Career Opportunities: Agricultural Advisor (17198)

Hello, we’re Severn Trent and we think water is wonderful. Oh, we’re pretty keen on people too.
 
For Severn Trent our relationship between the environment and our operations has always been very direct. We’re literally plumbed into our region’s landscapes. Our natural environment catches, holds, carries, and helps purify our water. As part of this Severn Trent has committed to an ambitious long term drinking water catchment management programme, with the aim of improving drinking water quality while avoiding investment in new water treatment processes. This role will support the design, development and delivery of our innovative and regulatory catchment management schemes.

Over the last five to ten years, we have developed a programme of catchment management schemes across 55 catchments. These schemes aim to halt and reverse the rising trend of cryptosporidium, nitrate and pesticide levels in raw water and promote biodiversity on farms. We are currently in the process of developing an exciting offering for farmers to cover the next 5 years from April 2025 onwards and we would love you to join us to help deliver it. 

If you want to do more because you care, we’d love to talk to you. There really is something for everyone here.
 
 
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
 
Our Catchment Management and Biodiversity team have an opportunity for you to join as an Agricultural Advisor to help farmers reduce the levels of nutrients and pesticides entering the water environment close to our water supply sources and to enhance biodiversity.
 
In your new role you’ll be solely responsible for the day-to-day running of the catchment schemes and contact with farmers within your specific catchments and region, and the delivery of targets. You will work both independently and with others, including Agricultural Assistants, to deliver your targets.

This will involve collecting and interpreting agronomical data from farms and then using this data and your knowledge to provide evidence to help influence the farmers to reduce pollution and make land management changes. This is likely to also involve working with local stakeholders and interested groups to help deliver this work, and you will also have the opportunity to input into the development of these schemes where appropriate.  You will be one of approximately 25 agricultural specialists who are operating across our region.

There are a number of vacancies available within the team starting on 1st April 2025, ready for us to hit the ground running in AMP8.  This particular role will primarily work in the region of Nottingham and Derbyshire but you could be asked to travel anywhere within the Severn Trent region. This is because we operate as a team and where we can support each other both remotely and in catchment we do. Furthermore, meetings and training can be anywhere within the region.

The role is home based, but this does not mean you will always be at home.  There is an expectation that you will be out in your region around 4 out of every 5 days as this is the most effective way to engage with farmers versus telephone or email. This will involve meeting farmers on farm, evidence colleting, attending relevant events and generally being present and available.  You also have the opportunity to work from Severn Trent sites for meetings and training. Admin is completed using the Severn Trent system so you will do this from home or a Severn Trent site.

 Some of your other key accountabilities will include:
 
•    Delivery of any targets set by OFWAT or the business applicable to our team, as a result of Final Determination.

•    Support in the implementation of new, innovative and forward-thinking schemes within your catchments and region. These are likely including nutrient balancing at a catchment scale and the use of farm-gate nutrient budgeting, to help farmers reduce their losses to the environment and the impact of that on raw water quality. 

•    Promote uptake of STEPS and other Severn Trent grant schemes in the catchments and work with farmers to secure high quality and relevant applications and participation. 

•    Liaising with agricultural specialists, contractors and agronomists to ensure delivery of targets.  Working alongside third parties and regulators such as Catchment Sensitive Farming, Environment Agency, Natural England, eNGO’s and the National Farmers Union

•    As appropriate, undertake direct delivery of advice to farmers, influencing farmers to make behavioural and management changes on their farms. 

•    Directing farmers to other non-Severn Trent grant schemes where appropriate, such as SFI.

•    Engaging with farmers, even where they cannot participate in our schemes, to raise awareness of the work we do and hit any targets that are agreed with the Environment Agency for the coming 5 years. This will require collecting evidence of this and inputting it into a relevant data storage system.

•    Supporting the company’s ambition to engage with up to 9000 farmers.
•    Maintain relationships with farmers in your region on an ongoing basis to ensure good future uptake of schemes and support for the agricultural community.

•    Provide assurance for reporting purposes that land management changes and biodiversity enhancements have been completed by landowners.

