Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management (ELM) role within the Environment Agency. The ELM team is at the forefront of informing and shaping the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). The role involves influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of organisational responses to government reviews and to help grow and sustain a resilient, productive agriculture sector aligned with the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, environment and climate. You will provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and oversee programme milestones, identify risks and resource needs, and work with senior leaders across teams and organisations to articulate a scheme that 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 in an agile, fast-paced and collaborative environment. We value diversity, foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, and use smart tools to stay connected.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and oversee programme milestones, and identify future risks and resource requirements.
• Work across multiple teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate and shape a scheme that supports and delivers outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of CSHT products within the Farming and Countryside Programme through design and delivery.

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
• make sure our information is trusted
• cascade key information
• build relationships quickly
• soothe troubled waters

Competencies and descriptions

• 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.
• Achieves Results
  Prioritising and organising tasks and resources while working with uncertainty; provide examples of delivering results on time.
• Focuses on Customers and Partners
  Addressing the needs of internal and external customers; give example of rapid and effective responses and managing expectations.
• Delivers Results Through Others
  Harnessing the team to deliver on time and to required standards; describe key success factors and lessons learned.
• Seeing the big picture
  Understanding changing direction, goals and business of the Environment Agency; discuss implications of recent government reviews on water sector and regulatory reform.

Location and working arrangements

• You’ll have an EA Office base location; as a national role the working location is flexible/hybrid in England.
• Some travel/overnights may be required.

Contact and additional information

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

Applications are blind to answers to competency questions. Interviews are expected to be held via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. If you consent to a reserve list, your details may be held for up to 6 months for possible alternative posts.

The Environment Agency is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and flexible working patterns, including job sharing. We guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria. We operate under Central Government frameworks and cannot engage directly by post, email or phone for recruitment. Details about becoming a supplier under Crown commercial contracts are available on GOV.UK.