Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666

Overview

The Environment Agency is committed to having an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We seek diversity to benefit staff, communities and the environment. England 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 partner colleagues, this role aims to improve services to farmers and shape our response to government reviews. These reforms support a resilient, productive agriculture sector and contribute to the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, environment and climate. The role will influence the design and delivery of incentives within this wider context. The Environment Agency ELM team seeks dynamic, strategic thinkers to help inform and shape the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). Delivering key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme, your expertise will contribute to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery. You will provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, oversee programme milestones, identify risks and resource requirements, and work across teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that supports our outcomes. The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, working with colleagues in government, statutory bodies and industry. We work in an agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative environment, managing uncertainty to deliver clarity. We foster a welcoming, safe, supportive environment where everyone feels valued. We are a dispersed team and use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice in meetings and manage commissions.
• Deliver and oversee programme milestones and identify future risks and resource requirements.
• Collaborate with various teams and organisations, including senior leaders, to articulate a scheme that supports outcomes.

Experience / Skills Required

• Experience of Agriculture and working with Defra and other statutory bodies is essential.
• You are politically aware with excellent communication and networking skills.
• You understand the environmental sensitivities associated with significant agriculture sector reform.
• Experience interpreting/evaluating evidence to propose effective risk-based solutions for challenging problems.
• You prioritise and deliver complex work and are a self-starter who actively develops and takes ideas forward.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate

• Get stuff done, including through others
• Embodies our culture
• Ensures information is trusted
• Cascades key information
• Builds relationships quickly
• Soothes 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

Contact and additional information

You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. Appropriate training will be given. You’ll have an EA Office base location; however, as a national role the working location is flexible/hybrid in England. We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel; some travel/overnights will be required. 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

Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the 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 you an alternative post.

We are fully committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Flexible working patterns are welcomed, including job share; please include any information about preferred working arrangements on your application. We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy for applicants with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria. The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body and participates in government frameworks for external recruitment. For more information about becoming a supplier through the Crown Commercial Service, visit the official government page.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Management and Manufacturing