31780 - Environment Officer (Agriculture)

Environment Agency; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency focused on environmental protection is seeking an enthusiastic Environment Officer – Agriculture to conduct farm inspections and engage with farmers to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and a commitment to improving the environment. This role requires a UK drivers' licence and offers the chance to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Experience communicating with the farming community is beneficial.
• Experience in a regulatory role is beneficial.
• Full UK drivers' licence required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct targeted farm inspections across various sectors.
• Engage with farmers to influence practice changes.
• Collect and report data with attention to detail.
• Undertake regulatory enforcement when necessary.
• Attend environmental incidents at short notice.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Self-motivation

Decision-making skills

Knowledge of environmental issues

Ability to engage with the public

Job description

Overview

The delivery of farm inspections is a top priority for the Environment Agency (EA). We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated Environment Officer – Agriculture to assess what is needed to stop pollution and damage to the environment by working with farmers to improve legal compliance. Agricultural practices can cause significant and chronic pollution to our water environment. We are seeking dynamic individuals, ideally with experience and understanding of UK agriculture, to work with farmers to increase their levels of compliance with existing environmental regulations. This will help safeguard and improve the future environment.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out targeted farm inspections across a range of sectors; from permitted intensive farms to small family farms, land spreading operators, water abstractors and those with discharge consents.
• Engaging with farmers and land managers to influence them to change their practice, which may involve difficult conversations.
• Collecting and reporting on data and findings, paying close attention to detail.
• Undertaking regulatory enforcement action and, when needed, the serving of notices and prosecutions.
• Work collaboratively with other teams and specialists.
• Required to attend incidents at short notice, both environmental and flooding, both in and out of hours.

Qualifications and Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including being tactful with customers. Experience of communicating with the farming community would be particularly beneficial, but not essential.
• Self-motivation and the ability to prioritise workload and adapt to changeable circumstances.
• An ability to make timely and rational decisions based on relevant information and experience.
• A desire to help protect and improve the environment.
• A knowledge of environmental issues, especially those associated with the agriculture sector, would be beneficial but not essential.
• A desire and ability to learn.
• Experience in a regulatory role would be beneficial.
• Full UK drivers' licence.
• A positive attitude, be confident in engaging with staff and members of the public (over the phone and in person) and be comfortable working both on their own and within a team.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion; we welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, sexual orientation, or religion.