Farm Operations Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Farm Operations Manager to join our team at
Lower Treginnis, located on the stunning Pembrokeshire coast and the most westerly farm in
Wales.

Farms for City Children is a dynamic social mobility charity which exists to remove the
barriers that prevent children and young people having meaningful access to the natural world.
Through a week on one of our three heritage farms, Nethercott House in Devon, Lower Treginnis
in Pembrokeshire, and Wick Court in Gloucestershire, children and young people experience
increased learning and engagement, improved connections and wellbeing, and leave us with an
enhanced sense of environmental citizenship. Visiting children are immersed in the natural
world of countryside through a food and farming offer that allows them to participate in the
seasonal tasks of the day: sowing, growing and harvesting in our kitchen gardens; caring for
livestock and looking after the land; and cooking up a home-grown feast in the farmhouse
kitchen. In partnership with our commercial farming neighbours, children experience the
benefits of collaboration, enjoy plenty of physical activity, good food, and fresh air, and
discover the magical rural environment that is full of new words, sounds and experiences to
inspire their creativity. Spending time working alongside real farmers fosters children’s
independence and helps them to grow in confidence, develops their self-esteem, and encourages
them to become more resilient.

About the Role

This is a hands-on role responsible for the management of the farm including the farm
buildings, equipment and livestock at Lower Treginnis, currently a smallholding raising pigs,
poultry, goats and donkeys with a field-scale kitchen garden.

The postholder will set and deliver the direction of the management of the farm. They will
ensure that animals are cared for in line with the charity Animal Welfare policy and that
biosecurity measures keep our beneficiaries and animals safe. They will spend a proportion of
their time delivering fun and educational sessions on the farm to the young people we work
with.

The successful post-holder will have experience working directly with livestock. They will be
passionate about nature friendly farming and be looking for environmentally sensitive ways of
managing the land for food production. They will also have experience working in partnerships,
managing budgets and suppliers.

Main responsibilities

• Be responsible for all farming operations at Lower Treginnis, currently a smallholding
  raising pigs, poultry, goats and donkeys, with a field-scale kitchen garden.

• Work closely with the Farm School Manager to ensure the farming environment and farming
  activities for visiting children are safe, stimulating and purposeful.

• Oversee and lead on animal husbandry, ensuring animal welfare standards are maintained in
  line with our policies, and further developing our veterinary health plans and procedures

• Lead on bio-security and disease control across the farming operations, with direct
  leadership and accountability for on-farm Health and Safety, ensuring safe working practices
  and policies are in place, and overseeing their implementation

• Lead on the development of a farm business strategy and financial plans, manage operational
  budgets, and maintain statutory and management records.

• Deliver daily farming activity sessions with groups of visiting children (alongside
  accompanying adults), and lead and motivate a dedicated outdoor team.

This position is a farm-based role which will require only very occasional travel within the
Charity’s regions in order to attend training or meetings.

Appointments will not be confirmed until the Charity has received two satisfactory professional
references, evidence of the existing proof of right to work in the UK. Referees will not be
contacted without candidates’ prior consent.

Farms for City Children is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and
young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates will be subject to a Social Media check and a DBS check at the
appropriate level. Employment with the charity is conditional upon the charity being satisfied
with the result of the DBS Check. Successful candidates will be asked to complete a
self-declaration related to their criminal record or any information that would make them
unsuitable to work with children. If you have lived or worked outside of the UK, additional
information may be required from you to satisfy safer recruitment checks. Any criminal records
information that is disclosed to the charity will be handled in accordance with any guidance
and/or code of practice published by the DBS.

Farms for City Children is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity and
supports and encourages under-represented groups. We seek people from a wide range of
backgrounds, with diverse lived experience, and we welcome applications from all sections of
the community.

What we Offer

In return you will receive a salary of £35,000 and a range of benefits, which include:

• 25 days holiday plus 8 statutory bank holidays
• 6% employer contribution to NEST pension scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• Onsite accommodation in a 3 bedroom cottage

Deadline for applications is 12 noon on Wednesday
31st July 2024

Interviews 9th August 2024

NO AGENCIES PLEASE – DIRECT RECRUITMENT ONLY