Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

2 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect 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 undertaking the most significant reform of agricultural policy and spending in decades, moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes support farmers to provide public goods in return for public money. They incentivise farmers and land managers to deliver water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. Working with Defra and delivery partner colleagues you will aim to radically improve our services to farmers. These reforms are essential to help grow and maintain a resilient, productive, agriculture sector, to realise our EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate. This role will include influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of shaping our organisational response to recent government reviews. These reviews aim to achieve clean and plentiful water working with the water sector and delivering greater economic growth and nature recovery through regulation.

The Environment Agency ELM team are seeking 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). Delivering key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, your expertise will contribute to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery. You will provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and provide oversight of Programme milestones, and identify future risks and resource requirements. You will be working 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 alongside colleagues in government, statutory bodies and industry. We work in an agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative environment, managing uncertainty to deliver clarity. We are passionate about our people and 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.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and oversee Programme milestones, and identify future risks and resource requirements.
• Influence the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of shaping the organisation’s response to government reviews.
• Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and contribute to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery.
• Work across multiple teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that supports outcomes.

Experience/skills Required

• 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.

Capabilities

Relevant capabilities: Shapes Organisational Approach & Deliverability; 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 given.

You’ll have an EA Office base location, however as a national role the working location is flexible/hybrid in England. We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel; some travel/overnights will be required.

Please read the Candidate/Additional Information Pack for information. For more information please contact:

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

Applications are blind assessed using your answers to the competency questions. Interviews are expected to be held via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post.

Competencies

1. Shapes organisational approach & delivery: Informing and influencing Government Policy and Agricultural scheme design and implementation is a key part of this role. Provide examples of supporting strategic work and organisational priorities.
2. Achieves Results: Prioritise and organise tasks and resources whilst working with uncertainty.
3. Focuses on Customers and Partners: Address the needs of internal and external customers; provide rapid and effective responses and manage expectations.
4. Delivers Results Through Others: Harness the team to deliver on time and to required standards.
5. Seeing the Big Picture: Understand and react to changes in government reviews and regulatory reform; explain major implications for the water sector and EA.

We are fully committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns. The Environment Agency guarantees an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria. The EA is not part of HM Civil Service. Details on continuous service may vary by prior status; consult your HR if unsure. For more information about becoming a supplier, visit GOV.UK.