Farm Operations Manager

A new opportunity has arisen for a full-time Farm Operations Manager to join our worthwhile charity, which exists to remove the barriers that prevent children and young people having meaningful access to the natural world. Through a week on one of our three heritage farms, Nethercott House in Devon, Lower Treginnis in Pembrokeshire and Wick Court in Gloucestershire, children and young people experience increased learning and engagement, improved connections and wellbeing and leave us with enhanced environmental citizenship. Visiting children are immersed in the natural world of countryside through a food and farming offer that allows them to participate in the seasonal tasks of the day: sowing, growing and harvesting in our kitchen gardens; caring for livestock and looking after the land; and cooking up a home-grown feast in the farmhouse kitchen. Spending time working alongside real farmers fosters children’s independence and helps them to grow in confidence, develops their self-esteem, and encourages them to become more resilient. In partnership with our commercial farming neighbours, children experience the benefits of collaboration, enjoy plenty of physical activity, good food, and fresh air, and discover the magical rural environment that is full of new words, sounds and experiences to inspire their creativity.

About the Role

This is a hands-on role responsible for the management of the farm, including buildings, equipment and livestock at Wick Court, a 50-acre smallholding raising pigs, beef cattle, poultry and sheep.

The role will set and deliver the direction of the land management of the farm. It will ensure that animals are cared for in line with the charity Animal Welfare policy and that biosecurity measures keep our beneficiaries and animals safe. The postholder will spend a proportion of their time delivering fun and educational sessions on the farm to the young people we work with.

The Farm Operations Manager is an integral role and as part of the operations team, will support also maintenance and management of the 16th century manor house, and may be asked to support all areas of operations of the charity at Wick Court.

The successful post-holder will have experience working directly with livestock, including administering veterinary medications, and lambing. They will be passionate about nature friendly farming and be looking for environmentally sensitive ways of managing the land for food production. They will also have experience working in partnerships, managing budgets and suppliers.

Main responsibilities

• Be responsible for all farming operations at Wick Court, currently a smallholding raising pigs, poultry, sheep, including managing equine and our horticultural enterprise

• With the Farm School Manager, develop and deliver a sustainable and environmentally sensitive land management strategy for Wick Court

• Work closely with the Farm School Manager to ensure the farming environment and farming activities for visiting children are safe, stimulating and purposeful

• Oversee and lead on animal husbandry, ensuring animal welfare standards are maintained in line with our policies, and further developing our veterinary health plans and procedures

• Lead on bio-security and disease control across the farming operations, with direct leadership and accountability for on-farm Health and Safety, ensuring safe working practices and policies are in place, and overseeing their implementation

This position is a farm-based role which will require only very occasional travel within the Charity’s regions in order to attend training or meetings.

Appointments will not be confirmed until the Charity has received two satisfactory professional references, evidence of the existing proof of right to work in the UK. Referees will not be contacted without candidates’ prior consent.

Farms for City Children is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates will be subject to a Social Media check and a DBS check at the appropriate level. Employment with the charity is conditional upon the charity being satisfied with the result of the DBS Check. Successful candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration related to their criminal record or any information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. If you have lived or worked outside of the UK, additional information may be required from you to satisfy safer recruitment checks. Any criminal records information that is disclosed to the charity will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/or code of practice published by the DBS.

Farms for City Children is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity and supports and encourages under-represented groups. We seek people from a wide range of backgrounds, with diverse lived experience, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification (attached below)  for full details about the role.

What we Offer

In return you will receive a salary of £38,000 and a range of benefits, which include:

• 25 days holiday plus 8 statutory bank holidays
• 6% employer contribution to NEST pension scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

How to Apply

Deadline for applications is 5pm on Sunday 31st March 2024

Interviews 11th April 2024

To apply please download and fill out our application form, once completed send torecruitment@farmsforcitychildren.org. You may also wish to fill out our equal opportunities monitoring form.

We are unable to accept just cover letters and CVs.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE – DIRECT RECRUITMENT ONLY