Agriculture Regulatory Inspection Officer – West Midlands - 32299
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Job Description
Do you have a good knowledge of agriculture in England and want to improve our natural environment? Would you like to be at the forefront of agricultural change? This is an exciting opportunity as we are recruiting multiple Officers in our West Midlands Area to undertake regulatory inspections of farms focusing on the River Wye and other Protected Areas.
Agricultural practices can cause significant and chronic pollution to our precious water environment. These can be caused by leaks of slurry and silage effluent, and other materials stored and spread on farms.
We are looking for dynamic individuals, including new graduates, with experience and understanding of agriculture activity, to work with farmers to increase their levels of compliance with existing environmental regulations. This will help safeguard and improve the future environment.
In this role you will:
* carry out targeted farm inspections
* engage with farmers to influence them to change their practice, which may involve difficult conversations
* collect data and produce reports on findings
* be willing to undertake regulatory enforcement action when needed, including prosecutions and the serving of notices
Many are transferable skills and training will be provided.
The team
As a member of the West Midlands Agricultural Regulation Team, you will carry out targeted farm inspections in the catchments such as the River Wye, River Mease, River Clun and others to help improve farmer behaviours with respect to their local environment. You will be part of a dispersed operational team that is integral to delivering real environmental improvements.
The Environment Agency works to create better places for people and wildlife and supports sustainable development.
Experience/skills Required
The following skills are desirable:
* experience of working with farmers, on UK farms, the agriculture sector or other regulation
* an understanding of the complexities and challenges of working UK farms
* excellent communication and influencing skills
* an ability to have challenging conversations
You must have:
* a full UK driving licence
* IT skills (e.g. Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel), comfortable using an iPad and a laptop on a daily basis, and be able to input inspection findings into systems.
* An understanding and willingness to undertake enforcement action where necessary
The Environment Agency values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community who wish to join a workforce which embraces difference and welcomes everyone.
You will be required to hold a full driving licence and be willing to travel extensively across the West Midlands Area.
Contact and additional information
These are hybrid roles based at any of our offices across West Midlands: Tewkesbury, Kidderminster, Shrewsbury, Stafford, Lichfield, Birmingham, working at least 40% of the time away from home. Further information can be found in the candidate pack.
Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract additional payment and full training and workplace adjustments will be available to support you with your incident role.
Vehicle transport will be provided to allow site inspections.
For enquiries please contact Kirsty.gilmour@environment-agency.gov.uk or Karen.Price@environment-agency.gov.uk
Interviews will be hosted week commencing 15th December.
Competence 1 – Achieves Results
[Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results]
Giving an example of how you have delivered change on a farm or other site, describe how you prioritised your workload and how you met the final deadline.
* What was the work and timelines you were working to?
* Did you experience any setbacks and if so, what effect did this have?
* What was the outcome?
We recommend the “STAR” approach when assessing these examples (i.e. what was the Situation; what was the Task you were required to do; what Actions did you take; what was the Result).
For further information please see the guidance here EA Capability Dictionary (https://en.calameo.com/read/004433680aab41adf893b)
Competence 2 – Influences and Persuades Others
[Description: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.]
Give an example of a time when you have had to bring a farmer, landowner or other customer around to your way of thinking.
* What was the situation and what did you do?
* What were the main challenges and how did you overcome these?
* What was the outcome?
* What did you learn and is there anything you would do differently if a similar situation arose in the future?
We recommend the “STAR” approach when assessing these examples (i.e. what was the Situation; what was the Task you were required to do; what Actions did you take; what was the Result).
For further information please see the guidance here EA Capability Dictionary (https://en.calameo.com/read/004433680aab41adf893b)
Competence 3 – Takes Decisions and Solves Problems
[Description: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.]
Describe a time when you had to solve a particularly complex problem on a farm, or other site, in your current/previous role.
* What was the issue?
* What made it complex?
* What information did you need in order to solve it?
* How did you communicate this to the customer?
* What was the outcome?
We recommend the “STAR” approach when assessing these examples (i.e. what was the Situation; what was the Task you were required to do; what Actions did you take; what was the Result).
For further information please see the guidance here EA Capability Dictionary (https://en.calameo.com/read/004433680aab41adf893b)
Role specific license requirements
UK Driving Licence
Policy statements
If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.
We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.
We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Seniority level: Associate
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Legal
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