Farm and Estate Technician (Crop Production)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme (18% employer contrib)

Health services

Corporate discounts

Generous holiday (26 days + bank hols)

Job summary

Norwich City College is seeking a Farm and Estate Technician (Crop production) to lead the crop production and machinery operations on the 162ha estate. The role involves hands-on management of cereal, forage crops and grazing, with a strong focus on safety and record keeping.

You will work with students, demonstrating machinery skills and operating tractors and telehandlers for establishment, harvesting and livestock support.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in crop establishment and crop health, including cultivations, drilling, spreading and spraying.
• Ability to operate machinery and perform harvesting tasks.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day cereal, forage crop and stewardship areas.
• Provide practical learning opportunities for students with machinery demonstrations.
• Safely operate and maintain tractors and telehandlers for crops and livestock care.
• Gather and record data for assurance schemes and government legislation.
• Collaborate with estate technicians on 160ha estate tasks and demonstrations.

Skills

Crop establishment

Crop management

Machinery operation

Safety awareness

Driving licence

Tools

Tractors

Telehandlers

Job description

Farm and Estate Technician (Crop production)

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 Crop production and machinery operations. 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 estate including cereal and forage production, grazing management for both farm and equine departments, multiple elements of environmental schemes, hedgerows and boundaries along with record keeping and general estate upkeep, all while maintaining high standards of safety and farm presentation.

The Crop production enterprise runs alongside a 150 head sheep flock, 180 head Beef unit and small suckler herd, 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 responsibility for the day‑to‑day management of the Colleges cereal, forage crop and stewardship areas, helping to ensure an efficient and well organised resource as well as having the freedom to shape the enterprise to contribute to the wider estate priorities.
• You will provide practical learning opportunities for students, including the demonstration of machinery skills and operations to small groups.
• Safely operating and maintaining tractors and telehandlers for establishment, management and harvesting of crops, feeding and bedding livestock as well as general field maintenance operations.
• Gather and record data on performance and update electronic records to ensure compliance with assurance schemes and Government legislation. (Omnia and JD Operations centre).
• 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 crop establishment, management and health including cultivations, drilling, spreaders and spraying, combining, mowing and baling (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.

Closing date: Sunday 15 November 2026 at Midnight

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.