Rural Adviser, CLA East

Are you passionate and have knowledge about rural affairs? Are you interested in influencing policy and believe change is possible? Do you enjoy working with other people and are willing to learn?

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) is a dynamic, forward thinking membership organisation for owners of land, property and rural businesses, who has been championing the interests of rural England and Wales for over 100 years. CLA members own or manage around half the rural land in England and Wales and more than 250 different types of businesses.

We are now looking for an Adviser to join us at an incredibly exciting and pivotal time for the rural sector, and start, or continue, their rural advisory journey to advise members, work on policy issues affecting the East of England and support the delivery of all CLA activities in the region.

With the adaption to a new agriculture policy in England underway, this role is a fantastic opportunity to play an integral part in supporting CLA members to navigate the challenges they face, highlight opportunities to help them thrive, and lobby on their behalf.

The ideal person will:

• Be positive and have willingness and energy to engage in a variety of new subjects
• Genuinely want to make a difference by helping farmers, landowners and rural businesses and influencing policy
• Enjoy working with rural communities and building professional relationships
• Have a broad appreciation of rural issues
• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Have a high level of computer literacy

Working closely with the East team, and advisers across the CLA, you will provide advice, opinion and guidance to CLA members on a range of issues relating to land ownership, occupation, land use and rural business; as well as representing members’ views at stakeholder meetings and contributing to our policy development work. This role will focus in particular on future funding and policy in farming, rural grants, water and designated areas.

The Location, Team, and Working Arrangements

The role is based from a beautiful office on a rural estate near Newmarket and will involve a 35 hour working week with no fee earning targets or timesheets. Some flexible working will be available on request but contact time in the office would be required each week, with a requirement to travel across the East at times, to attend events and meetings and visit members.

You will be working in a small and friendly team, who are very passionate about the organisation and rural affairs in general. You will also work collaboratively with the CLA’s supportive team of over one hundred highly motivated individuals in the land use, legal, taxation and external affairs teams in London and across the other five regions in England and Wales.

What we can offer

The CLA offers its staff a large number of benefits which include;

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing to 27 after 2 years' service, and 30 days after 3 years' service
• Discount offers at over 800 retailers
• Enrolment into an excellent pension scheme, offering Employer's contribution of up to 10% of salary
• Work place benefits such as payment of flu vaccinations and option for Payroll Giving
• Access to an online wellness portal, including Employees Assistance Programme
• Access to a private 24 hour GP service

For further information or a full job description, please call or email Cath Crowther, Regional Director on 07557 576127 cath.crowther@cla.org.uk .

Application process

We welcome applications from a wide variety of individuals who are passionate about the industry and genuinely wants to make a difference by influencing policy and guiding and supporting rural businesses.

We would also love to hear from applicants from a wide range of career backgrounds and experience: we believe that greater diversity can only strengthen us as a team.

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to: recruitment@cla.org.uk

Closing Date: 12 noon on Tuesday 25th March