West Anglia Farm Adviser (Ref: 6871)

Job summary

These positions can be based at Cambridge or Peterborough

Job description

The team

West Anglia Area Team

West Anglia Area Team has an ambitious plan to build a resilient natural environment. We want to create flourishing landscapes that are a source of pride, employment, access and enjoyment. The habitats across the landscapes will provide benefits to biodiversity, water quality, flood management, climate change and the wider farmed environment.

West Anglia Area Team contains four county-based teams (Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Beds & Hertfordshire and Essex) – where we develop our plans and deliver our services under the leadership of a Team Leader. The county teams are multi-disciplinary, enabling us to bring together different tools and advice to deliver our outcomes in partnership with others. We have offices in Peterborough and Cambridge

The role

We are looking for motivated individuals to work with farmers, landowners, land managers and organisations in partnerships, with an aim to safeguard, restore and enhance the natural environment by providing technical advice on habitat and species management.

We are seeking individuals with a range of knowledge, skills and experience covering habitat management, species management, agricultural practices, land management, and negotiation to provide comprehensive technical advice on conservation and nature recovery.

You need to be a team player, able to work with a range of staff in local and national teams and have the ability to operate as an individual; You will lead projects and cultivate effective working relationships that can make a real difference in the natural environment.

Key Tasks

As a Farm Adviser working in Natural England your role will focus either on Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements, or Catchment Sensitive Farming.

In both cases the role involves working with farmers and land owners to advise on approaches to deliver for nature recovery and activities could include:

• Using Agri-Environment schemes to help maintain/deliver improvement in the condition of protected sites and deliver nature recovery in the wider landscape
• Developing new Countryside Stewardship applications through habitat assessment and working closely with applicants. Drawing up proposals which meet the positive environmental goals of the scheme and practical farm business considerations, while working within rules and eligibility criteria.
• Promoting nature conservation, protecting biodiversity and identifying opportunities to deliver better air and water quality and tackle the effects of climate change.
• Working with farmers, landowners and other interested parties for the benefit of priority habitats and species, identifying issues, solutions and opportunities and facilitating delivery through agri - environment schemes (Countryside Stewardship and Higher-Level Stewardship extensions)
• Conducting field assessments and discussions with farmers and land managers to monitor the success of existing Stewardship agreements and help find solutions where there are problems.
• Give bespoke advice on farm to farmers and organise and deliver, with the aid of specialists, further advice, group events and workshops.
• Secure agreement and ownership in the priority area on key pollution issues and solutions. Achieve change in land management practices on farm and help farmers and landowners to take action.
• Work with Natural England colleagues and partners such as the Environment Agency, water companies and catchment partnerships to deliver a joined-up approach including developing formal partnerships where appropriate.
• Work with the contract colleagues to provide timely information for tenders for group events and farm advice. Conduct quality control to agreed processes and deadlines.
• Record interactions and advice given. Monitor the effectiveness of engagement with farmers and landowners.
• Understand the relevant Diffuse Water Pollution Plan(s) and Shared Nitrogen Action Plan(s) and incorporate into our advice where appropriate

These roles are ‘field roles’ which means much of the time will be spent meeting farmers and partners in the patch. The post holders must have a full driving licence and be located in one of our counties: Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northants or Essex.

• Our priority gaps in patches for CSF are Essex; Colne; Welland; Cam, Rhee and Granta and Cam & Ely Ouse
• Our priority gaps in patches for CS Higher Tier are Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire
• Knowledge of the farmland in one or more of these priority patches is a key need in these roles

Competencies

Competence 1

Professional competency

Technical/specialist knowledge/qualifications

(There is no requirement to provide your answer in a STAR format to this competence)

• A degree in agriculture, conservation, or equivalent degree and/or relevant experience
  
  
• Experience in providing on farm advice to farmers and being able to communicate effectively with farmers (Essential)
  
  
• Good level of agricultural knowledge, and agri-environment schemes, such as Countryside Stewardship Scheme; and a basic knowledge of ArcGIS or similar GIS software will be useful (Desirable)

Competence 2

Professional competency

Personal Effectiveness

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience (Basic)
  
  
• Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective (Practitioner)

Competence 3

Professional competency

People at the Heart of the Environment

• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and the organisation you represent (Practitioner)
  
  
• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver the organisation’s vision, mission and aims. (Practitioner)

Competence 4

Professional competency

Work Delivery

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines (Practitioner)
  
  
• Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies, and procedures (Practitioner)

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,780, Natural England contributes £9,786 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Please refer to Job Description

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Cheryl Allibone
• Email : cheryl.allibone@naturalengland.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defra-recruitment-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

https://networkrecruitment.tal.net/vx/appcentre-7/brand-4/spa-1/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/6871-6871-West-Anglia-Farm-Adviser/en-GB

Attachments

DEF-001h - Candidate Pack Natural England v3.1 Opens in new window (docx, 550kB)