Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

The Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce reflective of the communities we serve. We seek diversity to benefit staff, communities and the environment. England is reforming agricultural policy and spending through Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes reward public goods delivery by farmers and land managers alongside food production. This role supports Defra and delivery partners to improve services to farmers and influence the design and delivery of incentives within the wider organisational response to government reviews. The aim is to help grow a resilient, productive agriculture sector and support the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, environment and climate. The role will involve shaping ELM design and delivery within the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) framework, delivering key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, and providing oversight of milestones, risks and resource needs across teams and stakeholders.
The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, working with government, statutory bodies and industry in an agile, collaborative environment. We value our people and operate in a flexible, dispersed manner to reduce travel.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice in meetings, manage commissions, and oversee programme milestones.
• Identify future risks and resource requirements; work across teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that supports outcomes.
• Deliver and continuously improve CSHT products within the Farming and Countryside Programme.

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 environmental sensitivities related to major agricultural reform.
• Experience interpreting/evaluating evidence to propose risk-based solutions for challenging problems.
• Ability to prioritise and deliver complex work; self-starter who develops and advances ideas.
• Ability to represent EA expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and collaboration.

Core Competencies (as described in application)

• 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

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

You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. Appropriate training will be provided. The EA base location is flexible/hybrid in England, with some travel/overnights required. Read the Candidate/Additional Information Pack for more information. Interviews are expected via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. If you are on a reserve list, we may hold your details for 6 months.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working, including job share. We guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability meeting minimum criteria. The Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body that uses Central Government frameworks; for supplier opportunities please visit the Crown Commercial Service information page.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management and Manufacturing