The School of Geography and the Environment is seeking a Policy Engagement Officer to join the Farm Environments in Policy and Practice (FEPP) project. Funded by Defra, FEPP is a participatory social-science programme producing place-based evidence on farmers’ and land managers’ experiences of agri-environment scheme development and delivery in England, with a particular focus on Environmental Land Management (ELM).
Working with Principal Investigator Jennifer Dodsworth, you will coordinate engagement and applied evidence activities, building relationships with farmers, land managers, Defra teams, delivery bodies and other partners. You will organise and facilitate fieldwork, interviews, workshops and co-design activities, gather and analyse evidence, and translate findings into practical and timely outputs for policy and non-academic audiences.
This is a fieldwork-intensive and policy-facing role. You will help connect stakeholder experience with live policy priorities, producing outputs including briefings, reports, presentations, toolkits and farmer-facing resources. The project supports flexible working and you will not be expected to work on-site full time; however, regular travel across England, including to rural locations for on-farm visits and engagement activities, is an important part of the role.
We are seeking someone with a first and/or master’s degree in a relevant field, or appropriate professional experience, alongside strong experience in participatory research, stakeholder engagement or co-design. You will need a good understanding of farm businesses and contemporary agri-environment policy in England, including ELM, as well as the ability to turn qualitative and/or quantitative evidence into clear, practical recommendations.
This is an opportunity to work directly at the interface of farming, research and government, helping ensure that evidence from those delivering agri-environment schemes on the ground informs policy development in England.
This post is offered on a full-time, fixed-term basis until 31 March 2027.
What We Offer
As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ well-being, and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:
- An excellent contributory pension scheme
- 38 days annual leave
- A comprehensive range of childcare services
- Family leave schemes
- Cycle loan scheme
- Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans.
Application Process
You will be required to upload a covering letter with a supporting statement, CV and the details of two referees as part of your online application. In your supporting statement, please explain how you meet each of the selection criteria found in the job description, and why you would like to do this role. See guidance at https://www.jobs.ox.ac.uk/cv-and-supporting-statement.
The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon (UK time) on 1 September 2026. Only applications submitted by this time will be considered.
The University of Oxford and The School of Geography and the Environment are Silver Athena SWAN holders. Applications are particularly welcome and encouraged from women, black, and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in posts in The School of Geography and the Environment. The School of Geography and the Environment are committed to equality and values diversity
