At a Glance
- Tasks: Support outdoor breeding farms, ensuring high performance and welfare standards.
- Company: Join a leading European food business with strong values.
- Benefits: Enjoy a varied field-based role with autonomy and recognition.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with opportunities for growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on pig welfare and productivity while working closely with farmers.
- Qualifications: Experience in pig production and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Stradbroke
Department: Breeding
Reporting to: Breeding Farms Manager
About the Role
We are looking for a proactive and knowledgeable Breeding Fields Person to support our outdoor breeding farms at Stradbroke. This role acts as the primary point of contact for breeding farmers, ensuring strong communication, consistent standards and high levels of performance across the breeding supply base. You will work closely with farmers, vets and internal stakeholders to drive pig welfare, productivity, biosecurity and compliance, while embedding Pilgrim's Europe values and expectations across all farms.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide management and technical advice to outdoor breeding farms to maximise productivity and efficiency
- Plan and carry out farm visits focusing on key production areas including:
- Gilt management
- Service and dry sow management
- Farrowing performance
- Drive improvements in key performance metrics:
- Pigs per sow per year
- Tonnes per sow per year
- Weaning weights
- Monitor herd health, welfare and biosecurity in conjunction with the BQP veterinary team
- Set individual farm targets and agree action plans to improve performance
- Ensure welfare standards are consistently met and recorded
- Utilise computerised herd recording systems to identify priorities and improvement actions
- Ensure accurate data capture and reporting
- Support efficient management of pig production costs
- Ensure farms meet all required assurance and retailer standards, including:
- Red Tractor
- RSPCA Outdoor Bred / BQP audit standards
- Attend assurance visits and audits
- Close out non-conformances within agreed timescales
- Understand and support additional retailer requirements (e.g. QBA)
- Act as a liaison between farmers and vets, including oversight of vaccination programmes
- Support the Breeding Farms Manager in recruiting new breeding farmers and managing existing contracts
- Encourage and explore opportunities for new units where appropriate
- Attend farmer awards, shows and company events as required
- Attend weekly team meetings and OPEX meetings
- Take responsibility for actively driving OPEX performance
- Maintain required compliance and company training
- Lead by example, demonstrating Pilgrim's Europe values and recognising others through the Stars scheme
Measures of Success
- Improvement in farm performance KPIs
- High welfare and biosecurity standards maintained
- Assurance compliance achieved and sustained
- Strong, positive relationships with breeding farmers
- OPEX, welfare and performance targets met or exceeded
What We're Looking For
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Practical experience or working knowledge of pig production and animal welfare
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with farmers and stakeholders
- Organised, self-motivated and able to manage multiple priorities
- Comfortable working independently and as part of a wider team
- Commercial awareness
- Confident using IT systems, including Word, Excel and Outlook
- Good awareness of Health & Safety requirements
Behaviours
- Strong attention to detail
- Commitment and reliability
- Confidence to make independent decisions
- Ability to challenge appropriately and constructively
Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?
- Be part of a leading European food business
- Play a key role in welfare, productivity and farm standards
- Work closely with farmers, vets and internal teams
- Enjoy a varied, field-based role with real autonomy
- Be part of a values-led organisation that recognises and rewards contribution
Interested? If you're passionate about pig production, enjoy working with farmers and want to make a real impact on welfare and performance, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today to join Pilgrim's Europe as a Breeding Fields Person.
Breeding Fields Person employer: Pilgrims Europe
At Pilgrim's Europe, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a collaborative and supportive work culture that prioritises food safety and quality excellence. Our team in Attleborough benefits from continuous professional development opportunities, competitive remuneration, and a commitment to innovation in food safety practices, making it a rewarding place to grow your career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Breeding Fields Person
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to farmers, vets, and industry professionals on LinkedIn or at local events. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for pig production! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your experiences and insights about animal welfare and productivity. Let them see your enthusiasm!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s values and recent projects. Tailor your answers to reflect how you can contribute to their goals, especially in areas like biosecurity and performance metrics.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Breeding Fields Person
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Pig Production:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for pig production shine through! We want to see that you genuinely care about animal welfare and productivity. Share any relevant experiences or insights that highlight your commitment to the industry.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to fit the Breeding Fields Person role. Use keywords from the job description and demonstrate how your skills align with what we're looking for. This shows us that you've done your homework and are serious about joining our team!
Highlight Your Interpersonal Skills:Since this role involves working closely with farmers and vets, it's crucial to showcase your strong communication and relationship-building skills. Give examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in the past, as this will resonate with us at StudySmarter.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal:While we love a friendly tone, remember to maintain professionalism in your application. Be yourself, but also ensure that your writing is clear and concise. Don't forget to apply through our website – it's the best way to get your application in front of us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pilgrims Europe
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of pig production and animal welfare. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities listed in the job description, like gilt management and biosecurity standards. This will show that you're proactive and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Show Off Your People Skills
Since this role involves a lot of communication with farmers and vets, be prepared to demonstrate your strong interpersonal skills. Think of examples where you've built effective relationships or resolved conflicts. This will highlight your ability to work collaboratively and maintain positive connections.
✨Be Data Savvy
Get comfortable with IT systems, especially Excel and herd recording software. You might be asked about how you would use data to drive improvements in farm performance. Bring examples of how you've used data in past roles to make informed decisions or improve processes.
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment
Pilgrim's Europe values commitment and reliability, so be ready to share instances where you've gone above and beyond in your previous roles. Discuss how you ensure compliance with standards and how you’ve contributed to improving welfare and productivity in your past experiences.
