Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce reflecting the communities we serve. We value diversity and strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and can contribute.

The Environment Agency is reforming agricultural policy and spending, moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes support farmers to provide public goods in return for public money, incentivising water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. Working with Defra and delivery partners, you will help to improve services to farmers and contribute to the EA2030 strategy, government targets for water, the environment and climate, and the wider response to government reviews. This role includes influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the broader context of regulatory reform and improving collaboration with the water sector and other partners.

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 design and delivery of CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and drive ongoing improvement in the scheme.

Responsibilities include providing advice in meetings, managing commissions, delivering and overseeing programme milestones, identifying risks and resource requirements, and working with senior leaders across teams and organisations to articulate a scheme that supports outcomes.

The Team

The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team. We work with government, statutory bodies and industry in an agile, fast-paced, flexible environment. We are committed to a welcoming, safe, supportive environment and operate as a dispersed team using smart tools.

Experience/skills Required

The role represents our expertise to Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to improve consistency and collaboration. Essential experience includes:

• Experience of Agriculture and working with Defra and other statutory bodies
• Political awareness with excellent communication and networking skills
• Understanding 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 actively develops and advances ideas

Ideal candidates will show they can:

• Get things done, including through others
• Embodies our culture
• Ensure information is trusted
• Cascade key information
• Build relationships quickly
• Soothe troubled waters

Capabilities: Shapes Organisational Approach & Delivery; Achieves Results; Seeing the Bigger Picture (Business of the EA); Focuses on Customers and Partners; Delivers Results Through Others

Additional Information

• You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. Appropriate training will be given.
• EA Office base location; this is a national role with flexible/hybrid working in England. Some travel/overnights may be required.
• We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.
• Please read the Candidate/Additional Information Pack. For more information contact:
  • Kate Bayley: kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk
  • D-J Gent: dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk
• Applications are blind assessed based on competency questions. Interviews via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date.

Competencies and Descriptions

Competence 1: Shapes organisational approach & delivery – Informing and influencing Government Policy and Agricultural scheme design and implementation. Provide examples of supporting strategic work and organisational priorities.

Competence 2: Achieves Results – Prioritise and organise tasks and resources, including under uncertainty. Provide an example of prioritising work to ensure timely delivery.

Competence 3: Focuses on Customers and Partners – Address internal and external customer needs. Provide an example of a rapid and effective response to a group of customers.

Competence 4: Delivers Results Through Others – Harness a team to deliver on time and to standard. Share an example of coordinating a group to achieve results.

Competence 5: Seeing the Big Picture – Understand and respond to changing direction, goals and business needs of the Environment Agency. Discuss implications of government reviews on water sector and regulatory reform.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce and welcome flexible working. We guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria. We operate within public sector frameworks and cannot engage with direct market recruitment outside these frameworks. For information about becoming a Crown supplier, see gov.uk links.

Location and Availability

Possible locations include Owston Ferry, Gainsborough, East Markham, Greater Lincoln Area, Rotherham, Selby, and surrounding areas in England. This is a full-time, senior-level role.