32299 - Agriculture Regulatory Inspection Officer - West Midlands

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

Job summary

A governmental environmental organization in the West Midlands is recruiting Officers to carry out regulatory inspections on farms, focusing on compliance with environmental regulations. Ideal candidates will possess a good understanding of agriculture, excellent communication skills, and a full UK driving licence. This role involves engaging with farmers to improve practices, collecting data, and ensuring enforcement actions are taken when necessary. Training will be provided, with a focus on safeguarding water quality in protected areas.

Qualifications

• Full UK driving licence is required.
• Understanding of enforcement actions is necessary.
• Comfortable using various IT tools.

Responsibilities

• Carry out targeted farm inspections.
• Engage with farmers to influence changes in practices.
• Collect data and produce reports on findings.
• Undertake regulatory enforcement action when necessary.

Skills

Experience working with farmers

Understanding of UK agriculture

Excellent communication skills

Ability to have challenging conversations

Tools

Microsoft Office

iPad

Laptop

Job description

Job Overview

Do you have a good knowledge of agriculture 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 as we are recruiting multiple Officers in our West Midlands Area to undertake regulatory inspections of farms focussing on the River Wye and other Protected Areas. Agricultural practices can cause significant and chronic pollution to our precious water environment. These can be caused by leaks of slurry and silage effluent, and other materials, stored and spread on farms. We are looking for dynamic individuals, including new graduates, with experience and understanding of agriculture activity, to work with farmers to increase their levels of compliance with existing environmental regulations. This will help safeguard and improve the future environment.

Responsibilities

• carry out targeted farm inspections
• engage with farmers to influence them to change their practice, which may involve difficult conversations
• collect data and produce reports on findings
• be willing to undertake regulatory enforcement action when needed, including prosecutions and serving of notices

Many transferrable skills can be developed, and training will be provided. As a member of the West Midlands Agricultural Regulation Team, you will carry out targeted farm inspections in the catchments such as the River Wye, River Mease, River Clun and others to help improve farmer behaviours with respect to their local environment. You will be part of a dispersed operational team that is integral to delivering real environmental improvements. The Environment Agency works to create better places for people and wildlife and supports sustainable development.

Desirable Skills

• experience of working with farmers, on UK farms, the agriculture sector or other regulation
• an understanding of the complexities and challenges of working UK farms
• excellent communication and influencing skills
• an ability to have challenging conversations

Requirements

• a full UK driving licence
• IT skills (e.g. Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel), be comfortable using an iPad and a laptop on a daily basis, and be able to input inspection findings into systems.
• An understanding and willingness to undertake enforcement action where necessary

The Environment Agency values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community who wish to join a workforce which embraces difference and welcomes everyone. You will be required to hold a full driving licence and be willing to travel extensively across the West Midlands Area.