Rural Project & Land Manager | Vacancy Reference: 60157 DM
*This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract*
Company Information
A specialist rural consultancy supporting farmers and landowners to unlock funding, deliver environmental land management schemes, and implement practical on-the-ground improvements across their estates. They work at the intersection of farming, land management, and environmental delivery, helping clients navigate complex schemes and turn applications into successful, real-world outcomes.
About the Role
In this role, you need to be an experienced Rural Project & Land Delivery Manager to lead the end-to-end delivery of Higher Tier and environmental land management projects. You will manage multiple rural projects simultaneously, working closely with farmers, landowners, directors, consultants, and delivery partners to ensure schemes are successfully designed, approved, and implemented. This is a hands‑on delivery role combining project management, stakeholder coordination, and rural scheme expertise.
Location - Cotswolds
Salary Package - £45,000 – £50,000 basic salary depending on skills and experience
What you will be doing
- Lead the delivery of Higher Tier and agri-environment scheme projects from application through to completion
- Manage multiple rural land-based projects simultaneously across different farms and estates
- Work closely with farmers and landowners to understand objectives and translate them into deliverable plans
- Coordinate consultants, planners, contractors, and internal teams to ensure smooth project delivery
- Apply strong project management structure (planning, tracking, reporting, risk management) across all live projects
- Ensure compliance with scheme requirements throughout the full lifecycle of each project
- Support continuous improvement of internal delivery processes and project workflows (PMO approach)
- Build strong, trusted relationships with landowners and stakeholders across rural communities
- Monitor project progress, budgets, timelines, and reporting requirements
- Identify risks early and proactively resolve delivery challenges
About You (Essential Experience)
- 4-5+ years' experience in rural consultancy, land management, agricultural advisory, or environmental scheme delivery
- Proven experience working on Higher Tier, Countryside Stewardship, ELMS, or similar schemes
- Strong project management capability, ideally in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
- Experience working directly with farmers, landowners, or rural estates
- Ability to manage multiple live projects at different stages of delivery
- Confident communicator with strong stakeholder management skills
- Degree-level education or equivalent rural/agricultural experience
Desirable Experience
- Background in rural consultancy (e.g. land agency, estate management, or environmental advisory work)
- Exposure to PMO-style delivery or structured project environments
- Understanding of planning processes related to rural land development or diversification
- Experience managing contractors or field-based delivery teams
Skills & Attributes
- Highly organised with strong attention to detail
- Able to manage competing priorities across multiple projects
- Strong problem-solving mindset in rural and land-based environments
- Comfortable working autonomously and taking ownership of delivery
- Passionate about agriculture, farming, and countryside outcomes
- Ability to translate technical scheme requirements into practical delivery actions
What We Offer
- Opportunity to work on meaningful rural and environmental projects that directly support UK farming and land management
- High levels of autonomy and ownership across live projects
- Collaborative team environment working closely with experienced rural professionals
- Exposure to complex, high-impact land and environmental schemes
- Based in a stunning Cotswolds location with regular countryside site visits
Must hold NVQ Level 2, Scottish NVQ Level 2, or an equivalent qualification relevant to the job.
