Farm Officer - South West Peatland Partnership (SWPP

South West Water Limited; Poltimore; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance

Discretionary bonus

Pension scheme

Share-save scheme

Health benefits

Job summary

South West Water Limited is seeking an experienced Farm Officer to drive peatland restoration and sustainable land management across the region. You will engage farmers, landowners and rural stakeholders, delivering site visits, workshops and data collection using GIS tools.

Ideal candidates will have an agriculture degree or related experience, knowledge of upland farming systems and a track record advising farmers on agri-environment schemes. Strong communication and IT skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in Agriculture or related discipline or equivalent experience.
• Experience in agriculture, environmental land management or conservation.
• Understanding of upland farming systems and agri-environment schemes.
• Experience advising farmers or rural businesses.
• Knowledge of peatland, wetland or upland habitat management.
• Experience preparing Higher Tier scheme applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Experience using GIS and mapping software.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice on agri-environment schemes, grazing management and sustainable land use.
• Support and guide farmers through applications for schemes such as Countryside Stewardship, ELMS and other environmental funding opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with farmers, landowners, agents and rural interest groups.
• Deliver site visits, workshops and engagement events across the South West.
• Work collaboratively with restoration and monitoring specialists to assess the impact of peatland restoration on farming systems.
• Collect and record project data using GIS mapping tools and LandApp.
• Produce reports, case studies and presentations for funders and stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with agricultural policy, legislation and environmental best practice, sharing knowledge across the partnership.

Skills

Agriculture degree

Stakeholder engagement

GIS mapping

Communication

Land management

Education

Degree in Agriculture or related discipline

Tools

GIS software

LandApp

Microsoft Office

Job description

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK's most stunning landscapes. We're proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife. Whether you're starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Help restore some of the South West's most valuable landscapes The South West Peatland Partnership (SWPP) is an ambitious collaboration of 22 partner organisations working together to restore and protect peatlands across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. Hosted by South West Water, we're delivering large-scale environmental improvements through a range of funding programmes, including Defra's Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme administered by Natural England.

We're looking for an experienced and passionate Farm Officer to play a key role in engaging farmers, landowners and rural stakeholders to help deliver peatland restoration and sustainable land management across the region. If you're knowledgeable about upland farming systems, agri-environment schemes and habitat restoration, and enjoy building trusted relationships within farming communities, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll be doing

• Provide advice on agri-environment schemes, grazing management and sustainable land use.
• Support and guide farmers through applications for schemes such as Countryside Stewardship, ELMS and other environmental funding opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with farmers, landowners, agents and rural interest groups.
• Deliver site visits, workshops and engagement events across the South West.
• Work collaboratively with restoration and monitoring specialists to assess the impact of peatland restoration on farming systems.
• Collect and record project data using GIS mapping tools and LandApp.
• Produce reports, case studies and presentations for funders and stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with agricultural policy, legislation and environmental best practice, sharing knowledge across the partnership.

We're looking for someone who combines technical agricultural knowledge with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

You'll ideally have

• A degree in Agriculture or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Experience working within agriculture, environmental land management or conservation.
• A strong understanding of upland farming systems and agri-environment schemes.
• Experience advising farmers, landowners or rural businesses.
• Knowledge of peatland, wetland or upland habitat management.
• Experience preparing and delivering Higher Tier scheme applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience using GIS and mapping software.

It would be advantageous if you also have

• Experience of ecological survey or monitoring.
• Knowledge of South West habitats and conservation management.
• Experience using LandApp or similar land management platforms.
• Familiarity with NoFence collar systems.

Please note: This role requires regular visibility across the South West, including frequent travel throughout Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, attendance at stakeholder meetings, and occasional evening events and overnight stays. Based on the nature of the role, a full UK driving licence is essential.

Why join us

This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on the South West's landscape, helping to restore vital peatland habitats while working alongside farmers and partners who are passionate about protecting our natural environment.

• Generous holiday allowance + bank holidays
• Discretionary bonus
• Competitive contributory pension
• Share-save scheme
• Health benefits & wellbeing support programmes
• Group discountsCycle to Work scheme
• Financial support services
• Development and training opportunities
• ... and much more!

Closing Date: 26th October 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values

• Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
• Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
• Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.