Catchment Sensitive Farming Higher Officer - ( Ref : 6891 )

Natural England; Ashford, Worthing; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Natural England invites applications for a Catchment Sensitive Farming Adviser to work directly with farmers and land managers in Sussex and Kent, based in Ashford or Worthing. You will provide practical, on-the-ground advice to protect and improve water quality, air quality and soil health.

You will visit farms regularly, build partnerships with stakeholders, and support delivery of environmental schemes. A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel are essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in agriculture, conservation or equivalent; relevant field experience.
• Good knowledge of UK farming systems and agri-environment schemes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Advise farmers and land managers to improve water quality and soil health.
• Lead CSF training and information campaigns for farmers and landowners.
• Deliver on-farm advice focused on pollution reduction strategies.
• Engage with partners and stakeholders to promote CSF activities.
• Maintain records of farmer engagement and outcomes.

Skills

Communication

IT skills

Agricultural knowledge

ArcGIS

Driving licence

Education

Degree in agriculture or conservation

Tools

ArcGIS

Job description

This position is based at Ashford or Worthing.

Job Description

The purpose of this role is to work with and provide on the ground advice to farmers and Land managers. The Adviser acts a local contact for Catchment Sensitive Farming, building relationships with farmers, land managers and partner organisations to influence and support environmental improvements at a catchment scale.

The Catchment Sensitive Farming Adviser works within the area team, providing advice to farmers and land managers to support practices that protect and improve water quality, air quality and Soil health.

These vacancies cover catchments across Sussex and Kent. The post hold will be based in the Ashford or Worthing Office. The post holder will be required to visit farms regularly during their day-to-day work.

The Post holder will be required to hold a full UK driving license and some national travel may be required, which might involve overnight stays.

The Role

The primary focus of this role is to work directly with farmers and land managers, providing practical, on-the-ground advice and support to encourage the adoption of practices that protect and enhance water quality, air quality, and soil health.

The role holder will also collaborate with partner organisations, the agricultural industry, farmers, land managers, and other government agencies to secure environmental improvements. This is achieved by a range of tools, including technical advice, guidance, and the promotion of sustainable land management practices.

The Catchment Sensitive Farming Adviser role sits within Area Teams and serves as the main interface between Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF), Natural England (NE), and key local stakeholders who wish to engage with and influence CSF activity. The role covers the full range of protected habitats and the wider farmed environment, encompassing a diverse range of agricultural sectors and land management practices.

The post holder reports to a Senior Manager for line management purposes. Functional management is provided by a Senior Officer within the relevant work area, unless the line manager is operating in a player-manager capacity with functional responsibility for that area. Catchment Sensitive Farming Advisers also work closely with the Catchment Sensitive Farming National Team.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

• Support farmers and landowners to improve water quality alongside long-term sustainable food production/agricultural transition and natural flood management.
• Work in priority areas to develop and lead specific CSF training, information and advice campaigns for farmers and landowners. Give bespoke advice on farm to farmers and organise and deliver, with the aid of specialists, further advice, group events and workshops.
• Deliver targeted CSF training, information, and advice campaigns for farmers and landowners in priority areas.
• Provide bespoke on-farm advice focused on reducing pollution through the principles of Source, Pathway, Receptor and other catchment-specific priorities.
• Secure farmer and landowner engagement, ownership, and commitment to addressing key pollution and environmental issues.
• Influence behavioural change and support the adoption of improved land management practices to reduce diffuse water pollution and other environmental impacts.
• Promote and advocate CSF activity internally across Natural England and partner organisations, and externally with farmers, land managers, and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with partners including the Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, water companies, catchment partnerships, and Defra programmes to deliver a coordinated catchment-based approach.
• Maximise delivery through specialist advice, training, contractors, grants, and incentives such as Countryside Stewardship, SFI, FETF, Capital Grants, and the Slurry Infrastructure Grant.
• Provide guidance on suitable management options, capital items, and wider environmental opportunities, including signposting to additional sources of support.
• Contribute to procurement and contract management processes for advisory services and events, ensuring quality assurance and delivery to agreed standards.
• Maintain accurate records of farmer engagement and advice provided, monitoring the effectiveness and outcomes of interventions.
• Understand and apply relevant Diffuse Water Pollution Plans, Shared Nitrogen Action Plans, and other catchment priorities within CSF delivery plans.
• Take responsibility for ensuring personal safe working in line with corporate guidance.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• A degree in agriculture, conservation, or equivalent degree and/or relevant experience in agriculture, nature conservation.
• Good level of agricultural knowledge and farming systems in the United Kingdom, and Agri-environment schemes in the United Kingdom, such as SFI, capital schemes.
• Good communication skills (verbal and written) with the ability to use clear and appropriate language adapted to the audience.
• Good IT Skills including, Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams and SharePoint.
• Good knowledge of and farm advice experience relating to agricultural water and air pollution and being able to recognise and identify farming practices which can cause water and air pollution.
• Basic knowledge of ArcGIS or similar GIS software.
• Full UK Driving licence.

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview. We now provide primary interview questions in advance for all formal recruitments.

As with all roles in NE, these roles require office attendance of a minimum of 20% of the working time – one day per week for those who work full time, subject to any reasonable adjustments and/or existing contractual homeworking.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• A degree in agriculture, conservation, land management or equivalent degree and/or relevant farm advice experience and knowledge of UK agriculture. (Essential)
• Good knowledge of and providing farm advice relevant to agricultural water and air pollution and being able to recognise and identify farming practices which can cause water and air pollution. (Essential)
• UK full driving licence. (Essential)
• Basic knowledge of ArcGIS or similar GIS software. (Desirable)

Creating Resilient Landscapes and Seas

• Recognise and identify the effects of Diffuse Water Pollution from Agriculture (DWPA). (Practitioner)
• Understand and select most appropriate measures, including working with partners, to address DWPA at source, pathway, and receptor for individual sites. (Practitioner)

Personal Effectiveness

• Use clear and appropriate language, communication styles and techniques that engage your audience. (Basic)
• Respect the diverse needs and experience of other people, be inclusive in everything you do. (Basic)

Work Delivery

• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines. (Practitioner)
• Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies and procedures. (Practitioner)