Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

The Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We do not 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 support farmers to provide public goods in return for public money, incentivising work on water, soil and biodiversity alongside food production. Working with Defra and delivery partner colleagues, you will aim to improve our services to farmers. These reforms support the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate. The role will include influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of shaping our organisational response to government reviews related to water, regulation, and economic growth and nature recovery.

The Environment Agency ELM team seeks dynamic, strategic thinkers to help inform and shape the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You will contribute to the delivery of key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and drive continuous improvement in the scheme through its design and delivery. You will advise in meetings, manage commissions, oversee programme milestones, identify risks and resource requirements, and work across teams and organisations with senior leaders 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. We operate in an agile, fast-paced, flexible, and collaborative environment, managing uncertainty to deliver clarity. We are committed to a welcoming, safe, supportive environment where everyone feels valued. We are a dispersed team and use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.

Experience / skills required

The role represents our expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and improve collaboration. Essential experience includes:

• Experience of Agriculture and working with Defra and other statutory bodies
• Politically aware with excellent communication and networking skills
• Understanding environmental sensitivities related to significant agricultural 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 advances ideas

Ideal candidates will also demonstrate:

• Getting things done, including through others
• Embodied culture and trusted information
• Ability to cascade key information
• Ability to build relationships quickly
• Ability to navigate challenging interactions

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 provided. The EA base location is flexible/hybrid in England as this is a national role. Some travel/overnights will be required. Please read the Candidate / Additional Information Pack for details. For more information contact:

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

Applications are blind assessed using 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 may keep your details for 6 months and offer you an alternative post.

Competencies

• Shapes organisational approach & delivery
• Achieves Results
• Focuses on Customers & Partners
• Delivers Results Through Others
• Seeing the Big Picture

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Flexible working patterns are welcome, including job share; please indicate any preferred working arrangements on your application. We guarantee an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria. The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses Central Government frameworks for recruitment. For further information about becoming a supplier through the Crown Commercial Service, please visit GOV.UK.

Senior Advisor role details: Bideford, England, United Kingdom; National/hybrid working; Full-time; Management and Manufacturing function; Seniority level: Mid-Senior level.