Farming Operations Manager

John Lewis Partnership; Longstock; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading company in sustainable farming as a Farm Manager at Leckford Estate, where you will oversee farm operations and lead a dedicated team. This pivotal role requires extensive farming experience and a passion for regenerative agricultural practices, ensuring future sustainability for UK farming.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years managing a farm.
• Full driving license and relevant NPTC qualifications essential.
• Experience in arable and livestock management.

Responsibilities

• Lead farming operations at the Waitrose & Partners Farming enterprises.
• Develop operational strategies and business plans.
• Ensure collaboration across the business.

Skills

Farm management

Operational leadership

People management

Crop and livestock management

Education

NVQ level 4 in agriculture or related subject

Degree level educated (Agriculture)

Tools

Omnia software

Job description

Apply on JLP Jobs - the official careers website for John Lewis Partnership, John Lewis & Partners, and Waitrose & Partners.

About the role

A unique opportunity to join the only UK supermarket owned farm and lead a team that will help support the future of UK farming. The Leckford Estate is a 2,800 acre LEAF demonstration farm and diverse business where the Farm Manager will not only lead the farming operation, but also influence across the wider Waitrose organisation.

• Salary - £48,300 - £65,000

• Contract type - This position is a Permanent contract.

• Location- This role is based at The Waitrose Farm, Leckford Estate, Hampshire. This role is housed.

Key responsibilities

Operational leadership to optimise the commercial performance of the Waitrose & Partners Farming enterprises and exemplify Regenerative Farm Management, ensuring we are aligned with our Waitrose Farming For Nature commitments. Input into the Leckford strategic plan to ensure connection between strategy and operational priorities.

By working in an agile, fast learning, innovative and cross-functional way, you will be a highly effective Operational leader.

Leading by example, ensure relentless focus to deliver operational outcomes and its contribution to the Leckford plan and purpose.

You will ensure collaboration locally and across the business to deliver annual business plans. You will have the opportunity to develop and stretch personally and professionally to achieve your potential across the wider Estate and in the Farming operation of Beef, Arable, Fruit and Vines.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Minimum of 5 years farm management

• Minimum NVQ level 4 (HND level) in agriculture or related subject (essential)

• Full driving licence (essential)

• Relevant NPTC qualifications ( e.g. safe use of telescopic handler, ATV, livestock medicines)

• BASIS qualified

• Minimum 2 years’ arable management experience, including grain store management

• Minimum 3 years’ ruminant livestock husbandry experience (ideally cattle)

• People management

• Crop and livestock record keeping and management information reporting (ideally on Omnia software)

• Basic farm machinery maintenance

Desirable skills/experience you may have

● Degree level educated (Agriculture)

● Organic, IFM, regenerative farming practical experience

● FACTS & BASIS (desirable)

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The partnership

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect.

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note:

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.