Assistant Farming Adviser

Join us as an Assistant Farming Adviser and support our Farming Adviser and other consultants in the Lake District and the North West in providing high quality advice, primarily to National Trust managers and property teams, as we work towards achieving higher standards of land management across all of our land in the North Region.

Based on your sound farming knowledge we are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is a great communicator to enthuse and engage others in the work that our Landscape Team is currently undertaking to deliver High Nature Status farming on National Trust land.

As a 2 year fixed term post the focus of this appointment will be to help deliver the objectives within our 2025 Strategy and Land, Outdoors & Nature Programme. 

We are also hiring for this role in our York hub, please state in your application if you'd like to be considered for this as well.

What it's like to work here

You will form part of a wider multi-disciplinary consultancy team, based at our Grasmere Hub who share a clear focus on, and commitment to our core purpose as a built heritage and natural environment charity.

The landscapes in which you will work across the region are very diverse and will take you into some of the nation’s most cherished landscapes and places, in a role that strives to make a real difference to the care and management of our special places – forever, for everyone.

What you'll be doing

Under the guidance of our Farming Adviser, you will complement and strengthen our skills and capacity to engage with properties and consultancy across the Region to help them understand and implement our land management and nature ambitions in the north.

You will use your knowledge, skills and experience in areas such as agricultural systems, livestock management, soil health, farm infrastructure assessment, farm business appraisal, and land management to help us to better understand what we have got and how it is managed, and shape our thinking and planning for the future management of our land, against a background of significant change for farming businesses in England. You will contribute to the understanding of the condition of our farm infrastructure assets as a key part of our Estate Management Plans, to ensure properties are adequately resourced in terms of appropriate infrastructure to deliver High Nature Status farming.

Using your expertise, you will support others to develop their land management plans, drawing on their insight and knowledge. You will help deliver training to our property teams and to others within the consultancy, to update and enhance their skills and confidence. You’ll help ensure our property teams are compliant with internal and external regulations relating to farming, particularly on cross-compliance. You will also co-ordinate support and advise on ‘in-hand’ agri-environment schemes, and will take responsibility for maintaining records to help deliver High Nature Status on our land.

Who we're looking for

With a wide range of skills in your toolkit, you'll also be able to demonstrate the following;

•A farm professional with a sound knowledge of land management, soil management, farming systems and farm business management, or have the ability to be able to demonstrate equivalent experience;

•A good understanding of external issues, legislation, policy, practice, instructions and guidance in relation to agriculture;

•A great communicator with good influencing skills to enthuse and engage and mentor others;

•A self-driven and independent individual with the skills to integrate seamlessly into the current team and current work areas;

•Ability to interpret and respond to external and internal research, intelligence and analysis;

•Demonstrable consulting, coaching and mentoring skills;

•Ability to offer up an alternative perspective to some of our biggest challenges around implementing our nature ambitions in the north;

•Post qualification practical experience on farms, or have the ability to be able to demonstrate the equivalent knowledge.

The package

Looking after you

•Health cash plan – from as little as £3.09 per month for you and your dependents

•Pension contribution match up to 10%

•EAP and proactive Health and Wellbeing

•Discounted gym membership at over 100 leisure facilities across the country

Looking after your career

•Grow your career through professional training courses across the Trust

•Develop your skills with an internal secondment

•Pay review linked to values and behaviours, commitment to progression

•Income protection due to illness

Unique to Us

•Work in some of the most beautiful, iconic and unique locations in the UK

•Free entry to NT properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

•20% off in our Retail and Food & Beverage outlets

•Discount up to 35% off a National Trust holiday cottage booking

For more information and to apply for this role, please follow:

https://careers.nationaltrust.org.uk/OA_HTML/a/#/vacancy-detail/71049

Closing date: 4^th November 2018