Farm Manager job in Essex

Salary: £44,576 - £52,685pa, depending on experience

Hours: Full time hours as required, including weekends, bank holidays and unsociable hours

Our Regional Park Authority was established to develop and regenerate an area of some 10,000 acres stretching 25 miles from Londons Docklands to Ware in Hertfordshire providing unique opportunities for leisure, recreation and nature conservation.

A key part of the Authority's landholding is a highly mechanised 600acres arable and beef suckler herd farm enrolled in stewardship agreements and provides cattle from the herd for the Authority's conservation grazing.

The Authority's main objective is to actively manage our Farm as a commercial farm but also to improve its landscape quality, biodiversity and recreational opportunities. This is principally through an extensive Countryside Stewardship Scheme. A recent change in direction saw the Farm revert from a dairy herd to a beef suckler herd so this is a perfect opportunity to take the reins in the infancy of this new working model.

The Authority is seeking to recruit an experienced and skilled person to take on this challenging, hands-on role; combining the need to exploit the farm on a commercial basis, whilst ensuring that the objectives of the farm wildlife and environmental plan are achieved.

Well-developed commercial, financial and organisational skills together with engineering experience, arable and livestock skills are essential. A relevant degree or qualifications or the equivalent in experience, the ability to lead and motivate a small team of permanent and apprentice employees and a commitment to integrating environmental, recreational and commercial interests are also required.

Responsibilities:

Financial: Ensure farm enterprises are profitable and new business opportunities identified by:

• Close monitoring of spend and income of allocated budgets of c£500k


• Accurate year end forecasting on a monthly basis against allocated budgets


• Clear plan(s) of how you will achieve set income targets


• Detailed provision of business plans with evidence to support new business ventures

Care and Manage Livestock:

• Ensure cattle are kept fed, watered, clean, bedded and nourished on a daily basis


• Ensure daily cattle checks take place when cattle are off site undertaking conservation grazing


• Undertake night checks when cattle are housed


• Be prepared to attend out of hours emergencies


• Monitor animal health and welfare and be alert for and take action against as necessary


• Ensure the cattle sheds are regularly mucked out


• Liaise with vets to undertake routine veterinary visits and reviews


• Annually review the Herd Health Plan


• Maintain and monitor livestock breeding, gestation and birth rates


• Assess and ensure adequate food stocks are produced to cover the winter stocking period


• Source and purchase supplementary feed as required


• Maintain accurate records, including the use of Herdwatch


• Ensure cattle are registered on BCMS and that passports are managed accordingly


• Assess and market livestock to ensure best budgetary performance


• Undertake practical daily livestock husbandry tasks

Crop Management:

• In association with the Agronomist, plan and implement crop rotation


• Ensure crops are planted, sprayed and harvested in a timely manner Liaise with contractors as necessary


• Maintain knowledge of pests and diseases and an understanding of how they spread and how to treat them


• Manage supplies of products such as fertiliser, seeds and sprays


• Understand the implications of the weather and make contingency plans


• Keep crop records up to date using Farm plan software


• Assist in marketing the crops considering cash flow needs of the business, market trends and movements

Compliance / Health & Safety:

• Ensure that farm activities comply with government regulations and the Authoritys financial regulations


• Maintain all records and manage farm activities so that the Crop/Cattle Assurance / Red Tractor audit is passed


• Ensure that farm risk assessments are maintained, and that health and safety standards are adhered to at all times


• Ensure the farm complies with all current legislation

Property and Equipment Use and Management:

• Keep up to date with training and use of all farm machinery


• Keep all farm machinery and equipment clean and in a state of good repair


• Ensure maintenance records are kept for all machinery


• Keep farm buildings and their surroundings tidy and in a state of good repair


• Monitor and record all checks required by UK legislation (Legionella, building checks, Etc.)


• Liaise with third parties to attend to faults when they cannot be repaired in house


• To keep the farm workshop tidy; all equipment to be stored in the correct place and all tools to be in working order

Environmental Management:

• Minimise the farms environmental impact


• Facilitate the increase of biodiversity


• Manage the hedgerows and ditches in accordance with countryside stewardship and SFI requirements

Other activities:

• Manage ad hoc projects as necessary e.g. pond restoration on site


• Continue the good working relationship established with local farmers and businesses


• Respond to any requests for information or action from, co-workers, public, and suppliers in a respectful, positive and timely manner


• Other tasks commensurate with the role or any other relevant or delegated duties required by the Head of Parklands or Senior Management Team and the Authority members

This list is indicative and not exhaustive for the role.

The Candidate:

Personal Characteristics and Attributes:

• Practical and pragmatic


• Enthusiastic and inquisitive mind


• Keen to pre-empt and solve problems and put forward ideas


• Takes responsibility for own actions and show initiative


• Respect for livestock and all people that they come into contact with


• Team player and collaborative in approach


• Self-motivated


• Attention to detail

Qualifications and Experience:

• Previous hands-on farming and livestock experience plus engineering and technical knowledge are essential


• Education: GCSEs in Maths & English as pre-requisite; degree or HND in agriculture or a related subject is preferred or equivalent in experience


• Previous experience: Working with livestock and in agriculture


• Up to date First Aid training


• Licences: Clean full UK drivers licence plus licences for tractor driving, telescopic handler, etc.

Skills: You will need to:

• Demonstrate a genuine commitment to farming


• Possess good organisational and time-management skills


• Be self-motivated, with the ability to motivate others as necessary


• Be able to work under pressure


• Have an understanding of modern farming methods


• Be willing to undertake a variety of practical, often repetitive jobs, and potentially outdoors in all weathers


• Be practical so that repairs and alterations can be made in house as often as practical


• Take pride in animal welfare


• Be focused on the preservation of the countryside and show knowledge of how farming impacts the environment


• Be financially aware, numerate and I.T. literate


• Understand the needs of a small business whilst being aware of how this is impacted by changes in the economy, global trends and supplier demands

Benefits:

Benefits include:

• Rent free accommodation - well-appointed 4 bedroom centrally heated house


• Local Government Pension Scheme includes death in service benefit


• Free annual health screening


• Staff discounts

Successful applicants will be required to obtain a Disclosure Certificate from the Disclosure Barring Service, for which assistance will be given.

If you feel that you have the right blend of skills for this role, please apply.

Closing date: 20 September 2024

Interviews: Week commencing 7 October 2024