Agriculture Advisor

Franklaw Ammonia Project - Agriculture Advisor

Background

The Wyre Rivers Trust is a registered charity with a remit to improve the ecological status of the river Wyre and its catchment.

Founded by three angling clubs and supported by many community groups, the Trust started small with localised projects to improve habitat, especially spawning conditions, for all fish species and completed with contractors and volunteers. However, since 2013 the Trust has grown, became host of the Wyre Waters Catchment Partnership and is now delivering works at the catchment scale with a host of far-reaching benefits.

Projects address a range of issues impacting upon biodiversity, water quality, and water quantity, and tackle these with solutions such as natural flood management, habitat creation and habitat connectivity. The Trust has recently created an Integrated Catchment Plan containing a comprehensive list of priorities within the Wyre catchment, reviewed, and agreed by our partners. Following this process, the Trust has been successful in obtaining funding as part of the Franklaw Ammonia Project, a project which focuses on reducing inputs of ammonia to watercourses, particularly with reference to diffuse and point source pollution from agriculture.

To deliver this project and develop skills within the project area, we have elected to employ an Agriculture Advisor. Ideally the advisor should have experience of providing water quality advice and/or guidance to land managers in upland catchments. Finding candidates with the correct skills for agricultural advice often proves difficult, so we are also willing to employ a candidate who wishes to develop their skills in order to become an effective agriculture advisor. The role would suit a candidate based in the local area, particularly a young farmer or a someone from a farming background. The candidate will be provided with training opportunities to build their skills and will have the opportunity to shadow the senior WRT staff during their first six months at the Trust. Further developing their skills via peer-to-peer learning and by gaining experience on the ground, working with land managers as part of the project.

The role will be based at the Wyre RT Offices in Myerscough, Lancashire. The candidate will be expected to work across the entire catchment and a large amount of time within any given week will be spent outside. The officer will report to the Wyre Rivers Trust CEO and Chairman.

Agriculture Advisor – Job Description

Job Title Agriculture Advisor
Salary £28,000.00 – £31,000.00/annum

Benefits

• Stakeholder pension scheme (9% employer, 6% employee)
• