Harewood Estate
Farm and Estate Assistant
JOB DESCRIPTION
Background
The Harewood Estate spans some 4000 acres and lies nestled between Leeds and Harrogate, set in the sweeping Yorkshire landscape designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown 250 years ago. The Estate has a diverse range of business interests including commercial units, residential properties, holiday cottages, arable and livestock farming, forestry, renewable energy generation, food production and hospitality. We are constantly working to protect our past while staying relevant for the future.
The Estate has just started a major 10-year landscape and heritage restoration and regeneration project (probably the biggest intervention since Brown’s time), which will restore damaged and degraded historic structures, ecosystems and natural processes, create new habitats, encourage greater biodiversity and enhance natural capital functions. These works will see the restoration of historic landscape features, planting of over 17,000 trees, creation of 70 hectares of wildflower meadow and 250 hectares of wood pasture parkland and new livestock facilities and grazing regimes.
The ambitious project has been made possible via funding from a Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship scheme and the Estate is now looking to fill a number of roles needed to deliver the first two years of work. We are looking for self-motivated, inspiring, skilled and dedicated people with a passion for the environment, conservation and the outdoors, who want to play a part in initiatives that find solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises that result in improved landscapes for future generations.
Role Profile
- Maintain the highest welfare, safety and health standards of Harewood’s native and rare breed livestock. Activities will include:
- Land management duties including tractor driving work and field works, including weed control
- Assist with general maintenance of building and equipment – eg water troughs, electric fences
- Construction, maintenance and repair of fences, gates and livestock handling pens
- Assist with the deer cull, including deer larder maintenance, cleaning & record keeping
- Assist with works for Countryside Stewardship and other agri-environment schemes
- Assist with supervision and guidance of work experience student’s, apprentices and volunteers as required
- daily livestock checks for cattle, sheep and deer
- Rotation of grazing and outdoor systems, including electric fencing
- Livestock feeding
- Winter bedding and cleaning out the cattle shed
- General animal health and welfare tasks
- Calving / lambing duties
- Comply with all legislation relating to animal management
Skills and Experience Required
- Experience in a similar role of outdoor livestock management and husbandry, rotational grazing and organic/conservation farming practices, with a thorough understanding of animal health, welfare and production practices
- Experience with farm machinery and equipment
- Full, clean driving licence with experience of driving farm vehicles including tractors, trailers, trucks, telehandlers and quad bikes
- PA1 and PA6a Pesticide Certificate
- Self-motivated and able to manage your own time to deadlines
- Strong problem solving skills and the focus to see the solutions to completion
- Experience of adhering to health and safety and risk assessment requirements
- Works well with a team in order to complete large scale projects
- Experience of working with apprentices or work placements is desirable but not essential
What We Offer
- Competitive salary of £22,000 - £23,000 depending on experience
- 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Pension scheme
- Discounts and benefits with selected Harewood businesses and retail
- The opportunity to develop within the role via formal training and on the job learning
- There will be some weekend working so we have a TOIL system in operation or there is the opportunity for overtime where agreed in advance
- The role is offered on a 2-year fixed term contract with the possibility of extension depending on opportunities and funding at the end of this time
To apply please send a cover letter along with your CV to recruitment@harewoodesatate.co.uk by 30th May 2023 Interviews will take place in early June with a view to commencing the role as soon as possible.
Closing Date: 30/05/2023 Location: Harewood