Job Summary
This position is based at Tyneside House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Job Description
Northumbria Area Team, Tyneside House, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7A.
Due to the farm-based delivery of these roles, they are based in the Northumbria Area Team, and the CSFA Higher Officers must be resident in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, or Teeside. For the two permanent roles, we are looking for an applicant who can mainly carry out farm visits in Teeside and County Durham, and an applicant to mainly carry out farm visits in Northumberland.
Natural England (NE) delivers a wide range of farm advice, including the Catchment Sensitive Farming Programme: Catchment Sensitive Farming: advice for farmers and land managers - GOV.UK / Catchment Sensitive Farming - Our advice , Farming Advice Service
Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) is a partnership programme between NE, Defra, the Environment Agency and the Forestry Commission. CSF provides advice to farmers to reduce diffuse water and air pollution from agriculture as well as to reduce natural hazards (floods) and support farms through agricultural transition. CSF operates through a network of locally based farm advisers (CSF farm advisers) and partner organisations to deliver Defra’s 25-year plan ambitions for water quality, air quality (ammonia) and sustainable water management through nature-based solutions.
The primary focus of the role is to work with and provide on the ground advice to farmers.
The role-holder will also work with partner organisations, the agricultural industry, and colleagues from the Defra group to build our capabilities to deliver a range of priority outcomes for NE.
Some training will be provided.
Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities.
The Role Of The CSF Farm Adviser Is To:
- Evaluate and understand environmental priorities for CSF within the specified catchment(s), using national data validated locally.
- Work in priority areas to develop and lead specific CSF training, information and advice campaigns for farmers and landowners. 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.
- Communicate, advocate, and promote CSF activity with Natural England, Environment Agency and Forestry Commission colleagues and externally with farmers, land managers and partners.
- Work with NE colleagues and partners, such as water companies and catchment partnerships, to deliver a joined-up approach including developing formal partnerships where appropriate.
- Drive delivery via a range of tools including specialist training and advice (own or procured through contractors) and using incentives such as Capital Grants, SFI, FETF, etc.
- Support Countryside Stewardship (CS) applications in high priority areas for water and air quality by advising farmers on suitable land management options and/or capital items, approving Capital Grants, and giving advice on water and air quality options/ items in Higher Tier applications. Offer general advice on other CS options such as those addressing biodiversity and/or signpost applicants to additional advice from other sources where targeting overlaps.
- Support Defra’s new Tackling Pollution from Slurry programme including offering advice to Slurry Infrastructure Grant applicants if/when a new scheme is available.
- Work with the ETAFF programme 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 CSF plans where appropriate.
Frequent farm and site visits, and partnership working are required. The post holder will be required as part of regular, day-to-day work to visit farms and walk over fields and around farm buildings within the geography of the relevant area. Sometimes this may be in inclement weather conditions.
It is essential that the post holder has a current, valid, full UK driving licence and is willing to drive. Some national travel may be required, which might involve overnight stays.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- A degree in agriculture, conservation, or equivalent degree and/or relevant experience in agriculture, nature conservation.
- Significant experience in providing on farm advice to farmers and being able to communicate effectively with farmers and persuade them to engage
- Good level of agricultural knowledge and farming systems in the United Kingdom, and agri-environment schemes in the United Kingdom, such as SFI, capital schemes
- Good knowledge of and farm advice experience relating to agricultural water and air pollution, and being able to recognise and identify farming practices which can cause water and air pollution
- Basic knowledge of ArcGIS or similar GIS software
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. We now provide primary interview questions in advance for all formal recruitments.
This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:
- Technical Skills and Knowledge
- Personal Effectiveness
- Work Delivery
- Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas
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 Action.
Please note that STAR format is not required when answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency.
Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency.
If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams or a suitable alternative, where you will be asked to give examples for all competencies as set out in the Job Description.
As with all roles in NE, these roles require office attendance of a minimum of 20% of the working time – one day per week for those who work full time, subject to any reasonable adjustments and/or existing contractual homeworking.
Competencies
Technical Skills and Knowledge
A degree in agriculture, conservation, land management or equivalent degree and/or relevant farm advice experience and knowledge (Essential)
Significant experience in providing on farm advice to farmers and being able to communicate effectively with farmers and persuade them to engage (Essential)
Good level of agricultural knowledge and farming systems in the United Kingdom, and agri-environment schemes in the United Kingdom, such as SFI, capital schemes (Essential)
Good knowledge of and providing farm advice relevant to agricultural water and air pollution, and being able to recognise and identify farming practices which can cause water and air pollution (Essential)
Basic knowledge of ArcGIS or similar GIS software (Desirable)
Personal Effectiveness
Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience. (Practitioner)
Respect the diverse needs and experience of other people, be inclusive in everything you do (Practitioner)
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)
Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas
Understand and use appropriate agri-environment schemes and other interventions to contribute to a healthy natural environment that benefits people and the economy (Practitioner)
Identify appropriate solutions for avoidance, mitigation, compensation of environmental impacts and meeting shared outcomes; and identify opportunities for enhancing the natural environment (Practitioner)