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. 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. 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

• Deliver key Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, contributing to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery.
• 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.

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 are passionate about our people and 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.

Ideal candidates will show they can

• 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

Relevant capabilities include 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

Application process and policy

• 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, your details may be kept for 6 months and you may be offered an alternative post.
• We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and flexible working patterns for all vacancies, including job share. We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment.

Job details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Management and Manufacturing