Interim Company Farms Manager

6–12 Month Management Consultancy / Interim Assignment

Location: Northern England
Reports to: Managing Director
Responsible for: 3 Farm Managers
Sector: Agriculture / Livestock Production

The Opportunity

An established, privately owned UK agricultural and food production business is seeking an experienced Interim Company Farms Manager to take operational leadership of its company-owned farming operations.

The business operates within a highly regulated livestock production environment and has built a strong reputation for high standards of animal welfare, responsible production, food safety and sustainable farming.

Following a recent review of its operational structure, the organisation is entering an important period of development. The successful individual will be given a clear mandate to assess current operations, strengthen management disciplines and embed an effective operating structure across the company-owned farms.

This is a hands-on interim leadership assignment, rather than a conventional permanent management position. The individual will report directly to the Managing Director and will be expected to operate with considerable autonomy.

Primary Purpose

The Interim Company Farms Manager will:

• Lead the operational development of the company's owned farm portfolio.

• Directly manage and support three Farm Managers.

• Establish clear roles, responsibilities and management accountability.

• Review existing farming operations and identify opportunities for operational improvement.

• Strengthen day-to-day management, decision-making and reporting.

• Develop appropriate policies, standards and Standard Operating Procedures.

• Establish meaningful operational and performance KPIs.

• Identify and develop appropriate capital expenditure proposals.

• Ensure farming operations maintain required welfare, biosecurity, health & safety and industry standards.

• Provide the Managing Director and senior stakeholders with clear visibility of operational performance, priorities and risks.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

Take responsibility for the effective operation and development of the company's farming activities, working closely with the three Farm Managers to ensure agreed standards and objectives are consistently delivered.

Provide structure, leadership and appropriate challenge while developing greater accountability within the farm management team.

Operational Improvement

Review existing working practices and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, performance and management control.

Develop and implement practical policies, operating standards and SOPs that can be embedded into the business for the longer term.

Performance Management

Develop a relevant suite of KPIs and management information covering farm performance, welfare, operational efficiency, compliance and other key measures.

Use this information to identify underperformance, establish corrective actions and support better operational decision-making.

Farm Standards & Compliance

Ensure company farms operate in accordance with relevant:

• Animal welfare requirements

• Industry assurance schemes

• Food safety standards

• Biosecurity protocols

• Health & Safety requirements

• Environmental and regulatory standards

Support Farm Managers with audits, inspections, routine farm visits and relevant customer or stakeholder visits.

Business & Stakeholder Management

Provide regular, concise reporting to the Managing Director and other senior stakeholders regarding:

• Farm performance

• Operational priorities

• Identified risks

• Improvement projects

• Capital expenditure requirements

• People and HR requirements

• Progress against agreed objectives

Food Safety, Welfare & Biosecurity

The successful individual will be expected to promote a strong culture of food safety, animal welfare, health & safety and biosecurity throughout the farming operation.

This includes ensuring appropriate procedures are understood, documented, maintained and consistently followed across all sites.

Candidate Profile

We are particularly interested in individuals who have operated in senior agricultural, livestock, farming or multi-site operational management positions.

Livestock experience would be advantageous, but is not necessarily essential where an individual can demonstrate strong transferable experience in intensive or highly regulated livestock production.

Candidates should ideally demonstrate:

• Significant agricultural or livestock-sector experience.

• Experience leading multi-site farming or production operations.

• Strong people leadership and direct line-management capability.

• Experience managing and developing Farm Managers or operational teams.

• An understanding of animal welfare, assurance and regulatory frameworks.

• Strong operational and commercial judgement.

• Experience developing KPIs, management reporting and performance measures.

• The ability to identify operational issues and implement practical solutions.

• Experience developing procedures, standards and operating disciplines.

• Strong project-management and problem-solving capability.

• Confidence communicating with senior management and operational teams.

• The ability to influence, coach and challenge constructively at all levels.

• A practical, pragmatic and hands-on approach.

• A relevant agricultural, animal science or associated professional qualification would be advantageous.

• Full UK driving licence.

The Assignment

This is expected to be an initial 6–12 month interim/consultancy assignment.

The brief is particularly suited to an experienced agricultural operator who enjoys entering a business, quickly understanding its operations and people, identifying what needs to change and then implementing and embedding those improvements.

The successful individual will have genuine scope to shape how the farming operation is managed and leave behind a stronger operational structure, clearer management accountability and sustainable working practices.

Further details regarding the business, operational scale, location and commercial terms will be provided to suitably qualified candidates following an initial confidential discussion.