Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

England is undertaking a major reform of agricultural policy and spending, moving from CAP to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes aim to reward farmers and land managers for delivering water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. The Environment Agency is shaping its response to recent government reviews and working with Defra and delivery partner colleagues to improve services to farmers. This role contributes to the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate, including influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the ELM framework.

The Environment Agency ELM team seeks dynamic, strategic thinkers to inform and shape the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). The role involves delivering key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, advising in meetings, managing commissions, providing oversight of programme milestones, identifying risks and resource requirements, and working across teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that delivers our outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, and oversee Programme milestones.
• Identify future risks and resource requirements and work across a variety of teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that supports and delivers outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of the CSHT scheme through its design and delivery.
• Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and shape delivery in the wider context of organisational responses to government reviews.
• Operate in an agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative environment, managing uncertainty to deliver clarity.
• Represent the team’s expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and improve collaboration.

Experience / Skills Required

• 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; a self-starter who actively develops and advances ideas.
• Ideal candidates will be able to:
• get stuff done, including through others
• embody our culture
• make sure information is trusted
• cascade key information
• build relationships quickly
• soothe troubled waters

Additional information

• You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan; appropriate training will be given.
• EA Office base location is flexible/hybrid in England; some travel/overnights are required.
• We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.
• 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

• Applications are “blind” assessed using 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 an alternative post may be offered.

Competencies

• Shapes organisational approach & delivery — Informing and influencing Government Policy and Agricultural scheme design and implementation; provide example of supporting strategic work and prioritising organisational priorities, targets and resources.
• Achieves Results — Prioritising and organising tasks and resources under uncertainty; provide example of delivering timely results.
• Focuses on Customers and Partners — Address internal and external customer needs; provide example of rapid and effective responses and managing expectations.
• Delivers Results Through Others — Harnessing a team to deliver on time and to required standards; describe key success elements and learnings.
• Seeing the Big Picture — Understand and react to changing direction, goals and business; explain implications of government reviews on the water sector and regulatory reform.

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working patterns, including job share. We guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria.