Regulation and Outcomes Lead

Are you interested in combining policy leadership with effective delivery? The Regulation and Outcomes Lead is a senior leadership role within RPA’s Chief Operating Officer Directorate, responsible for strengthening regulatory effectiveness and reducing irregularity across schemes. The role is central to maximising public investments to directly deliver the environmental and agricultural ambitions set out in Defra’s 25 year Environment Plan.

The RPA is an executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). We deliver over £2 billion in payments each year to farmers, traders and landowners across England, supporting sustainable agriculture and thriving rural communities.

RPA is modernising its regulatory approach, moving towards more proactive, preventative and intelligence led assurance. This post provides strategic leadership across two closely linked areas: the development and delivery of regulatory policy, and the transformation of the identification and reduction of irregularity in current and future environmental schemes.

The role leads RPA’s evolving approach to regulation, including responsibility for the Management of Hedgerows, and oversees the Delivering Successful Outcomes (DSO) programme. Working across organisational boundaries, the post holder will bring together policy, operations, data, intelligence and delivery teams to develop proportionate, evidence based and outcome focused solutions.

This is a highly collaborative and outward facing role, requiring strong leadership, comfort with complexity and ambiguity, and the ability to translate strategic ambition into practical, sustainable improvements.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for RPA’s regulatory approach, including responsibility for the Management of Hedgerows, ensuring statutory compliance and alignment with Corry and Hancock review recommendations
• Manage regulatory, financial and reputational risk, including risks arising from RPA’s role as both regulator and grant administrator
• Lead the delivery of the Delivering Successful Outcomes (DSO) programme, embedding proactive, preventative and measurable interventions to reduce irregularity across schemes
• Prioritise activity based on risk, impact and value for money, ensuring effective use of public funds
• Oversee the testing, implementation and evaluation of data led and targeted prevent approaches, including advice and guidance models
• Bring together policy, operations, field delivery, data, geospatial, intelligence, compliance and finance to deliver joined up regulatory and assurance solutions
• Build strong partnerships across Defra Group, Arm’s Length Bodies and external stakeholders
• Provide authoritative advice and assurance to senior leaders and governance boards
• Lead, develop and motivate the Regulation and Outcomes team, building capability, resilience and engagement
• Model inclusive leadership, drive continuous improvement and ensure clear priorities, accountability and delivery focus
• Part time candidates will be expected to work a minimum 30hrs per week

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