Assistant Farm Manager - Cottagewood

Noble Foods Limited; Earlston; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free hot drinks

Service Awards

Enhanced Sick Pay

Perkbox discounts

Discounted eggs & chicken

Job summary

Noble Foods is seeking an Assistant Farm Manager to support pullet rearing operations, ensuring bird health, welfare, and biosecurity standards on-site in the UK.

You will work closely with the Farm Manager to guide farm staff, monitor performance, assist with vaccination and feeding programs, and maintain accurate records for audits and compliance. This role offers hands-on development within a family-owned poultry-focused company.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of poultry husbandry, nutrition, ventilation and disease management.
• Strong communication and reporting skills.
• High attention to detail and record accuracy.
• Understanding of biosecurity and animal welfare standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee pullet rearing stages under guidance of Farm Manager.
• Monitor bird health, performance indicators and welfare.
• Assist with vaccination, feeding, lighting and housing schedules.
• Maintain daily records for audits and compliance.
• Support production planning and transfers to the laying unit.

Skills

Analytical skills

Poultry knowledge

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Biosecurity standards

Job description

Noble Foods Home of the Happy Egg Co.

Noble Foods is a family-owned company which began in 1920 and includes successful milling, poultry, agriculture, and consumer foods businesses. Within this, Noble Foods owns several successful brands, including the UK’s biggest free-range egg brand the Happy Egg co., Big & Fresh and Purely Organic.

In a recent survey by Best Companies we were rated as one of the Top 10 companies to work for in the Food and Drink industry.

What are we looking for?

The Assistant Farm Manager supports the daily operations of the poultry rearing farm for laying birds, ensuring high standards of bird health, welfare, productivity, and biosecurity. The role works closely with the Farm Manager to maintain operational excellence and provides day‑to‑day guidance to farm staff without holding direct line‑management responsibility. The Assistant Farm Manager helps ensure efficient workflows, compliance, and consistent rearing performance to achieve high‑quality pullets ready for transfer to the laying unit.

About the role

Key Accountabilities of the role – IT: What I do

(The below is not exhaustive)

• Bird Management and Welfare
  • Support the Farm Manager in overseeing all stages of pullet rearing, including brooding, growing, and pre‑lay phases.
  • Monitor bird health, behaviour, uniformity, and performance indicators.
  • Ensure birds consistently receive correct feed, water, lighting, ventilation, and space according to standards.
  • Assist in administering vaccination, medication, and flock health monitoring programmes.

Biosecurity and Compliance:

• Uphold and model strict biosecurity protocols across all farm areas.
• Support hygiene practices including cleaning, disinfection, and entry control procedures.
• Assist in maintaining compliance with regulations, welfare standards, and internal policies.
• Contribute to accurate record‑keeping required for audits and inspections.

Production Planning and Monitoring:

• Monitor flock performance metrics such as growth, FCR, mortality, and uniformity.
• Assist in implementing production plans aligned with rearing targets.
• Support preparations for pullet transfers, ensuring birds meet required age and weight specifications.
• Help analyse production data and suggest improvements or corrective actions.

Farm Operations and Maintenance:

• Support daily checks and maintenance of farm equipment (feeders, drinkers, heaters, ventilation systems, generators).
• Assist with feed ordering, storage, and usage monitoring.
• Help manage litter quality, lighting programmes, ventilation settings, and environmental controls.
• Participate in waste management and environmental compliance tasks.

Reporting and Record-Keeping

• Maintain accurate daily records of flock performance, health status, feed usage, and operational activities.
• Support stock control for medications, equipment, feed, and consumables.
• Provide timely updates to the Farm Manager on operational issues, risks, or improvement opportunities.

Shared Accountabilities – US: Making it better together

Health & Safety responsibilities

• Follow the health and safety policies and procedures.
• Report any hazards, incidents, or injuries to the team leader or manager.
• Use the personal protective equipment and clothing provided.
• Cooperate with the team leader or manager on health and safety matters.
• Participate in health and safety training and induction.

Social & Environmental responsibilities

• Demonstrate awareness of the social and environmental impact of your work and strive to minimise any negative effects.
• Follow the company's policies and guidelines on sustainability, ethics, diversity and inclusion, and health and safety.
• Support your team members and collaborate with other colleagues to achieve the company's social and environmental goals.
• Seek opportunities to learn and improve your skills and knowledge on social and environmental issues relevant to your role.

About You: ME: How I do it

Skills, Knowledge & experience

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of poultry husbandry, nutrition, ventilation and disease management.
• Strong communication and reporting skills.
• High attention to detail and record accuracy.
• Understanding of biosecurity and animal welfare standards

Personal attributes

• Works Together and collaborates with others to complete tasks and solve problems
• Takes Ownership for the quality and timeliness of their work
• Is Courageous and does what they know is right even if its uncomfortable
• Takes Action and does everything in their ability to deliver what has been promised
• Contributes to a trusting team by treating everyone with Respect and showing kindness to all colleagues
• Strives for Excellence and takes every opportunity to learn new skills

Key Stakeholders

• Wider agriculture department
• Wider internal departments

We believe the most successful teams are formed from a diverse talent pool and we strive to employ a wide variety of individuals in our business, selecting the best qualified person for each role regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristics.

What can we offer you?

• Free hot drinks on shift

• Service Awards

• Enhanced paternity and maternity

• Free life insurance

• Enhanced Sick Pay Scheme

• Access to Perkbox with a variety of discounts including a monthly freebie from Greggs or Café Nero

• Discounted eggs and chicken

• A Celebration day after 1 years service enjoy an extra day off to celebrate a life event, such as your birthday

• Access to DigiCare + - Annual Health Check, Digital GP Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Health Opinion and Mental Health Consultations.

• Discounted Gym Memberships

• Free Eye Test every two years

• Discounted mobile phone contracts

• Share in our success with the People Partnership - after 6 months service you will be eligible for a yearly bonus

• Additional Allowances for First Aiders and Mental Health First Aiders

• Wellness programme

• Employee Charity Matching Scheme

If you consider yourself to require reasonable adjustments to any part of our recruitment process, we invite you to share those requirements with us when completing your application. We will make every effort to ensure your needs are met to provide a fair and transparent process of assessment.