Farm and Land Management Environment Adviser x2

Job Description

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and
secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a
team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural
Environment? If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities
to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people
and nature.

The priority work Natural England is delivering includes:

• Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive
• Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change
• Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods
• Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature
• Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social prescribing

We are the Government’s advisor for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering
the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings new opportunities
to protect and enhance and to achieve real outcomes for the environment.

Find out more about the work of Natural England at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

The Wessex Area looks after the natural environment across Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and the
West of England.

Wessex is made up of diverse and rich landscapes, we have upland heaths and mires on Exmoor,
wetlands on the Somerset Levels; woodlands and extensive plains on the surrounding hills; the
unique Severn Estuary; chalk grasslands and rivers in Wiltshire and Dorset; heaths, harbours,
and rich marine habitats off the Dorset coast; all vital for wildlife and much-loved by people.

We work with a wide range of people and organisations to take the action required to rebuild a
sustainable environment in support of the Governments 25 Year Environment Plan and net zero
commitments.

We have staff based in offices at: Bridgwater, Bristol, and Dorchester.

Role Description

The need for advice to help farmers and land managers has never been greater or more urgent.
Achieving the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan targets are dependent on greener
farming.

We are looking for motivated individuals to work with farmers, landowners, land managers and
organisations in partnership to secure positive environmental outcomes and to help to build the
Nature Recovery Network across the Wessex area.

We are seeking people 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.

As a Farm Adviser, you will have a key role in supporting farmers and land managers to take
positive action for nature this could include-

• advice on new Countryside Stewardship applicants and other related schemes
• support existing agreement holders to deliver more for nature recovery, initially focussing
  on our Catchment Sensitive Farming or Agri-Environment programmes.

Advisers will also work with partners to take action to recover the condition of our most
valuable sites for nature.

Our advice role is continuing to evolve in response to new opportunities and challenges, so we
will support post holders to grow their skills to cover new agricultural incentive schemes, and
emerging priorities such as air quality, flood risk mitigation, net zero and green finance.

We are looking for candidates with a mix of skills and knowledge, including an understanding of
conservation management and farming systems. And candidates who can bring people together and
build consensus to co-design solutions for the most challenging problems. Working at pace
within a supportive and collaborative environment you will have the opportunity to contribute
and develop your skills to a wide variety of areas.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

The key tasks of successful candidates could include the following:

• Building and support collaborative relationships and partnerships of farmers/land owners
  and stakeholders to identify environmental opportunities
• Working with farmers and landowners to advise on how they manage their land in a
  sustainable way for the benefit of the natural environment
• Identifying opportunities to drive forward nature recovery
• Undertake site visits, events, and communications to engage with land managers &
  delivery partners to improve environmental outcomes through farming practice.
• Support existing Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship agreement holders to
  maximise the environmental outcomes from their schemes.
• Deliver mitigations and secure environmental improvements though the appropriate
  agri-environment schemes
• Providing advice in relation to ongoing and new opportunities such as Environmental Land
  Management schemes, Slurry Investment Grant, England Woodland Creation Offer, green finance
  including emerging carbon markets, and Biodiversity Net Gain.
• Work with farmers and land managers to deliver improvements to the condition of habitats and
  species on Protected Sites, and monitoring of the condition of these sites

Benefits

Wherever possible Natural England accommodates requests for both full-time and part-time hours
and other flexible working patterns to help employees achieve a good work/life balance and
maintain their health and wellbeing.

Natural England provides excellent opportunities for career progression, training and
development tailored to your role. From induction to ongoing learning and development, everyone
in Natural England is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. Everyone has 10 days
to devote to personal learning and development, as well as an additional 3 days to volunteer.

You will have access to Civil Service Pension and benefits arrangements and generous leave
allowances (33 day per year pro rata), as well as flexible working, to help you achieve a
work-life balance that works for you and us.

You will have access to a range of benefits including discounts on shopping vouchers, cycle to
work scheme, and childcare vouchers. You can also join the Civil Service Sport club which offer
discounts on a range of sports and leisure opportunities as well as social events.

Natural England is a fantastic place to work, where difference is celebrated.

We’re committed to fairness and equality for all, so you feel valued for who you are and what
you do. Our shared values help us work together to benefit the communities we serve. Our
thriving employee-led diversity networks support our inclusive culture and contribute to our
Diversity Action Plan.

Locations

Natural England is adopting hybrid working – which means that our staff will work from a
flexible range of locations, encompassing home, offices (ours and our partners) and relevant
sites. All new staff will be formally linked to one of our 25 offices across England and the
expectation is that all new staff will be able to access their local office to be part of the
community of staff in their geographic area. Staff members are required to carry out all their
duties working in this way and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. Travel
expenses will be paid if work related travel is required but does not apply to travel between
home and your associated office.

National team roles can be linked with any Natural England office while Area Team roles will be
linked with an office in the relevant geographic area.

View a map of our office locations here.

How to Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to
the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude
towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at
the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like
the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where
possible, or well in advance of your interview. This vacancy uses competency-based assessment.
We’ll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:

• Technical Skills & Knowledge
• Putting people at the Heart
• Personal Effectiveness
• Work Delivery

When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR
format. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work
related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task
you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a
wider context) of your doing so. Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each
competency.

Competencies

Competence 1 Technical Skills & Knowledge (There is no requirement to use
STAR format to demonstrate this competency but please provide evidence of your experience)

• A relevant degree (e.g. geography, environmental studies, planning, ecology) or alternative
  qualification and/or suitable relevant experience, please specify. (Essential)
• Understand and apply relevant environmental legislation, policy and governance frameworks
  to their work. (Essential)
• Good ecological understanding, enabling you to assess environmental opportunities on farm
  and understand how these relate to the priorities in the area to deliver effective nature
  recovery advice
• Good level of agricultural knowledge and understanding agricultural incentives
• The ability to identify and mitigate farming practices that can cause water and air
  pollution. (Desirable)
• Experience in providing on farm advice and being able to communicate effectively with
  farmers and persuade them to deliver environmental outcomes
• The ability to gain technical understanding and knowledge quickly over an agreed timetable.
  (Essential)

Competence 2 Putting People at the Heart

• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best
  outcomes for them and the organisation you represent. (Practitioner)
• Work proactively and collaboratively with stakeholders and partners to identify and secure
  opportunities to deliver gains for people and nature. (Practitioner)

Competence 3 Personal Effectiveness

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your
  audience. (Basic)
• Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and throughout the
  organisation, and inspire others to act. (Practitioner)

Competence 4 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)

Wessex team contact – Rachel Webb, [email protected], 07787 250 335