Farmer Engagement Officer in Middlesbrough

About Future Food Solutions

Future Food Solutions (FFSL) is an East Yorkshire-based consultancy founded in 2013. We work at the intersection of farming, environmental improvement, and water quality, partnering with farmers, water companies, and food and drink brands to drive practical, lasting change in how land is managed across the UK. We are a family business. Our directors bring together deep roots in British farming with decades of agri-food consultancy experience. That combination shapes everything we do: we understand the realities of farm businesses, and we know what it takes to build programmes that farmers actually want to be part of.

Our flagship Sustainable Landscapes Programme is delivered in partnership with Yorkshire Water, Thames Water, and Anglian Water. It brings together groups of forward-thinking farmers to explore regenerative practices that improve soil health, water quality, and farm profitability simultaneously. The programme now spans over 80,000 hectares in Yorkshire alone, and farmers in our programme stay engaged because it genuinely works for their businesses, not just for the environment.

We are a small, close-knit team that works across a wide network of farmers, scientists, water professionals, and food industry partners. No two days are the same. You will get exposure to genuinely impactful work out in the field with farmers, in the data, and at the heart of some of the most important conversations happening in British agriculture right now.

Equality & Diversity

We are committed to a workplace where everyone is treated with fairness, respect, and dignity regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or background. We recognise that agriculture has historically lacked diversity and want to be part of changing that. Our recruitment is open and accessible to all, and we do not tolerate discrimination or exclusion of any kind.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a driven individual at the start of their career, whether you are a recent graduate in a relevant discipline or come from a strong practical farming background, to join the Future Food Solutions team as a Farmer Engagement Officer playing a central role in the delivery of our Sustainable Landscapes Programme across multiple water company catchments in England.

You will become a trusted and familiar face to the farmers on our programmes and someone they can rely on for practical advice, genuine engagement, and consistent support. The role combines field work, data collection, event coordination, and programme development, meaning no two weeks will look the same. You will be working at the heart of some of the most important conversations happening in British agriculture today.

Key Responsibilities

• Farmer Engagement & Relationship Building
  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with farmers across multiple catchments, becoming a credible and dependable point of contact.
  • Recruit new farmers into the programme, developing local networks and farmer groups from the ground up.
  • Organise and facilitate farmer group meetings, farm walks, and knowledge-sharing events, ensuring they are well-attended, well-run, and genuinely useful to participants.
• Field Work & Data Collection
  • Conduct regular farm visits to support participating farmers and monitor progress.
  • Carry out on-farm data collection as part of structured knowledge programmes, ensuring data is collected accurately and consistently.
  • Support the smooth running of on-farm trials of innovative technologies and regenerative practices, troubleshooting where needed and feeding findings back to the wider team.
• Programme Development & Delivery
  • Develop compelling farmer case studies that demonstrate the real-world impact of the programme on soil health, water quality, and farm profitability.
  • Contribute to the development of new programme areas and catchment initiatives, identifying opportunities to grow our reach and impact.
  • Work closely with water company partners and other stakeholders to ensure programme objectives are being met.
• Reporting & Communication
  • Maintain accurate records of farm visits, trial data, soil sampling results, and farmer engagement activity.
  • Contribute to programme reports, partner updates, and knowledge hub content.
  • Represent Future Food Solutions at agricultural events, shows, and industry gatherings.

About You

You will be passionate about farming, the environment, and the role that good land management can play in addressing the challenges of climate change and water quality. You are practical, personable, and organised whilst being equally comfortable presenting to a room of farmers as you are providing technical analysis.

You will need excellent communication skills and the ability to take complicated subjects and practices and translate them into something farmers want to engage with, with the confidence to hold your own in any farmyard conversation.

Above all, we are looking for a genuine self-starter. Someone who spots opportunities without being prompted, takes ownership of their work, and brings fresh thinking to the team. As a small, growing business, we want someone who will help push the programme and the company forward rather than simply deliver what is already in front of them. If you have ideas about how to expand our reach, sharpen our farmer engagement, or open up new areas of work, we want to hear them and back you to run with them.

Essential

• Degree in agriculture, environmental science, or a closely related discipline or equivalent experience with a strong farming background.
• Full, clean UK driving licence.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the confidence to build relationships quickly and credibly with farmers and industry partners.
• Organised and self-motivated, able to manage a varied workload across multiple locations.
• Genuine interest in regenerative agriculture, soil health, and sustainable land management.
• Must be willing to travel away from home for periods when required.

Desirable

• A farming background or practical farm experience.
• Familiarity with soil sampling techniques or on-farm trial methodology.
• Experience of event organisation or community/stakeholder engagement.
• Knowledge of water company catchment management or agri-environment schemes.

What We Offer

• The chance to work on programmes that are making a measurable difference to farming and the environment across England.
• A supportive, close-knit team with genuine expertise in regenerative agriculture and sustainable supply chains.
• Exposure to a wide network of farmers, water company professionals, food and drink brands, and academic researchers.
• A clear route to grow your role and responsibilities as the programme expands, with heavy involvement across the work from the outset and scope to take on more ownership over time.
• Genuine backing to bring new ideas forward, we want someone who will help shape how the programme and the business grow rather than simply deliver against a fixed brief.
• As a small business we recognise the impact of our team members through a profit sharing scheme.