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 to contribute towards environmental improvements by undertaking regulatory inspections across Wessex.
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 a dynamic individual, including new graduates, with experience and understanding of UK agriculture, to work with farmers to help increase their levels of compliance with existing environmental regulations. This will contribute to safeguarding and improving the future environment.
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.
In this role you will:
* carry out targeted farm inspections
* engage with farmers to influence them to change their practices, 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 transferrable skills and training will be provided.
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.
The Team:
As a member of the Wessex agriculture team, you will carry out targeted farm inspections in the catchments, help improve farmer behaviours with respect to their local environment and investigate reasons for poor water quality. You will be part of an operational team based in Blandford, Bridgwater and Chippenham, that is integral to delivering real environmental improvements.
Experience/Skills Required:
The following skills are desirable:
* experience of working with farmers on UK farms, the UK agriculture sector or regulation of a similar sector
* 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), be comfortable using an iPad and a laptop on a daily basis, and be capable of inputting inspection findings into databases
* a willingness to undertake enforcement action where necessary
Contact and Additional Information:
These roles based at any of our offices across Wessex, but with some optional home working permitted too. You will be required to hold a full driving licence and be willing to travel extensively across the Wessex Area. Further information can be found in the candidate pack.
Vehicle transport will be provided to allow site inspections.
If you are appointed, you will have to undergo vetting – we will conduct open-source checks including publicly availability barred lists.
This role does NOT qualify for UK skilled worker sponsorship.
For enquires please contact Chris.lewis@environment-agency.gov.uk
Interviews will be held in person at an Environment Agency office in May.
Competence 1:
* Achieves Results
Competence 1 Description:
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 (calameo.com) [https://en.calameo.com/read/004433680aab41adf893b]
Competence 2:
* Influences and Persuades Others
Competence 2 Description:
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 (calameo.com) [https://en.calameo.com/read/004433680aab41adf893b]
Competence 3:
* Legislative Knowledge
Competence 3 Description:
The Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018, known as the Farming Rules for Water, ) are regulations about the prevention of diffuse pollution from farms.
What would you do to help improve farm compliance with these regulations when inspecting a farm?
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