Farm Team Lead

Farm Team Interim Lead (we have aspirations for this role to become permanent)

Location: WUF Offices, Talgarth and home working

Salary: £31,185 to £41,179 pa depending on experience, plus pension and other benefits

Contract: 6 month temporary contract with possibility to transfer to permanent position

Hours: 37.5 hours/week. Ideally full time but part time or flexible working arrangements may be
considered for the right candidate. Flexitime and time off in lieu system in place. Holidays
are 24 days annual leave (pro-rata) plus bank holidays.

Responsible for: Maternity leave cover: supporting and overseeing the WUF Farm Team and
delivering funding for new projects

Closing date: 5pm Tuesday 13th June

Interview date: Fri 16th Jun (am) & Mon 19th Jun (am)

Introduction to the Wye and Usk Foundation (WUF)

The Wye & Usk Foundation (WUF) is a registered charity concerned with the ecology and, more
specifically, restoring the habitat, water quality and fisheries of the rivers Wye and Usk. The
Foundation is a delivery organisation: working in partnership with other organisations, we
raise significant sums of money to remedy problems such as habitat degradation, poor water
quality and diffuse pollution, barriers to fish migration, over-exploitation of our fisheries
and advance the education of the public in the conservation of our rivers. WUF is the largest
rivers trust in England and Wales in terms of output.

Our charitable objects are:

To conserve, protect, rehabilitate and improve the salmon and other indigenous species of
animal and plant life of the rivers Wye and Usk, their tributaries, streams and watercourses
(“the River”) and the banks, riparian lands and catchments of the river (“the River Corridor”)
and to advance the education of the public in the conservation of rivers, river corridors and
their animal and plant life and the need for conservation, protection, rehabilitation and
improvement of such environments.

Our Values:

• Approachable – we are open-minded and value diversity
• Non-judgemental – we focus on the potential, not the past
• Inspiring – we lead by example
• Empowering – we enable positive change
• Passionate – we are absolutely committed to improving the Wye and Usk and their catchments

These values inform how WUF and its staff fulfil their objectives and responsibilities.

WUF is an equal opportunities employer.

Context of the role

The Farm Team sits within the Land Use and Natural Capital Department of WUF where support for
farm-based environmental initiatives is increasingly being combined with the phosphate
reduction, soil and water management aspects of natural capital projects. The postholder will
provide co-ordination of and support for a team of highly qualified & experienced Catchment
Advisors who are working effectively and with a high level of independence, cooperation and
initiative. This is an inward and outward facing role: the postholder will provide specialist
farming support to the WUF Programme Manager (Land Use and Natural Capital) and the wider WUF
Executive; secure external funding and be the lead public speaker for WUF on farming issues.

There is an immediate need to cover the maternity absence of the Head of Land Use, but as WUF
responds to the numerous opportunities to develop and extend our services, there are
aspirations for this role to become permanent.

This role, as and when considered necessary or appropriate, will be required to undertake other
duties, within competence and within reason, to meet fluctuations or priorities in work
demands. The team member will be required to work in a mixture of environments including home-
based, office environment, and non-standard workplaces e.g., outside on farms and on/in river
sites

Role description

Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Allocation of staffing resources across several cross-cutting farm and natural capital
  projects in conjunction with WUF project managers
• Identifying relevant funding opportunities to extend or replace current projects,
  completion of grant applications & formulation of delivery plans
• Working with Farm Team staff to support effective work planning and delivery: identifying
  and supporting development needs, agreeing delivery quality criteria, QA outputs as appropriate
  and formulation of annual plans/targets
• Project management: oversight of project finances and cashflows, supporting staff with
  project management and delivery. Overseeing cross-cutting projects
• Co-ordinating the high level of specialist knowledge sharing (& updating as new
  regulations/guidance is issued) that happens across the Farm Team, ensuring external
  communications by all staff are consistent and meet the WUF technical standards and objectives
• Representing WUF on some external farming focused groups (eg. Farmers Groups and Farming
  Connect) & at some external farm related events
• Supporting the review of Farm Team job descriptions and departmental structure
• Reporting on Farm Team activities and projects to the Land Use and Natural Capital
  Programme Manager
• Recruitment of new staff to the WUF Farm Team as necessary

Person Specification

Essential:

• Highly developed social processing, interpersonal and negotiation skills
• High level of knowledge of farming: sustainable practices, relevant legislation,
  regulations and funding streams
• Experience of leading and working within teams of professional staff
• Collaborative working style
• Experienced in supporting staff development
• Confident self-starter with developed ability to manage competing priorities and delivery
  to deadlines and budgets
• Good verbal communications skills 1:1, in groups and confidence to speak in public
• Experience of creating and delivering projects and securing 3rd party funding
• High level of competence to use Microsoft Office products (specifically Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience of working closely with external organisations
• An interest in the natural environment and the issues affecting the rivers Wye and Usk
• Valid driving licence and own car, insured for business use
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• Experience in report writing

Desirable but not Essential:

• Knowledge of the Wye and Usk catchments
• IT skills including the use of GIS (Sci Maps, Land App)
• Organisation and delivery of events
• Ability to present complex information simply and concisely to a wide range of audiences
• BASIS (Soil & Water) qualifications

Key working relationships:

Internal

Farm Team, Natural Capital Team, Programme Manager – Land Use and Natural Capital, COO, CFO

External

Farmers and landowners in the Wye and Usk Catchment, Farming groups, Other Rivers Trusts,
Natural Resources Wales, Environment Agency, Funders

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit a CV (maximum 2 sides A4) and a covering letter (maximum 2 sides A4) outlining
why you are interested in this role and highlighting how your skills, knowledge and experience
meet the criteria in the person specification.

We are keen to hear how you fit the role and also your interests.

Please apply by 5pm on Tuesday 13th June 2023. Applications received after this date/time will
not be considered. Submit your application to [email protected] citing ‘Farm Team Lead
application’ in the subject line.

For an informal conversation about the role (in confidence) please contact Wendy Ogden,
Programme Manager, Land Use and Natural Capital ([email protected]).

Interviews will take place at the WUF Office in Talgarth on the mornings of Friday 16th June
and Monday 19th June.

(Privacy notice: personal information contained in the application will be kept for 12 months
and thereafter securely destroyed.)