Farm Adviser Higher Officer

Driving nature recovery through farm advice within the West Midlands Team. Achieving the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan objectives for nature recovery and the Environmental Improvement Plan targets are dependent on greener farming. Our team of farm advisers support farmers and other land managers build long-term capability to deliver nature recovery and associated environment benefits such as climate adaption, access, clean air and water.

As a Natural England Farm Adviser, you will have a unique mix of knowledge and skills including an up-to-date understanding of conservation management, farming systems, the regulations and incentives that underpin them, and how they come together to help farmers and land managers deliver nature recovery. You will also be expert at bringing people together and building consensus to deliver nature-based solutions for the most challenging problems.

These skills and knowledge will enable you to provide high quality advice Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier applications to famers and land managers on across the West Midlands - although the specific geography will depend on the successful candidate's location within the 7 Counties that the West Midlands Team covers.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

Engage with farmers and other land managers to drive forward nature recovery, providing advice, signposting and encouragement regarding ongoing and new opportunities such as Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, Landscape Recovery scheme, Capital Grant schemes, England Woodland Creation Offer, Biodiversity Net Gain and Green Finance.

Negotiate Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier schemes, providing Pre-Application advice to applicants that seeks to maximise nature recovery and wider environmental benefits whilst also supporting sustainable food production.

Support applicants with developing Feasibility Studies that seek to integrate outcomes and the required management in the context of restoring, where possible, natural function.

Where needed, draw in advice and specialist knowledge from other Team members to maximise nature recovery outcomes, including Catchment Sensitive Farming advisers to secure water and air quality improvements.

Undertake 1:1 site visits, events, and communications to engage with farmers, land managers and partners to improve environmental outcomes through farming practice.

Work with partners and stakeholders to identify and deliver shared objectives.

Support existing Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship agreement holders to maximise the environmental outcomes from their schemes.