•    Where necessary, supporting the delivery of our Test, Protect and Improve Scheme within the STW Region.
•    Organising and supporting the delivery of shows, demonstrations, farm walks, workshops, advice delivery and communication activities within the STW region, including attending local stakeholder meetings such as CABA groups.

•    Develop new delivery processes, action plans and catchment communications plans for your region.

•    Managing a local budget for your catchments or region.

•    Taking ownership of a group of specific catchments – becoming the expert on their catchments and the key ST contact for the catchment, both internally and externally.  Where applicable, investigating water quality issues within your region and engaging with relevant teams within Severn Trent to help resolve the issue for the business.

•    Where applicable, carry out catchment water quality monitoring.  This includes following health and safety protocols, completing appropriate sample documentation and delivering samples to nearest collection hub.

•    Support the delivery of various Champion Workstreams to advance specific team needs, such as those around Technology or Health and Safety. 

•    Work with farmers outside of your specific priority catchments to advance business needs. 
 
Severn Trent will fund one professional membership per year, as per our expenses policy.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE ROLE
 
We’re seeking our new Agricultural Advisor to be comfortable driving delivery via a range of tools, including new and emerging systems such as Overseer or other innovative methods, specialist advisory support, Severn Trent Environmental Protection Schemes (STEPS), Swap Your Nozzles, STEPS Biodiversity, Test Protect and Improve and other opportunities.

To be successful, it’s expected that you’ll have experience in agriculture/land management, stakeholder engagement and building strong working relationships with the farming community, together with knowledge of Agri-Environment schemes and knowledge of the legal obligations relating to farming and the water industry.

Additionally, you’ll have effective project planning and organisation skills with the ability to write presentations, deliver results thoroughly and interpret data, identify problems and their root causes.

You’ll need to possess strong technical skills and an ability to build and maintain strong relationships with the farming community. You will need to have a good analytical mind and be able to interpret data to identify problems and root causes and then deliver results through others and you will need to be organised and proactive, as the successful candidate will manage their own time effectively.

As this role involves travel a full UK driving licence is required.  FACTS and BASIS Training is desirable but not essential. A qualification in an agricultural field or in an environmental field, to BSc level or equivalent status, is preferred. 
 
The right skills and experience are important. But if you have the right character, positivity, and a caring attitude we want to talk to you too. The key is being able to approach a challenge with positivity and find solutions to problems faced. The role holder is expected to problem solve, develop solutions and influence management practices of hard to reach farmers within their catchments.  
 
We welcome people from all walks of life and celebrate individuality as we know diverse minds, experiences and backgrounds help us to learn and better serve our communities. We want people who show up and get involved. Those who are ready to be part of something bigger and who want to make a difference because they care. Is that you?
 
 
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU
 
Working here isn’t just a job. You can build a career at Severn Trent, and we’ll reward you for it too. We have a range of benefits that recognise great work, and award-winning training to help you reach your potential. And we’ll also help you play your part in looking after the environment and the communities where we live.
 
With that in mind, here are just some of our favourite's perks that you’ll get being part of the Seven Trent family:

•    28 days holiday + bank holidays (and the ability to buy/ sell up to 5 days per year) 
•    Car Allowance £4800 per year
•    Annual bonus scheme 
•    Leading pension scheme – we will double your contribution (up to 15% when you contribute 7.5%)  
•    Sharesave – the chance to buy Severn Trent Plc shares at a discounted rate
•    Dedicated training and development with our Academy 
•    Family friendly policies 
•    Two paid volunteering days per year 

 
 
WHATS NEXT?
 
We can’t wait to hear from you.
 
Before you apply, you’ll need an updated copy of your CV and about five minutes to spare. If you’re not too sure about what you need to do, or have a question about the role before applying, please get in touch with our amazing team of recruiters at recruitment@severntrent.co.uk.
 
And if your curiosity has peaked and you're wanting to find out even more, search #LifeAtSevernTrent on social media.
 
Ps. we’ll always let you know the outcome of your application after the closing date - so keep an eye on your phone and emails.