Overview
The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment.
England is undertaking the most significant reform of agricultural policy and spending in decades, moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes support farmers to provide public goods in return for public money. They incentivise farmers and land managers to deliver water, soil and biodiversity outcomes alongside food production. Working with Defra and delivery partner colleagues you will aim to radically improve our services to farmers. These reforms are essential to help grow and maintain a resilient, productive, agriculture sector, to realise our EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate. This role will include influencing the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of shaping our organisational response to recent government reviews.
The Environment Agency ELM team are seeking dynamic, strategic thinkers to join us at the forefront of informing and shaping the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You will provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and provide oversight of Programme milestones, and identify future risks and resource requirements. You will be working across a variety of teams and organisations, with senior leaders, to articulate a scheme that supports and delivers our outcomes.
The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, working alongside colleagues in government, statutory bodies and industry. We work in an agile, fast-paced, flexible and collaborative environment, managing uncertainty to deliver clarity. We are passionate about our people and 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, manage commissions, deliver and oversee Programme milestones, and identify future risks and resource requirements.
* Work across a variety of teams and organisations, including senior leaders, to articulate a scheme that supports and delivers outcomes.
* Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and contribute to continuous improvement of the scheme through its design and delivery.
Experience and Qualifications
* Experience of Agriculture and working with Defra and other statutory bodies is essential.
* Politically aware with excellent communication and networking skills.
* Understanding environmental sensitivities associated with significant agriculture sector reform.
* Experience interpreting/evaluating evidence to propose effective risk-based solutions for challenging problems.
* Ability to prioritise and deliver complex work; self-starter who actively develops and takes ideas forward.
* Ideal candidates can demonstrate: get things done (including through others), embody our culture, ensure information is trusted, cascade key information, build relationships quickly, and navigate challenging situations.
Additional information
* You’ll have an incident management objective in your development plan. Appropriate training will be given.
* EA Office base location is flexible/hybrid in England; some travel/overnights required.
* We use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.
* Please read the Candidate/Additional Information Pack for information. For more information please contact: Kate Bayley (kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk) or D-J Gent (dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk).
* Applications are “blind” assessed using your answers to the competency questions. Interviews are expected via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. If you consent to being on a reserve list, we may hold your details for 6 months and consider you for alternative posts. We have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support people with disabilities.
Competencies
* Shapes organisational approach & delivery — Informing and influencing Government policy and agricultural scheme design and implementation.
* Achsieves Results — Prioritising and organising tasks and resources when working with uncertainty.
* Focuses on Customers and Partners — Addressing internal and external customer needs with rapid and effective responses.
* Delivers Results Through Others — Harnessing a team to deliver on time and to required standards.
* Seeing the Big Picture — Understanding changing direction, goals and business needs of the Environment Agency.
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