Following its successful expansion, Forge Mill farm is looking for a highly motivated individual with a passion for food and farming to join its growing team. The new assistant farm manager role will be at the centre of future developments and projects and take a lead on the operational side of our varied, public facing operation.

Based within Sandwell Valley Country Park, Forge Mill farm has access to around 1200 acres of improved and unimproved grassland, wetland, species rich grazing paddocks and public access areas. The farms ambition is to become a centre of excellence for animal welfare, food and environment education and is looking for an individual to drive forward its current and future production, stewardship and educational objectives in line with changing government policy, legislation and best practice.

As well as being an approved rare breed centre, Forge Mill farm is open to the public throughout the year for 70,000 plus visitors to experience the best food and farming has to offer through a series of pop-up events. Investment has been secured to expand the visitor centre further during the next 24 months to improve the educational offering, visitor experience and enhance income generation during peak periods.

We are passionate about demonstrating food production and provenance to our visitors. This role will play a key part in implementing precision/regenerative grazing across our commercial and rare breed sheep flocks and herd of Traditional Hereford suckler cows and their followers. You will be responsible for planning and delivering health plans, breeding schedules and selecting animals fit for processing to supply our two up-and-coming farm shops with homegrown meats, eggs and maybe even goat milk one day.

Working for the Forge Mill Farm Manager, you will supervise a team of farm operatives, apprentices, and volunteers in maintaining excellent animal welfare from cows to rabbits and everything in between, and ensuring our farm is maintained to the highest standards for both our animals and visitors.

You will be:

• Experienced in animal welfare and farm management.
• Passionate about creating a visitor / education focussed farm environment.
• Able to lead a team successfully through change and development
• Prepared to work a rota, which will include some early starts, weekends and evening work.

You will have:

• A degree in farm and / or agriculture management.
• Experience and knowledge of animal welfare and farm legislation and best practice.
• Level 3 supervisory qualification, or appropriate management experience and willing to gain this qualification.
• Full, current driving licence and ability to drive tractor and farm machinery.

Please email Alexandra_dunn@sandwell.gov.uk if you have any questions about the position and opportunities at Forge Mill Farm.

You will also be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check.

Hours

37 hours per week

Our Values; Trust, Unity and Progress make us unique, they define how we do things and are reflected in the way we behave. They are important to us, guiding and shaping our organisational culture. Our values are key to us achieving Sandwell’s Vision 2030 and also guide us when we recruit.

We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to their advertised date if we receive a large number of applications. Therefore, you are strongly advised to complete and return your application as soon as possible. When completing your application please refer to the supporting documents attached.

If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application, or have experienced a problem whilst applying for a position, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0121 569 3300 or via e-mail to: hr_resourcing@sandwell.gov.uk

For more information about working for Sandwell Council, our recruitment process and our offer to you please visit https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200233/jobs

Supporting documents
Information for applicants
Personnel Specification
Job Description