[Hiring] County Farming Adviser @NFU

Role Description

Leading a team of NFU Group Secretaries (who also have a role with the NFU Mutual as an insurance agent), you’ll support local farmers, growers and food producers by managing the NFU’s work in your allocated county. That means developing plans to recruit and retain members and ensuring their voice is heard by lobbying and influencing on their behalf with a range of stakeholders across the county.

• Lead all NFU activities in your county.
• Support and manage the local NFU democratic structures.
• Recruit local NFU Group Secretaries and manage their performance.
• Promote NFU policy work to members.
• Liaise regularly with regional and HQ colleagues on regional and local matters.
• Build a strong network of local stakeholders, media, and political contacts.
• Oversee local NFU lobbying.
• Take the regional lead on certain aspects, including policy work in specific commodity areas (e.g. crops, dairy, livestock, or poultry).

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge and experience of farming businesses.
• Experience in agricultural, supply chain, or other rural professional roles is an advantage.
• Ability to build and manage effective professional relationships.
• Experience in influencing and delivering agricultural or rural policy.
• Persuasive communicator with the ability to manage objections calmly.
• Experience in speaking confidently to people at all levels, both in person and through the media.
• Proven experience of managing, recruiting, motivating, and developing a remote team.
• Adept at thinking on your feet and evaluating complex issues effectively.
• Flexibility to work irregular hours and drive extensively throughout the allocated county and region.

Benefits

• Company car or car allowance.
• Generous holiday allowance (starting at 25 days a year pro rata + Bank Holidays, rising to 30 days pro rata with length of service), plus 1 annual Christmas company day.
• Option to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave.
• Company funded health Cashplan.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave.
• Performance-related pay.
• Competitive Pension and Life assurance.
• Access to interest-free loans for cars, bikes, season tickets, and driving lessons.
• Employee Assistance Program to help you deal with life’s challenges.
• Discounts on a range of vehicles, holiday rentals, wellbeing and lifestyle products, and many more.

Company Description

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is the biggest farming organisation in the UK. We're proud to make a difference for all our members, by shaping attitudes towards British farming and leading the charge on a range of major issues, from climate change and food standards to rural crime and broadband rollout.

• Voice of around 43,000 British farmers and growers.
• Develop strong relationships with NFU colleagues and government ministers.
• Support local members across England and Wales.
• Focus on understanding day-to-day concerns of members.
• Influence local and national agendas on behalf of members.

Join us

We’re committed to recruiting a diverse and highly-talented workforce. We’ll support you by providing you with extensive learning and development opportunities and build a career that balances your professional ambitions with your personal commitments.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If we decide we've found the right person for the role, we reserve the right to withdraw this advert and close applications before the closing date.