Farm Manager (Home Farm, Temple Newsam)

Leeds Safe Roads Partnership; Leeds; On-site; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job description

Job title: Farm Manager, Home Farm, Temple Newsam

Salary: PO1 £38,220 - £40,777 per annum plus weekend enhancements

Hours: 37 hours per week, including some weekend and evening work

Contract: Permanent

Home Farm is an open working rare breed livestock farm and historic visitor attraction set in both modern and historic buildings within Temple Newsam Estate. The estate comprises a Tudor Jacobean mansion, Stable Courtyard with tea rooms and shops as well as the farm set within Capability Brown parkland. It is operated by Leeds City Council and attracts around 1.8 million visitors each year.

The farm has recently developed an exciting indoor play facility (separately managed) with a shop and café, which is attracting a new larger audience to the farm. We’re now looking for an experienced farm manager with a proven track record in providing quality experiences for visitors within an open farm whilst managing high standards of animal care and land management.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Farm Manager you will bring to the role:

• Excellent leadership skills
• Experience and knowledge of managing farmland and livestock
• A commitment to health, safety and welfare
• A wish to manage the land sustainably and for visitor access

About the role

This is a diverse role requiring the ability to contribute to creating experiences for visitors and on-site college students whilst taking responsibility for the overall day to day management of all aspects of animal care and farmland management. High standards of health safety and welfare are fundamental. The post-holder will be committed to the future of rare breeds of British farm animals and continue our working relationship with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. The role has responsibility for managing much of the historic landscape, which incorporates two scheduled ancient monuments and a listed landscape. We’re looking for someone who will maximise the environmental benefits and fully utilise the ELMS scheme as it is introduced.

The role is integral to the team at Temple Newsam which sits within the Commercial and Estates team of the Climate Energy and Greenspaces Service. This team delivers four estate attractions, two zoos and a plant nursery /garden centre.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
• a residential farmhouse as a service occupancy for out of hours working

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Maria Akers, Senior Estates Manager tel. [phone] or email [e-mail].

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: To undertake the management of Home Farm, Temple Newsam as a working, visitor-focussed farm, operating within both historic and modern farm buildings and the wider estate. Home Farm is a rare example of a complete set of historic estate buildings and you will work closely with colleagues to enhance access and understanding for visitors.

The post-holder will be responsible for developing appropriate visitor experiences and opportunities for the further education students based on site.

The role will involve the management of minority / rare breeds in this RBST accredited centre leading on all aspects of animal care. This will encompass fodder production and the management of the farmland to the highest agri- environmental practices. The post-holder will be expected to reside on-site in the Farmhouse as a service occupancy for the better performance of duties.

Responsibilities for Grade:

• To manage the operation of the historic Home Farm as part of Temple Newsam Estate.
• To develop and deliver, in conjunction with colleagues, safe and informative visitor experiences to enable visitors to understand and enjoy the livestock, collections and historic buildings and their significance in the stories of Temple Newsam.
• To undertake the operational management of Home Farm livestock and land for fodder production in a manner sympathetic to the heritage site.
• To support the work of the FE learning opportunities on site (currently Leeds City College, School of Land and Animal Science) through the provision of work experience opportunities and managed participation in farm activities.
• To develop and implement of a Farm Business Plan to integrate livestock and land management with visitor access and interpretation.
• To ensure that all Government Documentation relating to the land and livestock is compliant and completed in a timely manner. This includes but isn’t limited to delinked payments, HLS, ELMS, animal registration and transportation documentation.
• To manage the animal collection to the highest welfare standards promoting minority, native and Rare Breeds of farm animals maintaining a relationship with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
• To ensure that the agricultural land within Temple Newsam Estate is managed to the highest current agri-environmental schemes.
• To manage the farm and agricultural holdings as an integrated part of Temple Newsam Estate through liaison with colleagues and through participation in the site management team.
• To Manage, motivate and develop staff, to enable them to deliver a high-quality visitor experience and deliver excellent standards of animal welfare and land management.
• To manage budgets in relation to the functional area for which the post is responsible.
• To compile and provide performance information that is accurate and timely as requested.
• To represent the Climate Energy and Greenspaces service at all appropriate internal and external meetings.
• To fulfil duties in line with current strategies and service objectives and in support of the aims of the Leeds Strategic Plan and Council Business Plan.
• To undertake other duties as may be required from time to time.
• To ensure the procurement of goods and services is in accordance with financial regulations, corporate policy and legal requirements.
• Be willing to take personal responsibility and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Be willing to abide by the Council’s policies on equality and diversity in the duties of the post.

Qualifications:

A relevant degree or equivalent, or suitable period of relevant experience

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview or Certificate.

Skills Required

• An ability to manage and prioritise multiple and conflicting tasks and work schedules to meet tight deadlines.
• An ability to analyse data and produce effective reports and presentations.
• Effective written and oral communication and influencing skills with a wide range of people eg Members of Parliament, Elected Members, Senior Council Managers and members of the public.
• An ability to demonstrate good ICT skills (e.g. email; word processing; spreadsheets; database)
• An ability to operate at a strategic level.
• An ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative

Knowledge Required

• Knowledge of current agricultural management practice and law
• Relevant certificate or diploma in Agriculture at Level 3 (or equivalent experience)
• Ability to access remote sites efficiently