Farm and Estate Technician (Beef)

Norwich City College; Norwich; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension 18% employer contribution

Health services

Corporate discounts

26 days annual leave

Job summary

Norwich City College is seeking a Farm and Estate Technician (Beef) to lead the management of the 180-head beef unit and a small suckler herd on the 162ha estate. The role involves daily cattle care, grazing/feeding planning, herd health, and practical teaching of students.

You will also operate tractors and telehandlers, record performance data, and work with other estate staff to support estate priorities and high animal welfare standards.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Beef husbandry, management and health including calving, calf rearing and livestock administration.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Strong commitment to safety, cleanliness and presentation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day running of the Beef enterprise and shape the beef unit to support estate priorities.
• Carry out daily checks, feeding, bedding, calving management, and vaccinations as needed.
• Demonstrate livestock husbandry and machinery skills to students in small groups.
• Operate and maintain tractors and telehandlers for feeding, bedding and field operations.
• Gather and record performance data and update electronic records to meet assurance and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with other estate technicians on wider estate tasks and demonstrations for students.

Skills

Beef husbandry

Calving

Livestock administration

Driving licence

Safety mindset

Tools

Agriwebb

Cow Manager

Job description

Farm and Estate Technician (Beef)

37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

£27,994 - £29,856 per annum

We are seeking an ambitious, motivated and conscientious applicant to join the Colleges farm and estate team and become the lead for the development and management of the 180 head Beef unit and small suckler herd. This is a great opportunity for an individual to join a progressive team using modern practices, techniques and equipment across the 162ha (400acre) estate and demonstrate their knowledge, skills and techniques to students across the farming year. This is a hands-on role supporting the day-to-day care and management of our herd and beef unit and includes grazing, forage and feed management and planning, herd health, record keeping and general estate upkeep, all while maintaining high standards of animal welfare, safety and farm presentation.

The Beef enterprise runs alongside a 150 head sheep flock and crop production elements used for our own feed, as well as onsite equine, small animal centres and a large outdoor pig farrowing unit. All managed using a regenerative, conservation focused system. The successful individual will have the opportunity to significantly shape their own role and enterprise but also help influence the other area they will be working alongside, all with the support of the Head of Easton Estate.

So, if you take pride in achieving high standards, want the opportunity to run and shape our Beef enterprise while passing on your skills, knowledge and experience to the future members of the land-based sector, then this could be the role for you.

About the Role:

• Working closely with the Head of Estate, you will have full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the College Beef enterprise, helping to ensure smooth, efficient and well organised livestock operations as well as freedom to shape the enterprise to contribute to the wider estate priorities.
• Undertaking daily checks and feeding routines, bedding, managing breeding cycles and calving, administering basic treatments or vaccinations and the use of cattle handling systems and related technology.
• You will provide practical learning opportunities for students, including the demonstration of livestock husbandry and machinery skills to small groups.
• Safely operating and maintaining tractors and telehandlers for feeding, bedding, and general field operations including forage production
• Gather and record data on performance and update electronic records to ensure compliance with assurance schemes and Government legislation. (Agriwebb and Cow manager)
• Work with other estate technicians in the operation of the Colleges 160ha estate including carrying out a wide range of seasonal farm and estate tasks to provide both demonstration to students and as part of the routine estate management.

We are looking for the following key qualities:

• Proven experience in Beef husbandry, management and health including calving, calf rearing and livestock administration (Essential)
• A passion for practical outdoor work and pride in achieving high standards.
• Strong communication skills and an enthusiasm for the land-based sector.
• The ability to work also independently using your own initiative but also within a wider team when required.
• A full UK driving licence. (Essential)
• High expectations for safety, cleanliness and presentation.

What we offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package including a pension scheme with 18% employer contribution, access to health services, corporate discounts and generous holiday (starting at 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays).
• 8:45am – 5:00pm normal working hours across a 5-day week. These can be slightly variable depending on the demands of the role and will includes some planned rotational weekend and out of hours overtime for welfare checks, lambing and harvest as required.
• PPE and workwear provided
• Supportive and collaborative working environment.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• On-site accommodation potentially available.

Closing date:Sunday 15 November 2026

As a College we are required to undertake various Safer Recruitment checks as set out within the guidance from the Department for Education Keeping Child Safe in Education.We require all staff to undertake an enhanced Adult and Child Workforce DBS Check and to register with the DBS Update Service. From 28 November 2020, changes were made to the DBS filtering rules. As DBS certificates issued before this date may have been produced under different filtering arrangements, we are unable to rely on an Update Service status check for certificates issued before 28 November 2020. In these circumstances, a new DBS application will be required.

.