Care Farm Operations Manager

Growing together — join us 

We’re seeking a dedicated Farm Manager to lead our thriving care farm — combining excellent livestock and land management with a deep commitment to supporting people to grow in confidence, skills, and well-being.

Depden Care Farm offers a working farm environment where adults and young people take part in meaningful agricultural and horticultural activity. As Farm Manager, you’ll oversee the day-to-day running of the farm — from animal husbandry and seasonal planning to leading a small, skilled team — ensuring the site remains safe, productive, and inspiring.

This is a rare opportunity to blend hands-on farming with genuine social purpose. You’ll join a friendly, values-driven organisation that believes in the power of purposeful work, connection with nature, and community inclusion. You’ll be part of a team that changes lives — helping individuals build skills, confidence, and independence through practical engagement and care for the land.

Alongside a competitive salary, the role offers the chance to work in a beautiful rural setting, access to professional development, and the satisfaction of seeing the impact of your work every day.

If you’re an experienced stockperson and natural team leader who believes farming can transform lives, we’d love to hear from you.

Job Purpose

1. To organise, lead and manage the day-to-day operations and procedures of Depden Care Farm including caring for a wide range of farm animals and pets and growing fruit and vegetables in our market gardens.
2. To lead the staff and volunteer team in delivering a productive and meaningful programme of activities on the farm for our service users.
3. To maintain farm records and the support plans and files of our service users.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Farm Management

• Responsible for planning, organising and running the daily activities at the farm ensuring that the activities for the day are appropriate for those attending, safe for everyone involved and that the animal’s welfare is managed appropriately.
• Responsible for maintaining the farm site, ensuring it is tidy and safe to use. Working with the farm Health and Safety Officer ensuring all areas are risk assessed and maintained to a high degree of safety.
• Responsible for the day to day management of all farm stock, our small animals and pets ensuring that welfare standards are maintained.
• Managing and maintaining the veg garden and other growing areas on the farm. Maximizing production and sale of garden produce whilst also providing meaningful opportunities for the engagement and contribution from our customers.
• Working with the staff team to develop a range of appropriate activities throughout the year which might include agriculture, horticulture, environmental projects, working in our woodworking workshop or with our small contract team off site.

Staff Management

• Lead and manage the staff and volunteer team to deliver the day’s activities in a way that empowers your team, encourages collaboration, builds trust and celebrates individual strengths. On any one day, there may be up to four staff members, two volunteers and additional support workers assigned to specific service users who collectively will be delivering activities to up to 15 customers.
• Ensure all farm helpers, staff and volunteers work within the appropriate policies, procedures.
• Providing line management for staff; supporting and coaching them through appraisals, team meetings and ensuring that appropriate training is available to them. Providing induction to new staff and volunteers.
• Undertake your own training and continuous professional development in accordance with the needs of the service and the people we support.

Operational

• You will be the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and as such be responsible for managing  safeguarding issues and ensuring correct procedures are followed.
• Ensure all new service users are properly inducted into the farm’s policies and procedures, that their goals are understood and that a programme is in place to support delivery of their goals.
• Work with the Director and staff team to ensure that appropriate records and information are up to date, provide any information and documentation required and prepare regular reports on the day’s activities.
• Liaise and communicate with families and support staff as appropriate.
• Working directly with service users, delivering a person-centred approach; supporting them to ensure they are safe and are able to carry out the activities they do the best of their abilities.
• To work with empathy and understanding to support, guide and encourage our service users to achieve their potential and improve their physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Your Skills and Attributes

Essential:

• Proven track record of leading and managing diverse teams to deliver agreed outcomes, ideally at a senior level.
• Significant practical experience in farming, horticulture or similar outside environment.
• Significant record of successfully growing fruit and vegetables over a number of years.
• Experience of working with vulnerable people or those with additional needs.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage and deliver multiple activities, prioritising workload. Able to take on tasks from conception to completion.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a track record of advocacy and service promotion.
• Competent use of Microsoft Office (Word/excel/email) and social media.
• Flexible approach and motivated attitude
• A caring attitude, empathetic and understanding nature.

Desirable:

• A qualification in agriculture or horticulture (HND or higher)
• A qualification in social care (e.g. Level 3 or higher) or related discipline (e.g. teaching)
• Thorough understanding of successfully growing fruit and vegetables on a domestic or semi-commercial scale.
• Demonstrable experience of working in an animal care environment, ideally on a farm or small holding with a wide range of stock.
• Working knowledge of risk management, Health and Safety and safeguarding.
• Commercially astute and understands what service users and service commissioners value and require.

What You’ll Receive:

• Job Type: Full-time
• Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 per year
• 28 days of paid holiday.
• Pension scheme

Schedule:

• 40 hours per week
• Monday to Friday
• Occasional weekend availability

Work Location: In person

Why Join Us

Depden Care Farm provides learning and training opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and other additional needs at our six-acre smallholding between Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.

We’re not just cultivating the land; we’re sowing seeds of opportunity for adults with learning disabilities and additional needs. Your role is more than just work on the land—it’s a chance to inspire, uplift, and empower.

How to Apply

Please email your completed application form to jobs@depden.com

Millennium Farm Trust is committed to the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, children and young people.  We will conduct pre-employment checks on all successful candidates including references, identity checks and right to work in the UK, DBS and barred lists as well as personal qualifications as appropriate.#