Overview
Senior Advisor - Future Agriculture - Environmental Land Management - 31666
The Environment Agency is committed to an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We seek diversity and aim to live it for the benefit of our staff, communities and environment.
England is reforming agricultural policy and spending, moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. ELM schemes 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 improve services to farmers. These reforms support a resilient, productive agriculture sector and contribute to the EA2030 strategy and government targets for water, the environment and climate. This role will influence the design and delivery of incentives within the broader organisational response to government reviews, aiming for clean and plentiful water and greater economic growth and nature recovery through regulation.
The ELM team is at the forefront of informing and shaping the future of ELM, particularly the delivery of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You will deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and contribute to continuous improvement in scheme design and delivery.
You will provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, oversee programme milestones, identify risks and resource requirements, and work across multiple teams and organisations with senior leaders to articulate a scheme that supports outcomes.
The team sits within the Nature & Place Directorate, part of the National Agriculture and Land Team, and collaborates with government, statutory bodies and industry. We work in an agile, fast-paced, flexible environment and are committed to a welcoming, safe and inclusive culture. We are a dispersed team and use smart tools to stay connected and reduce travel.
We welcome flexible working patterns, including job sharing. A guaranteed interview policy supports applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria.
Responsibilities
* Provide advice in meetings, manage commissions, deliver and oversee programme milestones, and identify risks and resource requirements.
* Influence the design and delivery of incentives within the ELM framework and related government reviews.
* Deliver key CSHT products for the Farming and Countryside Programme and contribute to continuous improvement of scheme design and delivery.
* Collaborate with Defra, delivery bodies and the agriculture sector to improve coordination and consistency across organisations.
Experience and Skills
* 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 related to significant agricultural sector reform.
* Ability to interpret/evaluate evidence and propose risk-based solutions for challenging problems.
* Ability to prioritise and deliver complex work as a self-starter who develops ideas and drives them forward.
Ideal candidates will also show
* Ability to get things done, including through others
* Embodying a positive organisational culture
* Maintaining trusted information and cascading key messages
* Building relationships quickly
* Ability to manage and alleviate difficult situations
Capabilities
Shapes organisational approach & delivery; Achieves results; Seeing the bigger picture; Focuses on customers and partners; Delivers results through others.
Location and logistics
EA Office base location; the role is national with flexible/hybrid working in England. Some travel and occasional overnight stays may be required. You will have an incident management objective in your development plan.
You’ll also be able to read the Candidate/Additional Information Pack for more information. For contact, please use the emails below.
Contacts
* Kate Bayley: kate.bayley@environment-agency.gov.uk
* D-J Gent: dj.gent@environment-agency.gov.uk
Applications are blind assessed using competency questions. Interviews are expected via MS Teams two weeks after the closing date. If you are placed on a reserve list, your details may be kept for 6 months for potential alternative posts.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are an equal opportunity employer. We provide flexible working and have a Guaranteed Interview Policy for applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria.
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