Irrigation Manager - Lead Water Optimization on a Farm

Barfoots; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Program

Cycle to work scheme

On-site parking

Training & development

Job summary

Barfoots is seeking an experienced Irrigation Manager to lead planning, operation and continuous improvement of irrigation across our large-scale vegetable farming operation. You will report to the Farm Director and ensure crops receive the right water and nutrients to maximise yield, quality and sustainability.

You will oversee irrigation infrastructure, lead a dedicated team, and collaborate with Agronomy, Production and Engineering to optimise water use, system performance and high-quality

Qualifications

• Degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Irrigation Technology, Agronomy or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years' experience managing irrigation systems within commercial vegetable, horticultural or large-scale farming operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage irrigation programmes based on crop requirements, soil moisture, weather conditions and agronomic recommendations.
• Monitor and optimise water usage to maximise crop performance, quality and resource efficiency.
• Oversee the operation, maintenance and continuous improvement of irrigation infrastructure, including pumps, reservoirs, pipelines, filtration, automated systems and fertigation equipment.
• Manage water abstraction, storage and distribution while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and water licences.
• Lead, coach and develop the irrigation team, planning workloads and supporting continuous improvement.
• Analyse irrigation data, soil moisture monitoring and telemetry to improve system performance and efficiency.
• Coordinate preventative maintenance programmes, contractor activities and accurate operational reporting.
• Ensure all irrigation activities comply with health, safety, environmental and food safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Irrigation scheduling

Water management

Team management

IT skills

Problem solving

Education

Agriculture degree

Irrigation knowledge

Tools

Pumps

Filtration systems

Telemetry

Automated controls

Job description

Barfoots is seeking an experienced Irrigation Manager to lead planning, operation and continuous improvement of irrigation across our large-scale vegetable farming operation. You will report to the Farm Director and ensure crops receive the right water and nutrients to maximise yield, quality and sustainability.

You will oversee irrigation infrastructure, lead a dedicated team, and collaborate with Agronomy, Production and Engineering to optimise water use, system performance and high-quality