Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666. The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. England is reforming agricultural policy through the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, moving from CAP to ELM. ELM schemes support farmers to provide public goods in return for public money, incentivising water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. This role involves influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate. The role will include shaping our organisational response to government reviews and delivering outcomes alongside Defra and delivery partner colleagues. The Environment Agency ELM team seeks dynamic, strategic thinkers to inform and shape the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT).
The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, and works with government, statutory bodies and industry in an agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative environment. We are a dispersed team that uses smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, and oversee Programme milestones for CSHT and related ELM initiatives.
• Identify future risks and resource requirements; work across teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that supports outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of the ELM scheme through its design and delivery.
• Support delivery of the Farming and Countryside Programme and related policies in alignment with EA2030 and government targets.

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 related to significant agriculture sector reform.
• Experience interpreting and 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.
• Ability to work across multiple teams and organisations and engage senior leaders.

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 given. You’ll have an EA Office base location; however, as a national role, the working location is flexible/hybrid in England. 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 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.

We welcome flexible working patterns and have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and uses Central Government frameworks/contracts for recruitment.