Agricultural Consultant / Senior Agricultural Consultant and Area Manager

JR United Kingdom; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agricultural consultancy in Scotland is looking for a Senior Agricultural Consultant or Area Manager to join their team in Lewis. The role involves providing tailored consultancy services, leading a team, and working within diverse agricultural sectors. Candidates should have a relevant degree and experience in the rural sector. A strong emphasis is placed on business development and client relationship management, as well as providing expert technical consultancy.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Enhanced pension contributions

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted RAC Membership

Generous family leave

Continuing Professional Development support

Qualifications

• Experience working in the rural sector and awareness of agricultural business challenges.
• Strong people development and management skills.
• Effective use of IT and knowledge of agricultural frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored consultancy services to customers in the region.
• Lead and manage the local team of consultants.
• Build networks and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.

Skills

People development

Business development

Communication skills

Technical consultancy

Education

HND or degree in relevant discipline

Job description

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Agricultural Consultant / Senior Agricultural Consultant and Area Manager, lewis

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Client:

Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)

Location:

lewis, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Views:

4

Posted:

04.08.2025

Expiry Date:

18.09.2025

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Job Description:

About the job

Are you looking for an exciting and varied career within agriculture and the rural sector?

SAC Consulting is looking for a Senior Agricultural Consultant / Area Manager or an Agricultural Consultant to join our Stornoway team preferably on a full-time, permanent basis - though part time applicants will be considered. In this role, you will provide advice to crofters and land managers in Lewis and Harris and at Senior Consultant/Area Manager level you will also lead and manage a local team of consultants and agricultural technicians - Be a part of our expert team.

SAC Consulting is one of the leading agricultural consultancies in Scotland, uniquely placed to support the sustainable growth and prosperity of agriculture and land-based businesses; working across food supply chains as they rise to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and food security.

We understand the power of providing local support to our customers, which is why we have 85 consultants and a further 35 technicians and administrators in 23 offices across Scotland, providing local knowledge and farming expertise to 9,000 farmers and crofters.

We have decades of experience, but as demands and expectations around agriculture, land-use and land management have evolved, so have we. We work progressively, backed by SRUC, to support rural enterprise in areas including livestock production, crofting regulation, business diversification, financial management, ecology, biodiversity, carbon management and funding schemes.

Our broad scope and unique environment enable you to shape your own role, employing your own interests, passions, and unique knowledge for the benefit of our customers.

Key responsibilities

The main purpose of this role is to provide tailored, expert technical and business consultancy services to our customers throughout the region. The role will require flexible working hours and regular travel to accommodate and support customer needs. You should also be able to harness your knowledge and experience for the benefit of customers and colleagues. At the Senior level, you will also be expected to lead and manage the local team and develop new business.

Through knowledge transfer, advisory services, tools, and collaboration, our consultants assist and support their clients to meet their business objectives, as well as working with industry stakeholders, Government agencies and private sector businesses to support sustainable growth and success.

Key elements of this role include:

Providing technical, business, specialist expertise and financial consultancy services to customers and their crofting businesses
Identifying solutions for customers as they adapt to changes in regulation, Government policy and evolving markets
Winning and delivering new business, through maximising opportunities for customers and offering appropriate consulting services to support their business
Building networks, connections and maintaining relationships with key staff in organisations with rural interests; including our partners, public and industry bodies, regulators, banks, or other commercial companies
Support the delivery of content or events for the Farm Advisory Service (FAS)
Working with our marketing team to support development of technical content for a variety of channels, both benefitting our customers and developing your industry profile
At the Senior Consultant/Area Manager level, you will also manage, mentor and develop a team of local consultants and technicians to ensure customer delivery success and develop team skills
Have financial responsibility for the performance of your team and the management of the workflow
Where and when appropriate, use your skills and knowledge to provide training and insight for others throughout SAC Consulting

Minimum qualifications and experience

• A HND or degree in a relevant discipline
• Whilst an agricultural qualification is desirable you may have a qualification within an area of business, finance or land-based sectors. Equally your qualification could be in a transferable area such as teaching but backed up by your farming or rural related experience
• Experience working in the rural sector; an awareness of the challenges faced by agricultural business would be beneficial
• A broad knowledge of agricultural enterprises and systems with a deeper level of knowledge in a specific area of interest
• Strong people development and management skills (we will accept applications from those who would grow into the team management role)
• A high level of confidence in working across teams and projects
• The ability to drive your own success whilst also working as part of a team
• The ability to develop business and identify new areas of opportunity
• Curiosity to ask questions and the courage to give advice
• A commercial awareness of the value of your expertise and the ability to use the team around you to get the best result for the customer
• Effective use of IT
• Good awareness and understanding of agricultural frameworks and funding
• Proven effective written and verbal communication skills
• Full driving licence and own transport

Eligibility for Sponsorship

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. If you are a migrant worker you will need to ensure you have an appropriate visa to evidence the necessary right to work in the UK.

Salary and benefits?

• £28,633 to £49,803 depending on skills and experience
• Generous annual leave
• Enhanced pension contributions to contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted RAC Membership
• Generous family leave
• Hybrid working solutions (in some areas)
• We encourage Continuing Professional Development with a tailored investment in an individuals' learning and development

How to Apply

Please complete an online application form by pressing "apply" or visiting SRUC | Jobs at SRUC

Full details can be found in the Job Particulars document downloadable from the link above.

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SRUC is committed to valuing Diversity, advancing Equality and respecting Human Rights throughout the organisation and encouraging applications from disabled people using the 'Disability Confident Employer' symbol. SRUC is a member of the Athena SWAN charter.

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