Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

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, incentivising delivery of water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. This role will influence the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of the Environment Agency’s response to government reviews and the EA2030 strategy.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and oversee 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.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) and other ELM products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, with a focus on continuous improvement of the scheme.
• Inform and influence Government Policy and Agricultural scheme design and implementation.
• Represent EA expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and improve collaboration.
• Support and deliver incentives in the wider context of environmental regulation and economic growth through regulatory reform and water sector collaboration.
• Demonstrate strategic thinking in a fast-paced, agile environment and collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners.

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.
• You understand 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; a self-starter who actively develops ideas and takes them forward.
• Ideal candidates will show they can: get stuff done through others, embody our culture, ensure trusted information, cascade key information, build relationships, and manage difficult situations.

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.
• We welcome flexible working patterns and have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support applicants with disabilities.
• Contact: Kate Bayley (kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk) or D-J Gent (dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk).

Application notes

Applications are blind assessed against competency questions. Interviews are expected to be conducted via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. If you consent to being held on a reserve list, we may contact you for a later posting.