Herd Manager - Cumbria - Up to £50,000 + Accommodation available

Agricultural Recruitment Specialists; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Accommodation provided

Pension

Profit-sharing potential

Job summary

Agricultural Recruitment Specialists is seeking a Herd Manager for a Cumbria dairy farm. Lead day-to-day cow and grass management, drive efficiency and staff performance, and contribute to the farm's strategic direction on a growing, forward-thinking operation.

The role offers accommodation and a salary up to £50,000 DOE, with pension and potential profit-sharing or bonus schemes. A genuine long-term opportunity in a well-supported team.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent relevant qualification.
• Right to work in the UK or valid visa.

Responsibilities

• Make day-to-day decisions relating to cows and grass.
• Develop understanding of farm finances and business needs.
• Support strategic decisions and future farm development.
• Drive high-performance culture across the team.

Skills

Cattle husbandry

Grassland management

Team leadership

Decision making

Education

NVQ Level 2

Scottish NVQ Level 2

Job description

Herd Manager - Cumbria - Up to £50,000 + Accommodation available

The Job:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious and enthusiastic Herd Manager to join a progressive, family-run dairy farm in Cumbria. This is a genuine opportunity for someone who wants to take their career and financial position forward while playing a key role in the continued development of a growing and forward-thinking business.

Key responsibilities:

• All day to day decisions relating to cows and grass.
• Developing a strong understanding of the wider business and its finances.
• Contributing to strategic business decisions.
• Helping drive the future development and direction of the farm.

Environmental and sustainability work includes:

• Significant reductions in fertiliser use through the incorporation of white clover.
• Development of a soil health strategy using multi-species leys.
• Participation in industry carbon-baselining and carbon-sequestration projects.
• Future projects focused on biodiversity and public engagement.

The Candidate:

• Has the potential to become a major part of a developing and growing business.
• Can set high standards and help build a high-performance culture across the team.
• Has a genuine desire to take responsibility and make decisions.
• Is looking to progress within a business for the long term.
• Has a good understanding of cows and grass and wants to continue developing their skills.
• Is ambitious and keen to innovate both on-farm and within the wider dairy industry.

The Company:

The farm operates an established grazing system, including an eight-week spring block, with a simple and efficient low-input approach.

The business has:

• A friendly, settled and enjoyable team environment.
• Long-established New Zealand genetics, with herd improvement driven through genomics, embryo transfer and liveweight efficiency.
• Significant investment in new winter infrastructure to improve efficiency and daily routines.
• Recognition within the agricultural industry for its grassland management.
• A supermarket-aligned milk contract.
• A strong focus on developing sustainable and efficient dairy production.

The Package:

• Salary £40,000- £50,000 DOE and pension
• Potential for a future profit-share or significant performance-related bonus scheme.
• A tailored personal development plan.
• cess to discussion groups and internal and external training.

Candidate Requirements

All applicants must hold a minimum of an NVQ Level 2, Scottish NVQ Level 2, or an equivalent qualification relevant to the role applied for. Candidates must also have the legal right to work in the UK or hold a valid visa permitting employment.