Herd Manager

Job description Herd Manager – Northamptonshire An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Herd Manager to lead one of our dairy units in Northamptonshire . Our Farm & Business We are a successful multi-site, grazing-based dairy business with four units across Northamptonshire and Warwickshire. This role will be working on Chapel Farm, which consists of 300 Friesian, cross-bred grazing cows and 160 replacements over 440 acres. With a 24/48 Herringbone parlour, sand cubicles and well-developed infrastructure of tracks and grazing platform. The milk is supplied on an Arla contract and calving is completed in the autumn, with all our data and records kept using Uniform and Cow Manager. Each farm is run independently with close collaboration, building a powerful culture based on high animal welfare, excellent working conditions and consistent investment in our staff. We are also currently part of the Customer Welfare program for Arla. Your Role As a Herd Manager, you will solely lead and manage Chapel Farm with the support of the Farm Owner. This is a cow-focussed position with key roles and responsibilities including: – Overall management and responsibility of the herd and ensuring animal welfare is the top priority. – Leading and managing the team effectively. – Milking to a high standard as part of a team and ensuring the parlour is kept clean and safe to operate. – Taking full control of dry cow management, calving cows, and colostrum protocols. – Working closely with the farm owner to achieve agreed KPI’s, financial budgets and herd targets. – Liaising with Vets, nutritionists and consultants for the farm. – Grass Management, grass measuring weekly and input into Agrinet software. – Keeping basic records and compliance up to date. – Ensuring the overall farm is kept tidy and safe to operate. – Farm machinery and general farm maintenance. Qualifications & Licenses needed: – Full UK Driving License – Proof of UK Right to Work – AI & Foot trimming qualifications are preferred You will: – Have extensive previous experience in agriculture and grass-based black calving dairy cow management – Demonstrate strong people management skills and positive values and behaviours – Be a confident and organised individual with high attention to detail – Have the capabilities to be decisive and adapt quickly to different situations – Share our passion and care for cows and our staff The Benefits – We will provide a competitive salary based on your experience, – 3-bedroom large family home on the farm, with central heating and a garden. – We operate on a 5-day working week while the cows are grazing, with every other weekend off. Moving to 6 on 2 off through calving and serving. This offers our staff a long-lasting work life balance. – You will be joining a business that actively supports their team, providing development, training and guidance. – We’ll also provide access to an established discussion group network that can build your knowledge and experience. Location The farm is located by the picturesque village of Barby, just north of Daventry with excellent primary schools, village amenities and public houses. We have good connections to the M1 to the north and the A45 to the south. If you are ready to join the team as a Herd Manager and contribute to our ongoing success, we’d love to hear from you. Applications with a cover letter explaining why you’d like to join us will be given priority. Job Types: Full-time, Permanent Pay: £38,000.00-£45,000.00 per year Additional pay: Performance bonus Benefits: Company pension Flexitime Free parking Housing allowance On-site parking Relocation assistance Sick pay Schedule; Day shift Holidays Weekend availability