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 Adviser 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

Job description

The Head of Agriculture leads Natural England’s work with the agriculture sector to enable nature recovery in the farmed environment.  The remit covers the full breadth of land-based farming systems, covering 70% of England’s land.  The focus of the role is the delivery of government statutory targets for biodiversity and climate on farmland, as well as supporting the organisation’s broader agenda of promoting access to the natural environment for health and enjoyment.

This will be done by:

• Providing evidence-led and visionary leadership within Natural England to identify and advocate an approach to agriculture which delivers nature recovery and climate adaptation and mitigation, but which is also socially and economically sustainable Leading our advice to senior officials in government to enable transformational changes in agriculture through the development of new domestic agricultural policies following our exit from the EU and the Common Agricultural Policy.
• Leading our advice to senior officials in government to support the development and implementation of new systems and schemes for payments to all farmers based on ‘public money for public goods’ rather than by area of land.
• Managing the organisation’s relationships with farming and agricultural industry stakeholder organisations at a national level.
• Assessing the impacts of changes to policies and schemes in relation to Natural England’s strategic outcomes and providing updates to Executive and Board, Strategy Directors, Joint Operations Leadership Team, and other senior leadership teams.
• Working with senior officials in government to develop Natural England’s delivery role in relation to new agricultural policies and schemes.
• Providing organisational direction for staff to ensure we have the capability and capacity to deliver our role as a lead body for new schemes and as an expert advisor. Ensuring that all our resources and activities are operating in a joined-up and effective way to deliver organisational priorities in the farmed environment.

For all elements of work the post-holder will work at a senior level across Natural England, government, and stakeholders. You will become an active member of the relevant local leadership community, the group of senior Natural England staff in each of the localities across England who provide support and co-ordination for local staff.   

Key Tasks / Principal Accountabilities

Accountable for designing and delivering Natural England’s contribution to the delivery of the government’s environmental targets on agricultural land.

The post holder will be responsible for: –

• Leadership of complex internal and external engagement and relationship development with senior Government, other ALBs and partners
• Establishing and developing strong, open and effective liaison and communication with key farming and agricultural stakeholders at the highest levels.
• Championing Natural England’s evidence-led vision for agriculture and its contribution to what is required for nature recovery and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Natural England’s input into agricultural policy development, ensuring that Natural England has a clear and effective voice in the development of proposals.
• Ensuring Natural England’s Executive Committee and Board remain appraised of developments.
• Supporting technical leads on complex policy development topics; assessing and managing policy implications and risk for Natural England’s strategic objectives.
• Building Natural England’s external influence in the agricultural sector, developing relationships with senior government officials and NGO contacts, Deputy Directors, SPADs etc. to influence, and to create productive senior level partnerships, which support NE’s strategic aims.
• Being an external voice on farming for Natural England, in social media, the farming and national press and representing Natural England at major farming conferences and events.
• Represent NE on Government policy development groups. Present papers, lead discussion, chair meetings as required.
• Ensuring that all Natural England staff are appropriately informed about developments in agricultural policies and schemes and Natural England’s associated role, through participation in technical updates, conferences and staff webinars.
• Fulfilling duties as part of the senior leadership team, including providing senior input as required, to Natural England’s governance structures (including Natural England’s Board, Executive Committee and Portfolio Committee) and deputising for the Greener Farming and Fisheries Programme Director, as required.

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 our staff 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 geographical area. Full time staff are expected to attend their associated office for a minimum of one day a week.

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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-office-locations

Pay 

It is Natural England policy to employ at the entry point of the salary range. The entry point for this role is £58,625.

You will become an active member of the relevant local leadership community, the group of senior Natural England staff in each of the localities across England who we ask to provide support and co-ordination for the local group of staff.

Natural England is undertaking a review of its current Staff Framework to ensure that it continues to be fit for purpose for the future and able to deliver its ambitions as an organisation. It will enable us to attract, retain, and grow our people to deliver our ambitious mission to build partnerships for nature recovery and provide enriching careers for our people. Role responsibilities will not change as a result of the review, but all roles will be assessed against the new Staff Framework and will be aligned to one of the new 3 Job Families (Shaping, Enabling and Delivering).