Senior Agriculture Manager - Leeds

Arla Group; Leeds; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Arla is seeking a Senior Agriculture Manager to lead a team of Agriculture Managers across the market and drive the operational delivery of our Agriculture agenda. You will support and develop your team while maintaining strong relationships with a portfolio of strategically important farms, translating strategy into practical on-farm execution.

You will lead farm performance, farmer engagement and cross-functional collaboration, building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of dairy farming systems and farm performance.
• Ability to build trust with farmers and manage complex stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Agriculture Managers across the market.
• Translate strategy into on-farm actions and deliver performance improvements.
• Build farmer relationships and act as a trusted advisor to members.
• Drive farm performance, sustainability and engagement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Agriculture, Sustainability and Commercial functions.

Skills

People leadership

Strategy execution

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Education

Degree in Agriculture/related

Job description

Are you ready to lead the future of dairy farming?

At Arla, our farmer owners are at the heart of everything we do. As Senior Agriculture Manager, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the long-term success of our farmers while leading a team of Agriculture Managers across the market. This is a unique opportunity to combine people leadership, strategic execution, and direct farmer engagement to create meaningful value for our cooperative, our farmers, and the future of sustainable dairy production.

You will lead a high-performing team, translate strategy into action, and ensure we continue to deliver an outstanding farmer experience. Working closely with colleagues across Agriculture, Sustainability, Commercial and Market Leadership, you will help drive farm performance, strengthen farmer relationships, and support the delivery of our agricultural ambitions.

How you will make an impact

As Senior Agriculture Manager, you will lead the operational delivery of Arla's Agriculture agenda across the market. You will support and develop your team while maintaining strong relationships with a portfolio of strategically important farms.

Key responsibilities include

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of Agriculture Managers to deliver outstanding support to our farmer owners.
• Driving farm performance, farmer engagement and operational priorities across the market.
• Managing a strategic portfolio of farms and acting as a trusted advisor to members while serving as a role model for the wider team.
• Translating Agriculture strategy into practical on-farm execution, ensuring delivery of performance, sustainability and engagement initiatives.
• Building a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and talent development across the team.
• Collaborating with colleagues across Agriculture, Sustainability and Commercial functions to deliver shared objectives.
• Ensuring strong farmer representation, democratic engagement and effective communication between farmers and the wider business.

What will make you successful

You are an experienced people leader with a passion for agriculture and helping others succeed. You combine strong commercial and operational understanding with the ability to build trust, influence stakeholders and develop high-performing teams. Comfortable working at both a strategic and hands-on level, you know how to translate business priorities into practical outcomes for farmers and the wider organisation.

You bring significant experience from dairy farming, agricultural advisory services, farm management or a related agricultural business environment, alongside a strong track record of leading teams through change and performance improvement. You are confident using data and insights to drive action, make informed decisions and continuously improve results.

We're particularly interested in candidates who have

• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• A strong understanding of dairy farming systems, farm economics and farm performance improvement.
• Experience building trusted relationships with farmers and managing complex stakeholder environments.
• The ability to translate strategy into execution and deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Strong communication, influencing and problem-solving skills, combined with a collaborative leadership style.

A degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, Agribusiness or a related discipline is beneficial, although equivalent experience will also be considered. As this role requires regular travel and time spent on farms across the market, a full driving licence is essential.

What do we offer?

At Arla, you'll join a farmer-owned cooperative with a clear purpose and a strong commitment to creating the future of dairy. We offer the opportunity to lead a highly engaged team, work closely with our farmer owners, and influence initiatives that make a real difference to farm performance, sustainability and member experience.

You will become part of a collaborative and purpose-driven organisation where leadership, development and continuous improvement are highly valued. Together, we create opportunities for our farmers, our colleagues and the communities we serve.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.