Senior Advisor

Description:

The Environment Agency is seeking a Senior Advisor – Future Agriculture – Environmental Land Management (ELM) to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of agricultural reform in England. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to one of the most significant agricultural policy transitions in decades, moving from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the ELM schemes.

ELM schemes aim to incentivize farmers and land managers to deliver public goods such as clean water, healthy soils, and biodiversity, alongside food production. As part of the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) delivery team within the Nature & Place Directorate, you will provide strategic advice, influence scheme design, and manage the delivery of critical program milestones. Your work will support the EA2030 strategy and government goals for water quality, environmental improvement, climate action, and sustainable agricultural productivity.

Key Responsibilities:

• Influence the design and delivery of agricultural incentive schemes, particularly CSHT.

• Provide expert advice in strategic meetings, manage commissions, and oversee program delivery.

• Identify and mitigate future risks, plan resource requirements, and support continuous scheme improvement.

• Collaborate with senior leaders, government bodies, and external partners to achieve program objectives.

• Communicate key information effectively to stakeholders, ensuring alignment and clarity across organizations.

• Engage in incident management as part of your professional development (training will be provided).

Required Skills & Competencies:

• Strong political awareness and excellent communication/networking skills.

• Ability to prioritize and deliver complex work under uncertainty.

• Experience in stakeholder engagement, risk assessment, and evidence-based decision-making.

• Skills in organizational influence, results delivery, customer/partner focus, and team coordination.

• Capacity to interpret government reviews and their impact on the water sector and regulatory reform.

Why Join Environment Agency?

• Be part of a diverse and inclusive workforce committed to sustainability and environmental improvement.

• Contribute to shaping a key national policy reform with long-term agricultural and environmental impact.

• Work in a flexible, hybrid environment with opportunities for professional development and growth.

• Collaborate with senior leaders, government partners, and experts in an agile and innovative team.

Commitment:

Full-time role with hybrid working and occasional travel/overnight stays required.