Overview
Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666
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. These reviews aim to achieve clean and plentiful water working with the water sector and delivering greater economic growth and nature recovery through regulation. 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). 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, 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 for the Farming and Countryside Programme.
* Identify future risks and resource requirements and communicate across teams and organisations including senior leaders.
* Influence the design and delivery of incentives within the wider context of environmental and regulatory reform.
* Contribute to the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) and continuous improvement of the ELM scheme.
* Work collaboratively in an agile, flexible environment to support EA2030 goals on water, environment and climate.
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 of 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 develops and advances ideas.
Ideal candidates will show they can
* get stuff done, including through others
* embody our culture
* make sure our 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
Contact and additional information
* Kate Bayley: kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk
* D-J Gent: dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk
Applicants are assessed blind using 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, details may be held for 6 months and offer of an alternative post may be made. Flexible working patterns are welcomed, including job share. A guaranteed interview policy is available for applicants with a disability.
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