At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the launch and management of a new breeder farm, ensuring high standards in poultry husbandry.
- Company: Join a leading food business with a strong values-led culture.
- Benefits: Secure role, competitive pay, ongoing training, and clear progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a brand-new farm and build a motivated team.
- Qualifications: Experience in agriculture or poultry, strong decision-making skills, and a full UK driving licence.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence operations and promote sustainability from day one.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Gortnagarn Farm (New Site)
Department: Agriculture NI / Breeders
Reporting to: Area Manager
About the Role
We are seeking a committed and capable Farm Manager to take full responsibility for the management of our new Company Breeder Farm at Gortnagarn. This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in establishing a brand-new farm, setting high standards from the outset across welfare, performance, compliance and team culture. You will oversee all aspects of poultry husbandry and farm operations, ensuring eggs are produced to the required specifications while managing budgets, people and site performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the start-up and day-to-day management of the breeder farm, embedding best practice from day one
- Ensure production meets specifications for weight, quality, welfare, health & safety and environmental standards
- Manage flock performance, hatchability and livability in line with company stock management programmes
- Monitor flock health using recognised procedures, identifying and escalating issues promptly
- Work to agreed financial and physical budgets, controlling costs as the farm becomes fully operational
- Manage feed stocks, ordering and quality control
- Take responsibility for all farm equipment, coordinating maintenance and contractor activity
- Establish and maintain exceptional standards of housekeeping, hygiene and biosecurity across the new site
- Recruit, train and develop farm staff as the site grows (and Assistant Farm Managers where applicable)
- Build a motivated, capable team aligned to company standards and values
- Manage staffing levels, rotas and holiday planning to support consistent performance
- Embed company policies on hygiene, welfare, egg handling and sanitisation
- Maintain high Health & Safety standards for all employees, visitors and contractors
- Ensure site security and provide or arrange 24/7 alarm call cover for emergencies
- Proactively identify opportunities to improve efficiency, performance and sustainability
- Reduce environmental impact through waste reduction, recycling and best practice
- Share ideas and improvements with the Field Management team
Key Measures of Success
- Successful establishment and stabilisation of the new farm
- Achievement of production, welfare and quality targets
- Strong compliance from day one
- Effective cost control and budget management
- Engagement, capability and retention of farm staff
What We’re Looking For
Essential
- Previous involvement in an agricultural or poultry environment
- Strong decision-making and problem-solving capability
- Willingness to undertake NVQ Level 3 and relevant training
- Full UK Driving Licence
- Flexibility to be contactable outside normal working hours (excluding holidays)
Desirable
- Budget management experience
- People management and leadership experience
- Previous supervisory or farm leadership experience
Why Join Us?
This role offers a unique opportunity to be part of the launch and development of a brand-new farm, where your experience and leadership will directly shape how the site operates. We offer:
- A permanent, secure role within a leading food business
- Competitive pay and benefits
- The chance to build, influence and lead from the start
- Ongoing training and development, including formal qualifications
- Clear progression opportunities within agriculture and farm management
- A strong, values-led culture focused on ownership, discipline and practical excellence
Ready to Apply?
If you take pride in high welfare standards, enjoy building teams and want the challenge of establishing and leading a new farm operation, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and play a key role in shaping the success of our new Gortnagarn Farm.
Farm Manager in Magherafelt employer: Pilgrims Europe
Contact Detail:
Pilgrims Europe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Farm Manager in Magherafelt
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the agriculture and poultry sectors. Attend local events or join online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, highlight your experience in farm management and decision-making. Share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you’re interested in, like us at StudySmarter. Express your enthusiasm for the role and ask about any upcoming opportunities.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s values and practices. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their goals, especially around welfare standards and team culture. We love candidates who align with our mission!
We think you need these skills to ace Farm Manager in Magherafelt
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in agricultural or poultry environments. We want to see how your skills align with the responsibilities of managing a new farm!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role involves building and leading a team, don’t forget to mention any previous leadership or supervisory experience. We love to see examples of how you've motivated and developed others in your past roles.
Highlight Problem-Solving Abilities: The Farm Manager role requires strong decision-making skills. Share specific instances where you’ve tackled challenges in a farm setting or similar environment. We’re keen to know how you approach problem-solving!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pilgrims Europe
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of poultry husbandry and farm operations. Familiarise yourself with the specific requirements for egg production, welfare standards, and health & safety regulations. This will show that you're serious about the role and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Farm Manager, you'll be leading a team, so be prepared to discuss your previous experience in people management. Think of examples where you've successfully trained or developed staff, managed budgets, or improved farm efficiency. This will demonstrate your capability to build and motivate a strong team.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so come armed with thoughtful questions about the new farm and its operations. Ask about their expectations for the first few months, how they measure success, or what challenges they foresee. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
✨Emphasise Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you overcame them. Whether it was managing flock health or dealing with budget constraints, showcasing your decision-making and problem-solving abilities will highlight your readiness for this key position.