Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

The Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We seek diversity, embrace it and live it for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment.

England is reforming agricultural policy and spending through Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). ELM schemes incentivise farmers and land managers to deliver water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. Working with Defra and delivery partners, you will help improve our services to farmers and shape our response to government reviews aimed at improving water quality, environmental outcomes and economic growth.

The Environment Agency ELM team is seeking dynamic, strategic thinkers to influence the design and delivery of incentives within the broader Farming and Countryside Programme, particularly the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You will contribute to continuous improvement of CSHT through its design and delivery, provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, oversee programme milestones, and identify risks and resource needs. You will collaborate with various teams and senior leaders to articulate a scheme that delivers our outcomes.

The Team

The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, and works with government, statutory bodies and industry. We operate in an agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative environment, managing uncertainty to deliver clarity. We are committed to a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. We are a dispersed team and use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.

Experience/Skills Required

The role represents our expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and improve collaboration. Essential experience includes:

• Experience of Agriculture and working with Defra and other statutory bodies
• Political awareness with excellent communication and networking skills
• Understanding of environmental sensitivities related to significant agriculture sector reform
• Experience interpreting/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

Ideal candidates will be able to:

• Get things done, including through others
• Embod y our culture
• Ensure 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. Full training will be provided. The role is national with a flexible/hybrid working location in England. Some travel and overnight stays may be required. Read the Candidate/Additional Information Pack for more details. For information, contact:

• Kate Bayley: kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk
• D-J Gent: dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk

Applications are blind assessed. Interviews are expected to be held via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. If you consent to being on a reserve list, we will hold your details for 6 months and may offer you an alternative post. The Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body committed to value for money and uses government frameworks for external recruitment. If you wish to become a supplier through Crown Commercial Service, please visit gov.uk for more information.