Senior Farm Environment Adviser (Cornwall)

Overview

FWAG SW provides environmental advice to farmers on a wide range of agricultural, conservation,
soil and water management and future farm resilience issues. We are seeking applicants for the
post of Senior Farm Environment Adviser to join the Cornwall team. The post will have
responsibilities to provide advice in a whole-farm context considering habitat and species
conservation, diffuse pollution mitigation, soil management, nutrient management, compliance to
legislation and regulation, protection of archaeological features and landscape value – all as
part of a profitable farm business.

The post will include the delivery of high-quality environmental advice to farmers through
one-to-one farm visits, reports, events, and workshops. Primarily, this will be through the
Future Farming Resilience Project in Cornwall on behalf of Devon County Council who manage the
project, for approximately 2.5 days a week until March 2025. 

As well as providing advice under the Future Farming Resilience Project, the successful
applicant will contribute to the delivery and outputs of other existing projects and membership
services. Where appropriate, the role also includes project management, partnership working and
the development of new projects, with support from managers and colleagues. The successful
applicant will be line managed by a Team Leader and will be supported by other experienced
Advisers across Devon and Cornwall.

FWAG SouthWest are seeking someone with a passion for food, farming and the environment. With
growing demand for our services to provide advice to farmers on agroecological practices, we
are looking for applicants who can bring their own specialisms and experience to strengthen our
team. We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds within the sector, whether that
is environment and wildlife, regenerative farming, soils, nutrients, farm infrastructure, farm
business management, cropping, livestock, or Integrated Pest Management.

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds and abilities who meet the essential criteria for
this role, as stated in the Person Specification. We are an open and inclusive organisation
seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce. 

 Main purpose of the job 

The purpose of the Senior Farm Environment Adviser role is to deliver FWAG SouthWest’s
charitable objectives and support Cornish farmers in providing food and environmental outcomes,
whilst adapting to the agricultural transition.

The post will achieve this by inspiring and engaging farmers across the county by providing
trusted and independent advice through one to one meetings, group workshops and other media.
Working with farmers from a range of backgrounds you will champion innovation and best practice
and demonstrate critical thinking and empathy to support farming businesses looking to
transition to agroecological practices. 

Key responsibilities 

The initial focus of the role is to lead the delivery of farm advice under the Devon County
Council Future Farm Resilience programme including: advice on adopting agroecological farming
practices, gathering farm financial data, supporting farmers to develop management accounts to
support business decision making and signposting to other support services and specialist
advisers. Delivery will be focused in Cornwall, but with support working with FWAGs project
manager and other FWAG deliverers within the region. 

Furthermore, the Senior Farm Environment Adviser is expected to: 

• Co-ordinate and undertake the delivery of independent, objective and professional advice on
  conservation and other farmland-related environmental matters, to farmers, landowners and land
  managers throughout Cornwall and occasionally within the wider South West region when required.
• Prepare grant applications, including Countryside Stewardship, and other sources of funding
  for farmers.
• Develop own technical specialisms in agricultural and environmental practices to support
  delivery of advice for clients and supporting colleagues as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Manage projects/contracts, including attending meetings, ensuring timely delivery against
  project milestones and assisting the admin team with the preparation of project claims and
  invoicing – with support from the regional management team.
• Maintain existing partnerships with other organisations and develop new ones, where they
  can further FWAG SW’s objectives. Attend partnership meetings to represent FWAG SW in Cornwall.
• Develop new projects and initiatives and/or write tenders for contracts that deliver the
  charitable objectives of FWAG SW as part of the regional management team.
• Develop farm walks, workshops and other events with our membership team
• Establish themselves within the local farming and land-owning community as a point of
  contact for advice and assistance on conservation and environmental improvement.
• Promote FWAG SW membership to farmer clients and others.
• Assist colleagues and undertake such other duties that FWAG SW require and attend
  appropriate training courses and seminars approved or organised by FWAG SouthWest.