Sector Officer - Mixed Farms
Location: Any Menter a Busnes office. (hybrid following a period of working from the office full time for the first 3 months). Staff who live more than 30 miles from their nearest Menter a Busnes office will be able to work from home permanently from their first day.
Salary: £31,243
The Job Role:
To support the activity development and delivery of a high-profile demonstration network through recruitment, development, coordination and dissemination of sector specific on-farm projects in-line with Welsh Government and the Farming Connect programme priorities.
Key Responsibilities Include:
•Contribute to the development of a high performing team and to ensure actions and work priorities within own region are aligned with the team’s goals
•Plan the development, implementation and coordination of Demonstration Network projects in conjunction with the appointed industry expert, ensuring there is no duplication, but rather enhanced complementarity, between projects.
•Develop project proposals (to include evaluation methodology) in conjunction with the KE Hub through on-going discussions and incorporation of literature reviews/project proposals recommendations as required.
•Outline clear and achievable milestones and objectives of the projects.
•Coordinate work activities and track milestones and objectives and identify and provide solutions to rectify issues in a timely and professional manner.
•Ensure appropriate reporting of progress of the project to farmers, stakeholders and management team.
•Ensure that the Farming Connect website is updated regularly with all reports and updates from projects.
•Provide accurate statistics and information at the request of line manager for monthly progress reports, dashboards and industry updates.
•Ensure delivery of projects to the highest standard and timelines.
•Ensure effective communications of project outcomes via various knowledge transfer dissemination routes through.
•Ensure that Welsh Government’s strategies and policies are incorporated into the demonstration network activity.
•Proactively identify new opportunities for research, on-farm trials and knowledge transfer
•Participate in external stakeholder events where appropriate and seek opportunities to raise the profile of the teams, programme and MaB
•As a minimum is expected to continue their personal development, knowledge and understanding of their specific sector.
•Research the sector priority areas in conjunction with the programme’s objectives.
•Expected to have knowledge of the budgets for projects and areas of work under which they work but does not have budget authority.
•Attend meetings as requested by the Farming Connect management team.
You Will Work Closely With:
•Line Manager and relevant Development Officers, ensuring the effective planning and implementation of Demonstration Network events within a specific area.
•Marketing and Communications team to ensure that events are promoted according to the integrated marketing and communications strategy to the target audience in an effective and timely manner.
•Marketing and Communications team to provide ideas and content as required for development of knowledge transfer materials (including but not limited to the technical publication, FCTV, demonstration farm factsheets, demonstration network booklet).
•Specialist manager and specialist officers to support, as required, in the promotion, recruitment, data collection and dissemination of results of the Pan-Wales projects and try-out funds project.
•Service Centre to ensure that event registration and attendance at events are recorded according to the Service Centre’s innovative registration and attendance recording methods; and that these are submitted to the Service Centre in a timely manner.
•KE Hub to promote circular economy solutions for farmers giving practical support to businesses to use fewer resources and/or repaired, repurposed or re-manufactured resources where possible to generate less waste whilst also seizing on both the economic and biodiversity opportunities that can come from this.
Other Responsibilities Include:
· Ensure standards for quality, customer service, equality and diversity, health and safety and biosecurity are met.
· Accept other reasonable duties and responsibilities as required.
· Represent Menter a Busnes as required.
Essential Skills and Experience:
•Educated to degree level, or equivalent, in agriculture or related subject
•Strong relationships in the agriculture and scientific communities and effective at networking
•Demonstrable experience of working within the specified sector in the agricultural industry in Wales
•Extensive knowledge of agricultural and environmental strategies and policies implemented throughout Wales, via Common Agricultural Policy, Rural Development Plan and newer post-Brexit schemes
•Evidence of project management skills
•Ability to disseminate themes, research findings and programme content in a practical and clear manner relevant to the audience
•Able to develop and integrate new services in an effective and timely manner
•Able to make difficult and timely decisions for the benefit of the business and/or service, including raising appropriate concerns regarding service delivery, budgets and staff/sub-contractors
•Advanced presentation and interpersonal skills
•Proactive problem solver and team player
•A self-motivator, accepting responsibility for setting and reviewing priorities for achieving targets, with a clear focus on quality
•Excellent communication skills
•Excellent IT skills including - Windows; Productivity software (e-mail, word processors, spreadsheets, file storage); Safe usage of computers and the internet (searching and browsing the web, using websites and online applications)
•If working from home for any period, you will be required to already have a suitable internet connection.
•Full driving licence and use of a car
Highly Desirable:
•Oral and written bilingual (Welsh/English) communication skills
•Knowledge of the Farming Connect Programme
Menter a Busnes provides language skills training to every staff member who wishes to develop their use of Welsh.
More Information:
If you would like an informal discussion about this post, please contact Delana Davies on 07939 431 725 or delana.davies@menterabusnes.co.uk
How to Apply:
swyddi@menterabusnes.co.uk
Interviews:
We will hold the interviews for this position on the week beginning 18 December 2023.
Equality and Diversity Declaration
Menter a Busnes is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, for most roles we will consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
