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, communities and environment.

England is reforming agricultural policy and spending, moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes incentivise farmers and land managers to deliver water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. This role supports Defra and delivery partners to improve services to farmers and shape our organisational response to recent government reviews, helping to deliver the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate. The role will influence the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of regulating and supporting a resilient, productive agriculture sector.

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). You will contribute to the delivery and continuous improvement of CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, and provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, oversee programme milestones, and identify risks and resource needs. You will work across teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that delivers outcomes.

The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, and works with government, statutory bodies and industry in an agile, fast-paced, collaborative environment. We value our people and support a welcoming, safe, and flexible working arrangement with reduced travel where possible.

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 work in Agriculture with Defra and other statutory bodies. You should be politically aware with excellent communication and networking skills, and understand environmental sensitivities associated with significant agriculture sector reform. You must be able to interpret/evaluate evidence to propose risk-based solutions for challenging problems, prioritise and deliver complex work, and be a self-starter who develops and advances ideas. Ideal candidates will show they can: get stuff done (including through others), embody our culture, ensure information is trusted, cascade key information, build relationships quickly, and manage difficult situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, and oversee programme milestones for CSHT
• Identify future risks and resource requirements across teams and organisations
• Influence the design and delivery of incentives within the Environmental Land Management framework
• Contribute to continuous improvement of CSHT through design and delivery
• Collaborate with Defra and delivery partners to align policy and practice

Qualifications / Capabilities

• 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 agriculture reforms
• Experience interpreting/evaluating evidence to propose risk-based solutions
• Ability to prioritise and deliver complex work, and to work autonomously
• Ability to work across teams to articulate and deliver outcomes

Location and Working Arrangements

• EA Office base location; national role with flexible/hybrid working in England
• Some travel and occasional overnight stays may be required

Other Information

• Applicants may be assessed blind based on competency questions
• Interviews expected via MS Teams two weeks after closing date
• Flexible working patterns are supported; guaranteed interview for applicants with a disability whose application meets minimum criteria
• Contact: kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk or dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk

Note: This description reflects the role as published and any updates will be provided by the Environment Agency.