Overview

Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

The Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce. This role supports reform of agricultural policy and spending, moving from CAP to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes incentivise farmers and land managers to deliver water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. The role involves influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of organisational responses to recent government reviews, aiming to support a resilient, productive agriculture sector and contribute to EA2030 targets for water, environment and climate. The team focuses on informing and shaping the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). The role includes providing advice, managing commissions, overseeing programme milestones, identifying risks and resource requirements, and collaborating with senior leaders across multiple organisations to articulate a scheme that delivers outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and contribute to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery.
• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, oversee programme milestones, and identify risks and resource requirements.
• Work across teams and organisations, including with senior leaders, to articulate and deliver outcomes.
• Represent EA expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and improve collaboration between organisations.

Team and Working Environment

The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team. We work in an agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative environment and use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel. We are committed to a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace with flexible working patterns.

Experience and Skills Required

• Experience of Agriculture and working with Defra and other statutory bodies.
• Politically aware 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 proactively develops and advances ideas.

Ideal Candidate Capabilities

• Get stuff done, including through others
• Embody our culture
• Ensure 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 provided.
• EA Office base location is flexible/hybrid in England; some travel/overnights required.
• We welcome flexible working patterns and have a Guaranteed Interview Policy for candidates with disabilities.
• Applications are blind assessed; interviews via MS Teams typically two weeks after closing date.

Competencies include:

• Shapes Organisational Approach & Delivery — Explain how you have supported strategic work and organisational priorities.
• Achieves Results — Prioritise and organise work under uncertainty.
• Focuses on Customers and Partners — Respond rapidly and effectively to customer needs.
• Delivers Results Through Others — Lead a team to deliver on time and to required standards.
• Seeing the Big Picture — Understand the broader impacts of government reviews on the EA and water sector.

See the Candidate/Additional Information Pack for details. Contact: Kate Bayley (kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk) or D-J Gent (dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk).

Note: Environment Agency is not part of HM Civil Service; not a Crown Servant. See eligibility details in the pack. We are an inclusive employer and encourage applications from people with disabilities.

Job Details

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