Deputy Farm Manager Aberystwyth, Wales
Job description
Job Description
The Role
What you’ll do
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
How to apply
Benefits
Employment Visa
The Role
Aberystwyth University is a premier agricultural teaching and research establishment in Wales and is looking to appoint for the role of Deputy Farm Manager. The University farm platform exists to support teaching and research activities for all university academic departments. Farming activities include dairy, beef, and sheep production, with associated cropping (grass, legumes, and cereals) for feed production.
The University farm comprises operations in several locations on the west coast of Wales, where Aberystwyth has a climate ideally suited for pastoral agriculture. In total the farm extends to approximately 600 hectares, including woodland. The land is spread across three main locations:
- Penglais/Frongoch Farm on the edge of the main University Penglais Campus.
- Gogerddan and Wern Phillip Farms adjoining the University Gogerddan Campus 2 miles north of Aberystwyth.
- Trawsgoed Farm in the village of Abermagwr on the B4340 some 9 miles southeast of Aberystwyth.
Trawsgoed Farm is the base for the dairy enterprise utilising 5 robotic milking machines and milking a dairy herd of about 350 cows.
The remaining farm units are the location for trial plots to support the plant breeding (oats and forages) and bioenergy crop research, activities that are managed by research staff andsupport lowland commercial sheep production.
The Deputy Farm Manager will work alongside the Farm Manager and a team of farm Enterprise Managers and will deputise for him in his absence in the maintenance of a leading, sustainable, commercial farming business to support knowledge exchange, research, and teaching. Farm accommodation may be available to the successful candidate if required. This benefit will be subject to appropriate taxation.
The Deputy Farm Manager will help manage, lead, and oversee daily operations on the University farm, acting as a link between the Farm Manager and other farm staff. You require an HND or BSc in Agriculture, Farm Management, or other related discipline as well as experience of developing farm business plans, including setting and managing budgets with a strong focus on delivery.
To make an informal enquiry, please contact Stephen Jones at [email protected].
Appointments are normally made within 4 - 8 weeks of the closing date
What you’ll do
This job description is subject to review and amendment in the light of the changing needs of the University, to provide appropriate development opportunities and/or the addition of any other reasonable duties.
- Implement and monitor appropriate policies to underpin current and future farm strategies and advise on changes where appropriate.
- Assist in the day-to-day management of all the farm staff, ensuring a high level of teamwork and a proactive culture of leadership and care to meet specific requirements and objectives by mentoring and supporting the farm’s team of enterprise managers.
- Assist in regularly monitoring performance against these targets and to take remedial action, as appropriate, to rectify any deficiencies in the achievement of those targets.
- Assist in representing the farm within the agricultural community, both locally and nationally, as appropriate, ensuring a high level of professionalism at all times.
- Support and inform the research and teaching activities on the farms.
- Engage in knowledge transfer of good commercial farm practice, agri-environment activities, and the commercialisation of research outputs to the wider rural industries through supporting the development of open days, lectures, and similar activities.
- Participate in relevant staff recruitment, development, and discipline, in line with university policies and procedures.
- Seek to maximise farm income in keeping with the overarching strategic direction, while also recognising and supporting the research and teaching requirements of the Farm.
- Assist in the efficient and sustainable management and maintenance of land, buildings and equipment.
- Ensure that all farming activities reflect best practice, are environmentally sensitive and meet animal welfare standards, mindful of all the relevant statutory obligations and compliance issues.
- Ensure that all farming operations operate within the legal guidelines set by bodies such as Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government, DEFRA, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
- Ensure that health, safety, and environmental requirements are taken into consideration whilst planning farm operations.
- Assist in ensuring all the required statutory records are maintained up to date and are available for inspection at all times.
- Maintain computerised and manual systems relating to all aspects of resource management, i.e.: staff, finance, equipment, stock etc. in compliance with relevant legislation.
- Make information relating to the physical and financial performance of the different farm enterprises and/or units available to students and the wider rural sector.
- To be committed to the University’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post.
- To undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
- To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University’s staff development and performance review.
- Any other duties reasonably requested.
- To be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of the University’s Effective Contribution Scheme.
- Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
The position is physically demanding therefore it is essential that the successful applicant has an appropriate level of health and fitness. Appointment to this position may be subject to a satisfactory fitness assessment.
Who you are – Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge and Skills required
Essential
- HND or BSc in Agriculture, Farm Management, or other related discipline.
- Significant experience of practical farm management in a large, diverse farming operation
- Experience of developing farm business plans, including setting and managing budgets with a strong focus on delivery.
- Experience of setting appropriate key performance indicators and an ability to produce and analyse management information and use it effectively for monitoring and reporting purposes.
- Detailed knowledge and experience of dairy, sheep, beef and grassland management.
- Detailed knowledge of how the legal guidelines set by bodies, such as the Environment Agency, DEFRA, the European Union (EU) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), impact on the operations of a farming enterprise.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, and experience of leading, managing, and motivating staff.
- High level of computer literacy, including the use of farm management software packages.
- Ability to operate a range of standard farm machinery at a high level of proficiency.
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with all levels of staff, including members of the farming industry, members of the public, students, academic staff, senior managers within the University and staff from a range of public organisations and Government.
- Ability to work under pressure, to meet tight deadlines and to respond quickly and effectively to changing circumstances.
- Full valid UK driving licence or equivalent right to drive in the UK.
- An ability to understand the bilingual nature of the University and an awareness of the procedures in place to support working bilingually (AO).
Desirable
- Health, Safety and Environmental qualifications or HSE training within an agricultural qualification.
- Experience of working in an academic (university or college) environment.
- Knowledge of the higher education sector, and the ability to think strategically about commercial farming activity in a higher education environment.
- Possess up to date certificates in farm machinery operation (e.g., tractors, telehandlers, ATV, UTV etc).
- Oral (spoken) and Written Level or willingness to learn Welsh to Standard A2 *
- More information on Welsh Language Levels can be found at:
How to apply
To promote a flexible workforce, the University will consider applications from individuals seeking full time, part time, job share, or term time only working arrangements.
Applications for this role must be made through jobs.aber.ac.uk. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Benefits
- Flexible working policy
- 36.5 – hour week for full-time roles
- Generous leave entitlements – 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays and university closed days
- Commitment to Professional Development
- Enhanced contribution to our workplace pension schemes
- Staff recognition and reward schemes
- Opportunity to learn the Welsh language for free
- Staff relocation bursary
- Maternity, Paternity, Parental and Adoption Leave
- Staff discount for gym facilities, hospitality, and retail on campus.
Please keep reading
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities and, those that are currently underrepresented in our workforce. This includes but is not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities, and female candidates.
We are a Bilingual Institution which complies with the Welsh Language Standards and is committed to Equal Opportunities. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally.
Employment Visa
We welcome international applicants who are eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route.
Under the points-based system, this role meets the criteria to be sponsored by AU for an SWR application. Please be advised that AU will only support the Certificate of Sponsorship for any employment visas and will not support the payment of the employment visa for the offered candidate and/or dependants.
Any prospective candidates coming to work for AU under the SWR will require a minimum of 70 points, made up of the following:
- Appropriate knowledge is classed as the following:
- A national of a majority English speaking country
- Having an academic degree taught in English (if an overseas degree, must be verified by NARIC)
- Completing and passing an English language test at Level B1 or above.
For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
