Assistant Farm Manager

Assistant Farm Manager

Jamie’s Farm, Bath

Jamie's Farm exists to transform the lives of vulnerable children by providing our unique combination of ‘farming, family and therapy’. We are now seeking a passionate and professional individual with a proven ability to assist with managing a large farming enterprise – to support the management of stock and to maintain and develop the farming environment of our principal farm, just outside of Bath in Box, Wiltshire. Alongside this vital role, this individual will undertake farming sessions alongside our visiting children, developing positive relationships with them and incorporating them in all farming tasks. 

About Jamie’s Farm

Jamie’s Farm helps children to flourish at home, in education and in the community through an intensive week-long immersion in rural life. We provide young people with a tailored range of activities designed to offer each an opportunity for achievement, as well as a supportive family environment that encourages them to push themselves out of their comfort zone. Our therapeutic input makes use of individual and group sessions to allow pupils to reflect on their lives on the farm and back home, in order to draw out tangible strategies for improvements to be realised when they return. By working with teachers and committing to follow up visits in school, we aim to make changes catalysed by Jamie’s Farm last; internal and external evaluation has proven this so.

As well as supporting vulnerable children, we are at heart a farming charity. We are excited about the crucial role regenerative farming has in our upcoming Strategic Plan, and look forward to the appointed candidate playing a significant role in driving this initiative forward.

Major responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Responsible for all major farming activities alongside other members of our farming team, including:

• Assisting with the management of 350 Breeding ewes and 40 pedigree Angus cows plus followers
• Ensuring all paperwork and compliance is up to date
• Ensuring the high levels of animal welfare, we expect on our exemplar farm
• Continuing to develop our regenerative farming practices
• Managing hay, straw and silage making, and soil management
• Focusing on the financial performance of the farm and ensuring good cost control and marketing of livestock

1. Participation in up to 4 visits a month, including:

• Planning and delivering farm-based activities with children including daily feeding round, log chopping and major farming responsibilities
• Contributing to farm life including daily walks, meal times and potentially running evening activities

1. Other major responsibilities include:

• Taking on the responsibility for the ‘On-site Farmer’ role – i.e.:
• being on call for all animal emergencies, especially around lambing, calving and higher levels of activity on the farm
• being a specified member of staff at least two weekends a month, responsible for looking after house lets and security on the farm

• Co-ordinating specific farm-based volunteers

Experience, Skills, Abilities:

• Strong work ethic and passion for farming and ability to share this with children
• A passionate stock person with experience of managing large numbers of beef cattle and sheep
• A passion and interest in breeding livestock
• Tractor driving experience
• Ability to develop strong relationships with vulnerable young people in a short amount of time
• Willingness to offer firm boundaries as well as a caring approach towards working with challenging behaviours
• Ability to exemplify Jamie’s Farm core values of positivity, passion, generosity, collaboration and professionalism
• Sensitivity to racial, cultural and ideological diversity

Benefits:

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Up to £20,000 worth of further benefits, including:
• Accommodation onsite in beautiful farmhouse setting with large garden, including bills and council tax
• All meals during visits
• Use of company mobile phone

• 21 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Generous Pension Contribution
• Opportunity to be an integral part of a dynamic and supportive team culture

Timeline:

• Deadline for applications: 12pm 25^th July 2022
• First interview: W/B 1^st August 2022
• Potential second interview: W/B 8^th August 2022
• Notification of decision: W/B 15^th August 2022

Start date:
To be negotiated, ideally 19^th September 2022

Apply now:

Please submit one page letter and CV to Jamie at recruitment@jamiesfarm.org.uk

Due to the nature of our work with young people, on acceptance of offer all Jamie's Farm employees are subject to an enhanced DBS check in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy.

You can also apply for this role by clicking the Apply Button.