Director of Farm Operations and Innovation

Status: Permanent, full-time
Closing Date: Midnight, Sunday 2nd November 2025
Assessment Centre Date: Friday 14th November
Salary: Up to £60K plus farmhouse accommodation and utility bills

For further information on the role, please refer to the attached candidate pack below.

Overview

Reaseheath College farm is a nationally recognised centre of excellence for agricultural education and innovation. Located in the heart of Cheshire, our 600-acre mixed farm delivers high-quality, hands-on training while operating as a fully commercial enterprise. It supports a 300-head pedigree Holstein and Ayrshire dairy herd, alongside thriving sheep, pig, and arable enterprises. With state-of-the-art facilities including a GEA rapid exit parlour, Lely A5 robotic milkers, a Lely Vector feeding system, and robotic slurry management, we are proud to be at the forefront of UK land-based education and farming technology.

In addition to our dairy operations, the farm is home to over 150 commercial sheep, including a newly established flock of pedigree Suffolk ewes. Our pig enterprise features a variety of rare breed fattening pigs-predominantly Oxford Sandy and Black, Berkshire, and Gloucester Old Spot-reared on a rolling bed and breakfast system. This supports our farm-to-fork initiative and enhances the educational experience for our students.

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to take on the role of Director of Farm Operations and Innovation. This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead Reaseheath College's farming strategy, ensuring a commercially successful, sustainable, and industry-leading farm that also serves as a centre of excellence for education, training, and knowledge exchange.

You will be joining the College at a pivotal time of growth and transformation. As the Director of Farm Operations and Innovation, you will contribute to relationships with industry bodies and stakeholders, secure funding through grants and partnerships, and represent Reaseheath on a regional and national stage. You will ensure the farm is central to the College's strategic vision and play a pivotal role in shaping the UK agricultural sector

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and implement the College's farming strategy
• Oversee all farming activities, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and innovation.
• Collaborate with academic teams to maximise student learning opportunities.
• Promote sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices.
• Drive continuous improvement and embed LEAN and precision farming.
• Manage budgets, resources, and staff performance effectively.
• Represent the College in industry networks and knowledge exchange forums.

The successful candidate will:

• A minimum of Level 5 qualification (FdSc/HND or equivalent) in a relevant field.
• Proven experience in a senior management role within the agricultural industry.
• Strong leadership, communication, and networking skills.
• A track record of managing high-performing agricultural enterprises.
• Knowledge of LEAN, precision farming, and sustainability practices.
• Financial and budget management expertise.

We can offer you:

• 35 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Generous pension scheme
• On site gym membership available
• Pluxee reward scheme and other staff benefits

For more information, please refer to the additional job description.

Please note this role constitutes 'regulated activity' as defined by the Protection of Freedom Act 2012. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check with barred list information prior to starting employment. You must also have the right to work in the UK and will be required to provide evidence to support this. In addition, online checks will be carried out during the recruitment process. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Reaseheath College is committed to achieving its public sector general equality duty, which is set out in the Equality Act 2010. The College has a clear mission and clear values, which incorporate equality, diversity and inclusion.

The College staff recruitment and selection process, CPD processes, policies and practice are designed to ensure that when employment decisions are made, they are based solely on the skills and qualities required for the position and comply with all relevant employment legislation and best practice standards.

Disability Support

The College is a Disability Confident Employer and will support any reasonable adjustments you require to perform your best during the recruitment process. You can contact the HR team at should you require any adjustments during either your application or during the assessment centre.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised close date if we receive sufficient applications.

We do not accept applications or speculative CVs through recruitment agencies.

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