Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

The Environment Agency is recruiting for a Senior Advisor to work on Future Agriculture and Environmental Land Management (ELM) policies and schemes. The role involves influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of shaping the organisation’s response to government reviews, delivering high-quality advice, and supporting the delivery of the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) and related programmes to achieve water, environment and climate outcomes.

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, including senior leaders, to articulate a scheme that supports and delivers outcomes.
• Influence the design and delivery of incentives within ELM in the context of government reviews and sector reforms.
• Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and contribute to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery.
• Represent expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agricultural sector to achieve consistency and strengthen cross-organisational collaboration.

Experience/Skills/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 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 takes ideas forward.
• Ideal candidates will demonstrate the ability to get things done through others, embody the culture, build trusted information, cascade key information, build relationships quickly, and manage conflicts effectively.

Capabilities and Behaviours

• Shapes Organisational Approach & Delivery
• Achieves Results
• Seeing the Bigger Picture (Business of the EA)
• Focuses on Customers and Partners
• Delivers Results Through Others

Work Arrangements

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. The organisation supports flexible working patterns, including job shares.

Recruitment Process and Other Information

Applications are blind assessed using competency questions. Interviews are expected to be held via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. For applicants who would be eligible, there is a Guaranteed Interview Policy for candidates with disabilities. The Environment Agency may require involvement in a reserve list. Contact points for information: kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk; dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk.

We welcome diverse and inclusive applications and are committed to equality of opportunity.