Job Description

Agricultural Water Resources Specialist Salary: c. \xc2\xa350k (Dependant on Skills and Experience) plus company car or car allowance Location: Home or Stoneleigh HQ Based (National and East Region Travel) Working Hours: 35 hours per week Contract Type: Permanent The National Farmers Union (NFU) is the biggest farming organisation in the UK. We\'re proud to make a difference for all our members, by shaping attitudes towards British farming and leading the charge on a range of major issues, from climate change and food standards to rural crime and broadband rollout. Purpose of the role & how you will contribute: We are looking for a passionate Water Resources Specialist to lead our national policy work and also lead on water resources issues in the East. This role is essential in safeguarding the access to water to ensure member businesses remain viable. These are challenging times for farming, and we are looking for someone who will relish the opportunity to apply their knowledge and expertise to represent our sector and make a tangible difference to farmers. You will provide the principal link with government departments, statutory agencies and non-governmental organisations involved in water resources policy, establishing and maintaining influential relationships. As the subject matter expert, you will lead advocacy of NFU s national water resources policy and provide technical support to farmer and grower members in our East region. This role has a broad support network, working closely with NFU Officeholders, Boards, national and regional colleagues and members, you will represent the interests of agriculture in the multi-sector water planning process. Please note that within the NFU this role is known as an NFU Water Resources Specialist. What you ll bring: To be successful in this role you will manage a varied workload within this fast-paced position. You will need to be an influential individual who has the ability to take charge and show initiative whilst managing your own workload. You will be able to understand, synthesise and communicate technical and complex information, sometimes on politically sensitive or emotionally charged issues, and be able to act swiftly, if needed. The ideal candidate will need to demonstrate highly effective communication skills. You should enjoy working with people and be able to demonstrate a track record of achieving successful outcomes in discussions and negotiations, whilst maintaining good working relationships. In this unique and exciting role, a degree level qualification (or equivalent) and knowledge of agriculture and water resource issues are essential. Why choose us? Join us and you ll find an organisation that encourages and enables you to achieve your full potential. In return you will be rewarded with a full range of benefits including: \xe2\x80\xa2 Company car or car allowance \xe2\x80\xa2 Generous holiday allowance (starting at 25 days a year + Bank Holidays, rising to 30 days pro rata with length of service), plus 1 annual Christmas company day \xe2\x80\xa2 Option to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave \xe2\x80\xa2 Company funded health Cashplan \xe2\x80\xa2 Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave \xe2\x80\xa2 Performance-related pay \xe2\x80\xa2 Competitive Pension and Life assurance \xe2\x80\xa2 Access to interest-free loans for cars, bikes, season tickets and driving lessons \xe2\x80\xa2 Employee Assistance program to help you deal with life s challenges \xe2\x80\xa2 Discounts on new vehicles, holiday rentals, wellbeing and lifestyle and many more Who we are Every day, we\'re the voice of around 47,000 British farmers and growers who produce food, making sure their concerns are heard at the heart of government both online and locally. This means developing strong relationships with everyone from NFU colleagues to government ministers. So, as well as having a high profile in both the media and Westminster, we work with and support local members through a network of regional and county offices across England and Wales. We are the face of the NFU to local members, our focus is to understand their day-to-day concerns and influence the local and national agendas on their behalf. It s about developing strong working relationships with everyone from the members themselves to local councils, constituency MPs and national NFU teams. The work of regions demands the flexibility to adapt to a variety of tasks, from recruiting and retaining members, to working with councils and other local agencies, or lobbying MPs. This diverse remit means we need to understand a wide range of farming, food, environmental and economic issues and be able to talk confidently about them with people at all levels. Join us We re committed to recruiting a diverse and highly-talented workforce. We ll support you by providing you with extensive learning and development opportunities and build a career that balances your professional ambitions with your personal commitments including discussions around agile and flexible work options. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If we decide we\'ve found the right person for the role, we reserve the right to withdraw this advert and close applications before the closing date.

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National Farmers Union