Overview

The Environment Agency is seeking a dynamic Senior Advisor to contribute to Future Agriculture and Environmental Land Management (ELM). This role supports the reforms moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to ELM schemes, delivering public goods in return for public funding and helping to realise the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, environment and climate. The role includes influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the broader response to government reviews and working to shape the Organisation’s approach to agricultural policy and regulation, including the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) delivery.

Responsibilities

• Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and contribute to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery.
• Provide advice 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 supports outcomes.
• Advise Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and improve cross-organisation collaboration.
• Represent expertise to Defra and other statutory bodies, ensuring the environmental sensitivities of sector reform are understood and addressed.

Qualifications and experience

• 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 develops and advances ideas.

Working arrangements

• EA Office base location, but the role is national with flexible/hybrid working in England.
• Some travel and occasional overnight stays may be required.

Application details

• Applications are blind assessed using competency questions; interviews are expected via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date.
• If you are on a reserve list, your details may be held for 6 months and you may be offered an alternative post.
• For disability candidates, a Guaranteed Interview Policy applies if minimum criteria are met.
• Contact information: Kate Bayley (kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk) or D-J Gent (dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk).