Overview

The Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce reflecting the communities we serve. England is reforming agricultural policy and spending through Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, moving from the CAP to ELM. ELM schemes incentivise farmers and land managers to deliver water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. This role involves influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of government reviews, and delivering and shaping the organisation’s response to regulatory reform and nature recovery goals. The role supports the Farming and Countryside Programme, with a focus on the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) and continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and oversee Programme milestones, and identify future risks and resource requirements.
• Work across multiple teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that supports and delivers EA outcomes.
• Contribute to the delivery of CSHT products and drive continuous improvement of the scheme.
• Represent EA expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to achieve consistency and better organisational collaboration.
• Support an agile, fast-paced, and collaborative environment within the Nature & Place Directorate and National Agriculture and Land Team.

Experience / Qualifications

• 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 related to major 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 develops ideas forward.
• Ability to work with internal and external customers and provide rapid, effective responses.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate

• Ability to get things done, including through others
• Alignment with the organisation’s culture
• Ability to ensure information is trusted and clearly cascaded
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management
• Diplomacy to manage challenging situations

Location, travel and working arrangements

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. We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.

Contact and application information

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

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, we’ll hold your details for 6 months and may offer an alternative post. There is a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support candidates with a disability.