At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage specialist orchards with full autonomy and hands-on farming.
- Company: Leading horticultural consultancy focused on quality fruit growing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, company vehicle, laptop, phone, and annual reviews.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on UK fruit growing while enjoying outdoor work.
- Qualifications: Experienced top- and stone-fruit grower with necessary qualifications.
- Other info: Opportunity for long-term stability and professional development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Ready to run a farm like it's your own back garden, with full autonomy, serious variety, and the chance to play a key role in maintaining one of the UK's most respected fruit-growing sites? We're recruiting for a Working Farm Manager to take on a unique, long-term position managing specialist top- and stone-fruit orchards on behalf of a leading horticultural consultancy. This isn't commercial production; it's a role where quality, precision and long-term stewardship matter far more than volume. Think: proper, hands-on farming with purpose.
You’ll be the person keeping the wheels turning, caring for orchards, protecting their longevity, and ensuring the site stays in peak condition for research, trials, DEFRA work and national collections. If you're the kind of farm manager who thrives outdoors in all weather, loves being trusted to get on with the job, and prefers a tractor seat to a desk chair, this one’s for you.
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll take full ownership of the day-to-day running of the site, planning and delivering all orchard operations with a blend of practical skill, smart decision-making and good old-fashioned graft. You’ll schedule, execute and oversee all key tasks including planting, grubbing, cultivation, irrigation, pest and disease control, machine maintenance and harvest activity. You’ll keep the farm compliant, sustainable, safe and running like clockwork. Most of the time, you’ll be working solo (with occasional seasonal labour), so this role suits someone who’s confident operating independently, managing their time and staying on top of both practical work and record-keeping.
We’re Looking For Someone Who Is…
- A top- and stone-fruit grower with deep hands-on orchard knowledge
- PA1/PA3/PA6 qualified (non-negotiable), PA2 qualified (desirable)
- Comfortable spending big chunks of the day on a tractor, including PTO equipment
- Skilled in irrigation, orchard husbandry, IPM and long-term orchard maintenance
- A natural self-starter who’s used to working independently and managing a full workload alone
- Strong on organisation, record-keeping, planning and compliance
- Physically fit, weather-proof and happiest outdoors
- BASIS/FACTS, forklift tickets or additional qualifications = a huge plus
- Calm under pressure, decisive, practical and solutions-focused, someone who just gets things done
This role needs a seasoned, confident, "seen-it-all" type fruit grower. Someone practical, resilient and ready to take charge of a site that requires real care and expertise.
What’s In It For You?
- Competitive salary
- Company vehicle
- Laptop & phone
- Annual salary reviews
- A role with long-term security and room to develop as contracts expand
- The chance to shadow the retiring Farm Manager, a highly experienced orchard specialist with 20+ years on site
- A respected organisation behind you, but full autonomy day-to-day
- Work that genuinely matters to the future of UK fruit growing
Interested?
If you’re an experienced orchard professional looking for a role with freedom, responsibility and long-term stability, this could be the perfect next step. For an informal chat, please call Emily on 01780 480530, email emily@morepeople.co.uk or message me on LinkedIn. Don’t worry if your CV isn’t up to date, just send what you have already, and we can sort the rest later.
Working Farm Manager in Faversham employer: Morepeople 01780
Contact Detail:
Morepeople 01780 Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Working Farm Manager in Faversham
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the farm and its operations inside out. Spend some time visiting the site if you can, or at least research the company’s values and practices. This will help you speak confidently about how you can contribute to their mission during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn to get the inside scoop on the role and the company culture. A friendly chat can give you valuable insights and might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on experience. Prepare examples of past projects where you’ve successfully managed orchards or similar tasks. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them—this will demonstrate your practical skills and problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about the opportunity and keen to be part of the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Working Farm Manager in Faversham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Farming: When you're writing your application, let your love for hands-on farming shine through. Talk about your experiences with top- and stone-fruit orchards and how you’ve cared for them like they’re your own back garden.
Highlight Your Qualifications: Make sure to mention your PA1/PA3/PA6 qualifications right off the bat. If you have any additional certifications like BASIS or FACTS, don’t forget to include those too – they’ll make you stand out!
Demonstrate Independence and Organisation: Since this role requires a self-starter, share examples of how you've successfully managed your time and workload independently. A little story about keeping things running smoothly on your own can go a long way!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Morepeople 01780
✨Know Your Orchards
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of top- and stone-fruit orchards. Be ready to discuss specific techniques you’ve used in orchard husbandry, pest control, and irrigation. Showing that you understand the nuances of these practices will demonstrate your hands-on experience and passion for the role.
✨Showcase Your Independence
This position requires someone who can manage their time and workload independently. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully operated solo, tackled challenges, and kept everything running smoothly. Highlighting your self-starter attitude will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Be Practical and Solutions-Focused
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think of scenarios where you faced difficulties in the field and how you resolved them. Being calm under pressure is key, so share stories that illustrate your practical approach and decisiveness in tough situations.
✨Emphasise Compliance and Record-Keeping
Since this role involves maintaining compliance and thorough record-keeping, be prepared to discuss your organisational skills. Bring examples of how you’ve managed records in previous roles, ensuring safety and sustainability. This will show that you’re not just about getting the job done, but doing it right.