Dairy Farm Manager

We are recruiting a Dairy Farm Manager to oversee a 1,000-cow spring block calving, genomically tested herd, alongside youngstock and land-based operations, leading an established team and acting as the key link between the Farms Director and the Dairy Team. This is a hands-on leadership role suited to a dairy professional who is passionate about stockmanship, performance, sustainability and developing people.

• Farm Operations & Livestock Management — Oversee daily farm activities, ensuring exemplary stockmanship, productivity and animal welfare.
• Milk Output Optimisation — Implement strategies to optimise milk yield while maintaining herd health, fertility and feed efficiency.
• Grassland & Seasonal Rotation — Lead rotational grazing, forage crop rotations, and grass/clover management to maximise feed resources.
• Wintering Systems & Housing — Manage on-off wintering systems and the mix of cubicle wintering, slats and bedded courts for comfort and efficiency.
• Sustainable Fertiliser Use — Optimise chemical nitrogen application through effective use of on-farm slurry.
• Herd Register & Compliance — Maintain accurate herd records, breeding logs and compliance with Red Tractor and other customer-led assurance standards.
• Stocktaking & Cattle Movements — Responsible for all stocktaking and cattle movements with accurate documentation and full compliance.
• Team Leadership & Development — Train, mentor and motivate farm staff; liaise with other departments and oversee administrative tasks.
• Infrastructure & Facilities — Manage infrastructure and oversee the maintenance and development of farm buildings, water systems, roads and fencing.
• Fertility & Breeding Programme — Execute mating strategies, AI, heat detection and ensure herd fertility targets are met.
• Calving & Youngstock — Supervise calving, colostrum management, and rearing of replacements through to entry into the herd.
• Herd Health & Biosecurity — Work closely with the veterinary team to maintain a disease-free, low-intervention herd with robust monitoring and records.
• Sustainability & Environment — Ensure effective slurry management, optimise nutrient cycles and minimise environmental impact.
• Machinery & Infrastructure Maintenance — Oversee maintenance and repair of all farm machinery, parlours, cow tracks, fencing, farm roads, drainage and water supply, and the proper operation of slurry systems, cubicle sheds and milking facilities.
• Data-Driven Decision Making — Analyse farm performance metrics and use agri-tech tools for continuous improvement.
• Long-Term Business Success — Work alongside the Farms Director to deliver profitability, sustainability and growth.

• Proven track record managing a large-scale dairy unit, ideally with spring block calving experience.
• Strong leadership, communication and people-development skills.
• Sound knowledge of grassland management, forage systems and rotational grazing.
• Confidence with breeding programmes, genomic data and herd performance KPIs.
• Commercial awareness with a data-driven, continuous-improvement mindset.
• Commitment to high standards of animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental stewardship.
• Hands-on, problem-solving approach with the ambition to drive the unit forward.