

The Environment Agency ELM team seeks dynamic, strategic thinkers to help shape the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You will contribute to delivering key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and drive continuous improvement in scheme design and delivery. You will provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, oversee programme milestones, identify risks and resource needs, and work with multiple teams and organisations to articulate a scheme aligned with our outcomes.

The team

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

Experience/skills Required

• Represent our expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and improve collaboration.
• 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 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 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 (Business of the EA); 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 given.
• EA Office base location is flexible/hybrid in England; some travel/overnights will be required.
• We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.
• Please read the Candidate/Additional Information Pack for information.
• Contacts:
  • Kate Bayley: kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk
  • D-J Gent: dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk

Applications are blind, assessed from competency questions. Interviews are expected via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. If you are placed on a reserve list, your details may be held for 6 months for a potential alternative post. Interviews are anticipated for this role via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date.

Competencies

1. Shapes organisational approach & delivery
   Informing and influencing Government Policy and agricultural scheme design and implementation. Provide examples of supporting strategic work and aligning priorities, targets and resources.
2. Achesives Results
   Prioritise and organise tasks and resources while working under uncertainty. Describe how you prioritised and delivered timely results.
3. Focuses on Customers and Partners
   Address internal and external customer needs. Provide an example of a rapid and effective response to a group of customers.
4. Delivers Results Through Others
   Harnessing a team to deliver on time and to standard. Describe the key elements for success and lessons learned.
5. Seeing the big picture
   Understand and respond to changing direction, goals and business needs. Explain implications of recent government reviews on the water sector and regulatory reform.

Notes

The Environment Agency is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and supports flexible working patterns, including job shares. We guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability who meet minimum criteria. For details on civil service status, redundancy, and other employment considerations, please refer to the official policy statements within the pack.

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