Agriculture Regulatory Inspection Officer – Wessex

Job Description

Job title: Agriculture Regulatory Inspection Officer – Wessex

Company: Environment Agency

Job description: Do you have a good knowledge of agriculture or other regulation in England and want to improve our natural environment? Would you like to be at the forefront of agricultural change? This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a team working with farmers to help create a cleaner, safer and healthier environment in Wessex.

Agricultural practices can cause significant and chronic pollution to our precious water environment, often caused by slurry leaks and silage effluent, and other materials, stored and spread on farms. You will inspect livestock farms to assess their operations and infrastructure and ensure they are meeting the standards set by environmental regulations.

You will engage with farmers and using your regulatory powers and advice, move them to compliance with relevant environmental legislation. At times these conversations may be challenging but you will use your skills to influence and persuade farmers to make changes to improve their local environment. You will signpost farmers to funding opportunities and advice from our partners. In some cases you may need to take enforcement action to secure improvements, including serving of notices and prosecution.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. You will be required to have an incident role and make yourself available to respond to incidents or provide business continuity support during an incident. This may attract an additional payment. Full training and workplace adjustments will be available to support you with your incident role.

The team 1

As a member of one of the Wessex agricultural teams, you will carry out targeted farm inspections across several priority catchments including the Somerset Levels and Moors, Poole Harbour, Hampshire Avon and various bathing water areas.

Wessex is tremendously diverse with numerous priority and protected species, designated habitats of local and national importance and a coastline of national and international significance.

You will be supported in your team and nationally by experienced agricultural specialists.

Experience/skills required 1

We are looking for individuals who have:

• a passion for the environment and delivering environmental improvements
• experience of working with farmers, on farms, the agriculture sector or other regulation
• an understanding of the complexities and challenges of working UK farms
• excellent communication (written and verbal) and influencing skills
• the confidence to have difficult and challenging conversations
• the ability to plan and manage their own workload
• the ability to manage and analyse technical information

You must have:

• a full UK driving licence
• IT skills, including the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), be comfortable in using an iPad and laptop on a daily basis and be able to input information into various systems

Full training will be provided and will include a variety of desk-based learning, group discussion and practical on-site visits.

Contact and additional information 1

There are two posts available, one based in our Bridgwater office and the other at our Chippenham office.

The role will entail travel across the Wessex area; we will provide a vehicle for use at work to carry out inspections and attend incidents.

You will be required to attend in hours incidents and can volunteer for out of hours incident working.

The Environment Agency values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community wishing to join a workforce which embraces difference and welcomes everyone.

We offer extensive employee benefits and opportunities for continuous development. Please see the candidate pack for further details.

For an informal discussion, please contact Rebecca Tavernor 07826 537663, Chris Westcott 07721 390131 or Tim Baribeau 07436 902892.

Job description attachment 1 1

Job description attachment 2 1

Candidate pack 1

Closing Date:

21/01/2024, 23:55 hours

Level of security checks required 1

Basic Check

Competence 1 1

Achieves Results

Description 1

PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV’s and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.

Description*: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results

Question*: Giving an example of how you have delivered change on a farm or other site, describe how you prioritised your workload and how you met the final deadline.

• What was the work and timelines you were working to?
• Did you experience any setbacks and if so, what effect did this have?
• What was the outcome?

For further information please see the guidance here EA Capability Dictionary (calameo.com) [https://en.calameo.com/read/004433680aab41adf893b]

Competence 2 1

Influences and Persuades Others

Description 1

PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV’s and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.

Description*: Presenting a case in a convincing and attractive way that will win people over, encouraging them to follow plans willingly; often succeeding where logic and reason alone would fail.

Question*: Give an example of a time when you have had to bring a farmer, landowner or other customer around to your way of thinking.

• What was the situation and what did you do?
• What were the main challenges and how did you overcome these?
• What was the outcome?
• What did you learn and is there anything you would do differently if a similar situation arose in the future?

For further information please see the guidance here EA Capability Dictionary (calameo.com) [https://en.calameo.com/read/004433680aab41adf893b]

Competence 3 1

Takes Decisions and Solves Problems

Description 1

PLEASE NOTE: We do not accept CV’s and your answer to the following question will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response. Using the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action Result) can help when formulating your answers.

Description*: Finds and delivers optimal solutions by effectively analysing all the information, probing to develop alternatives and taking sound and timely decisions.

Question*:

Describe a time when you had to solve a particularly complex problem on a farm, or other site, in your current/previous role.

• What was the issue?
• What made it complex?
• What information did you need in order to solve it?
• How did you communicate this to the customer?
• What was the outcome?

For further information please see the guidance here EA Capability Dictionary (calameo.com) [https://en.calameo.com/read/004433680aab41adf893b]

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls . Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit for more information.

Expected salary:

Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire – Bridgwater, Somerset

Job date: Fri, 29 Dec 2023 23:30:49 GMT

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