Harper Adams University is the premier University for land based higher education within the UK. The University is located at the centre of a 237 hectare working form within the beautiful Shropshire countryside that supports a number of enterprises including arable and dairy. Harper Adams is also home to the pioneering Hands Free Farm and also the Agri-EPI Centre Midlands Innovation Hub, where industry and practitioner are working together on the latest precision arable and livestock systems. This is a career-enhancing opportunity to for a suitably qualified and experienced individual with a strong interest in farm business management to join our friendly team within the Agriculture and Environment Department. 

The role will require the postholder to lead and contribute to a selection of modules explicitly looking at aspects of farm businesses management. Teaching delivery will include assessment of existing farm businesses, including key non-financial performance indicators through to delivering the principles of farm planning and budgeting. The postholder will also be encouraged and supported to develop either a successful research programme, provide consultancy on behalf of the University or deliver short courses to the sector, depending on candidate background and personal interest. There is freedom within the role to develop interests and to work with other organisations and businesses. For example, the Farm Business Management team have worked with AGCO in Zambia to develop training programmes for emergent farmers. Other activities within the Farm Business Management team includes support for the annual student Farm Planner of the Year competition in which students compete to demonstrate their farm business management knowledge and skills. The Harper Adams team won in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, and were runners up in 2019. 

Candidates should have a first degree in agriculture, business or related area and a higher degree or equivalent technical or professional experience. Applications from individuals with a commercial background are welcomed. All candidates should have experience of UK commercial farm business management and evidence of an established or developing profile. Candidates should have the ability to apply business and science principles to real‑life farm scenarios and be familiar with essential farm business management techniques, including business planning, financial analysis, management of risk, resilience and sensitivity analysis, investment and policy evaluation. For candidates who do not have previous higher education teaching experience support will be provided for development within this role.