Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management (ELM) – 31666. The Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce reflecting the communities we serve. This role contributes to reform of agricultural policy and spending as England moves from CAP to ELM schemes, delivering public goods in return for public money and supporting water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. The role involves influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of organisational response to government reviews, and shaping our response to regulatory reform in water and the environment.

The Environment Agency ELM team is seeking dynamic, strategic thinkers to inform and shape the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You will deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, contribute to continuous improvement of the scheme, provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, oversee programme milestones, and identify risks and resource requirements. You will work across teams and with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that supports and delivers our outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and contribute to continuous scheme improvement through design and delivery.
• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, and oversee Programme milestones.
• Identify future risks and resource requirements; work across teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that supports outcomes.
• Engage with Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and improve collaboration between organisations.
• Represent expertise to Defra and delivery bodies to support policy and scheme design and implementation.

Experience and Qualifications

• Experience of Agriculture and working with Defra and other statutory bodies is essential.
• You are politically aware with excellent communication and networking skills.
• Understanding 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; a self-starter who develops and advances ideas.

Key Capabilities

• Shapes Organisational Approach & Delivery
• Achieves Results
• Seeing the Bigger Picture (Business of the EA)
• Focuses on Customers and Partners
• Delivers Results Through Others

Working Arrangements and Location

EA Office base location is flexible/hybrid in England; some travel/overnights will be required. The role is national, with tools to stay connected and reduce travel.

You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. Appropriate training will be given.

Application and Selection

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, your details may be held 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 guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria.

We cannot engage with the market directly via post, email or phone calls for recruitment. For more information on being a supplier, see Crown Commercial Service guidance.

Contacts

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

Note

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time