Assistant or Junior Working Farm Manager

MorePeople; England; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation

Farm vehicle for work use

Career development and training

Industry exposure: events and networks

Job summary

MorePeople is assisting a progressive, family-run farming business in Norfolk to recruit an Assistant/Junior Working Farm Manager for a 1,400ha operation. This role offers real-level responsibility from day one and a clear pathway into a Farm Manager position over the coming years.

You will work with the Farms Director across practical farming, crop planning, staff management and the commercial aspects of the business, with a balance between hands-on work and management as you develop.

Qualifications

• Experience in arable or vegetable farming.
• Good communication, organisational and numerical skills.
• Interest in the commercial side of farming.
• Ability to work with staff, contractors and agronomists.
• Willingness to take on responsibility and bring fresh ideas.
• Irrigation experience would be a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Farm operations: Help organise fieldwork from cultivations and drilling through to spraying and harvesting, plus operating machinery when needed.
• Cropping and planning: Support rotations, decide where to place crops and coordinate cropping enterprises.
• Staff management: Help organise the farm team, self-employed staff and contractors.
• Agronomy and crop inputs: Liaise with agronomists and help manage fertiliser, crop protection and overall crop performance.
• Irrigation: Get involved with the farm's irrigation system and ensure it's used effectively.
• Budgets and administration: Support budgets, farm records and agricultural schemes including SFI.
• Business development: Bring new ideas to improve efficiency and performance.

Skills

Arable farming

Vegetable farming

Communication

Organisational skills

Numerical skills

Commercial awareness

Staff coordination

Irrigation experience

Education

Agricultural degree

Job description

I'm working with a progressive, family-run farming business in Norfolk to find an enthusiastic Assistant/Junior Working Farm Manager to join its 1,400ha operation.

This is a great opportunity for someone who's ready to take the next step in their farming career, with a genuine pathway into a Farm Manager position over the next few years.

You’ll work closely with the Farms Director, getting involved in everything from practical day-to-day farming and crop planning to staff management and the commercial side of the business. There's plenty to learn, real responsibility from the outset and the opportunity to shape the role as you develop.

The Role

With a varied rotation of arable and fresh produce, there's plenty to get stuck into.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Farm operations: Helping organise fieldwork, from cultivations and drilling through to spraying and harvesting, as well as getting out on the machinery when needed.
• Cropping and planning: Supporting rotations, deciding what goes where and coordinating the different cropping enterprises.
• Staff management: Helping organise the farm team, self-employed staff and contractors.
• Agronomy and crop inputs: Liaising with agronomists and helping manage fertiliser requirements, crop protection and overall crop performance.
• Irrigation: Getting involved with the farm's extensive irrigation system and helping ensure it's used effectively.
• Budgets and administration: Supporting budgets, farm records and agricultural schemes, including SFI.
• Business development: Bringing new ideas to the table and identifying opportunities to improve the efficiency and performance of the business.

The balance between practical work and management will depend on your experience and strengths. You will work closely with the Farms Director and the aim is to give you the support to learn, the responsibility to develop and the opportunity to progress.

About You

This role could suit someone a few years out of university with an agricultural degree who's keen to put their knowledge into practice, or someone who's spent the last few years working on farm and is ready to take a step up.

You don't need to be the finished article. What's important is that you're enthusiastic, practical and keen to learn, with the ambition to build a long-term career in farm management.

You'll ideally have:

• Experience in arable or vegetable farming.
• Good communication, organisational and numerical skills.
• An interest in the commercial side of farming, alongside the practical knowledge to get stuck in.
• The confidence to work with staff, contractors and agronomists.
• A willingness to take on responsibility, ask questions and bring fresh ideas.

Irrigation experience would be a bonus, but it's not essential.

What’s on Offer?

• Salary: Negotiable depending on experience.
• Accommodation
• Vehicle: Farm truck for work use.
• Career development: Ongoing training, support and opportunities to broaden your experience.
• Industry exposure: Opportunities to attend agricultural events, conferences and networking opportunities to build your knowledge and connections.
• Progression: A genuine opportunity to develop into a Farm Manager position over the next few years.

You'll be working directly alongside the Farms Director, learning the ins and outs of running a diverse farming business. As your experience grows, so will your responsibilities, with the opportunity to take on more of the management and strategic side of the operation.

It's a business that wants to invest in the right person and help them progress, rather than expecting them to arrive as the finished article.