Farm Manager in Humber

Location: Leeds, LS15

Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30-16:30, Friday 7:30-12:30, weekends are on rota 7:30-16:00

Driving Requirement: Full driving licence required

Job Context:

To manage the operation of Home Farm, Temple Newsam, a working, visitor-focused rare breed farm operating within both historic and modern farm buildings as part of the Temple Newsam Estate. The post holder is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the farm, including leadership and management of farm staff, all aspects of animal welfare and care, agricultural land management, delivery of a high-quality visitor experience, and supporting further education students based on site to gain practical experience of farm work and animal care.

Key Accountabilities:

• Manage the operation of the historic Home Farm as an integral part of the Temple Newsam Estate.
• Deliver, in conjunction with colleagues, safe, engaging and informative visitor experiences that enable visitors to understand and enjoy the historic buildings, collections and livestock, and their significance within the stories of Temple Newsam.
• Undertake the operational management of livestock and agricultural land, including fodder production, in a manner sympathetic to the heritage setting.
• Support Further Education learning opportunities on site (currently Leeds City College, School of Land and Animal Science) through provision of work experience and supervised participation in farm activities.
• Ensure all Government documentation relating to land and livestock is accurate, compliant and completed in a timely manner, including (but not limited to) BPS, HLS, ELMS, animal registration and animal transportation documentation.
• Manage the animal collection to the highest welfare standards, promoting minority, native and rare breeds, and maintaining a professional relationship with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
• Ensure agricultural land within the Temple Newsam Estate is managed in accordance with current agri-environment schemes and best practice.
• Manage the farm and agricultural holdings as an integrated part of the wider Temple Newsam Estate through effective liaison with colleagues and participation in the site management team.
• Lead, manage, motivate and develop farm staff to deliver excellent standards of animal welfare, land management and visitor experience, coordinating staff inputs across all areas of farm work.
• Manage budgets within the functional area, ensuring value for money and a clear audit trail for all expenditure and income.
• Support and engage with external audits of farm performance and operations to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure procurement of goods and services complies with financial regulations, corporate policies and legal requirements.
• Take personal responsibility for health and safety and comply with the Councils Health and Safety Policy.
• Apply the Councils policies on equality, diversity and safeguarding in all aspects of the role.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Proven ability to manage and prioritise multiple and competing demands, meet tight deadlines and manage a team of staff effectively.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders, including elected members, senior managers, partner organisations and the general public.
• Good ICT skills, including email, word processing, spreadsheets and database systems.
• Ability to work effectively both as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Sound knowledge of current agricultural management practices and relevant legislation.
• Level 3 qualification in Agriculture (or equivalent practical experience).
• Ability to access and work across remote or outdoor sites efficiently.

Qualifications & Training:

• Essential: Relevant practical experience in farm or agricultural management.
• Licences to operate relevant agricultural machinery.
• Full driving licence.
• Desirable: Relevant degree in agriculture, animal science or a related field.