Senior Farm Manager

NATIONAL TRUST; Midhurst; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent conservation organization is seeking a Senior Farm Manager based in the South Downs, responsible for managing livestock operations. The role includes leading strategic planning and ensuring compliance with regulations while engaging with stakeholders and enhancing visitor experiences. Ideal candidates will possess significant farm management experience, strong leadership skills, and a passion for conservation. This position offers a range of benefits, including a substantial pension scheme and flexible working options.

Benefits

Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children

Rental deposit loan scheme

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships

Flexible working whenever possible

Employee assistance programme

Free parking at most Trust places

Qualifications

• Significant practical experience in farm and livestock management.
• Knowledge of conservation grazing and agri-environment schemes.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills to inspire and develop your team.
• Excellent communication skills for engaging visitors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Experience in financial and resource management alongside project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic farm and livestock management to support conservation goals.
• Manage team and volunteers while ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Build partnerships with stakeholders to deliver landscape-scale projects.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and income generation.

Skills

Knowledge of strategic farm and livestock management

Experience in leadership and team development

Knowledge of financial and resource management

Understanding of risk, compliance, and safety standards

Ability to engage stakeholders and build partnerships

Experience of public engagement and delivering visitor experiences

Tools

Farm machinery

Job description

Important notice

In line with our redeployment policy, we’ll prioritise applications from employees who are under formal notice of redundancy.

We’re looking for a Senior Farm Manager to manage our livestock based in the western part of the South Downs and lead the strategic planning and advise on livestock operations across the South Downs. This is a unique opportunity to combine your passion for farming, conservation, and people, ensuring our landscapes thrive for nature and visitors alike.

Proposed interview date: 20th January 2026 (this date will be brought forward for redeployee applicants who are shortlisted).

What it's like to work here

You’ll be part of the Restore Nature Leadership Team reporting directly to the Restore Nature Delivery Manager, alongside the Lead Rangers, Wildlife Manager, Head Forester and Ecologist. You’ll have one Farm Worker reporting directly to you and you’ll be based at Pound Common Farm, just outside Midhurst.

What you'll be doing

As Senior Farm Manager, you’ll take the lead on strategic farm and livestock management, ensuring grazing plans deliver healthy, natural environments that support conservation goals. You’ll manage your team, staff and volunteers and work closely with the South Downs West countryside team, creating a culture of safety, collaboration, and excellence.

Building strong partnerships with neighbours, landowners, and conservation organisations will be central to your role, enabling you to deliver landscape-scale projects that benefit nature and people.

You’ll oversee day to day compliance with animal welfare, health and safety, and environmental regulations, while managing budgets and resources effectively to achieve operational targets. Alongside this, you’ll identify opportunities for innovation and income generation, and play a key role in enhancing visitor experiences by promoting understanding of farming and conservation through engaging programmes and communications.

Who we're looking for

Applications from redeployees are assessed against the minimum criteria for the role. In your application, please provide details of how you meet the minimum criteria below.

• Knowledge of strategic farm and livestock management
• Experience in leadership and team development
• Knowledge of financial and resource management
• Understanding of risk, compliance, and safety standards
• Ability to engage stakeholders and build partnerships
• Experience of public engagement and delivering visitor experiences

Criteria for all other applicants:

• Significant practical experience in farm and livestock management
• Knowledge of conservation grazing, agri-environment schemes, and cross-compliance obligations
• Strong leadership and coaching skills to inspire and develop your team
• Understanding of risk, compliance, and safety standards
• Excellent communication skills to engage with visitors, partners, and stakeholders
• Experience in financial and resource management, alongside project delivery
• Competence with farm machinery

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places