Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

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The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment.

Overview

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. They incentivise farmers and land managers to deliver water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. Working with Defra and delivery partner colleagues you will aim to radically improve our services to farmers. These reforms are essential to help grow and maintain a resilient, productive agriculture sector, to realise our EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate. This role will include influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of shaping our organisational response to recent government reviews. These reviews aim to achieve clean and plentiful water working with the water sector and delivering greater economic growth and nature recovery through regulation.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and provide oversight of 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.
• Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and contribute to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery.
• Be part of the Environment Agency ELM team at the forefront of informing and shaping the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT).

The team

The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, working alongside colleagues in government, statutory bodies and industry. We work in an agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative environment, managing uncertainty to deliver clarity. We foster 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

• 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 the environmental sensitivities associated with significant agriculture sector reform.
• You have experience of interpreting/evaluating evidence to propose effective risk-based solutions for challenging problems.
• You prioritise and deliver complex work.
• You are a self-starter who actively develops and takes ideas forward.

Candidates should also demonstrate

• get stuff done, including through others
• embody our culture
• make sure our information is trusted
• cascade key information
• build relationships quickly
• soothe troubled waters

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. We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel; 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 your answers to the 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.

Competence 1

Competence 1

Shapes organisational approach & delivery

Description
Informing and influencing Government Policy and Agricultural scheme design and implementation is a key part of this role. Please provide an example of when you have actively supported strategic work and agreed or adopted organisational priorities, targets and resources.

Competence 2

Competence 2

Achieves Results

Description
The role involves prioritising and organising tasks and resources whilst working with uncertainty. Please tell us about a time where you have had to prioritise and organise work, to ensure timely delivery of results. How did you deal with uncertainty?

Competence 3

Competence 3

Focuses on Customers and Partners

Description
Addressing the needs of internal and external customers. Please provide an example of where you have had to provide a rapid and effective response to a group of customers. How did you engage and manage expectations?

Competence 4

Competence 4

Delivers Results Through Others

Description
Harnessing the team to deliver on time and to required standards. Please tell us about a time where you have successfully harnessed a group of people to deliver results on time, to required standards and in line with organisational processes and procedures. What were the key elements in ensuring success and what did you learn from the experience?

Competence 5

Competence 5

Seeing the big picture

Description
Listed as 'Business of the Environment Agency' in the capability dictionary. The role involves understanding and reacting to the changing direction, goals and business of the Environment Agency. Please explain what you understand to be the major implications of recent government reviews on the water sector and regulatory reform on the Environment Agency?

Equity and recruitment

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. We encourage flexible working and welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, including guaranteed interviews for those meeting minimum criteria. We also 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 for recruitment. For information about becoming a supplier through the Crown Commercial Service, please visit the linked GOV.UK page.

Location and status

Exeter, England, United Kingdom

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666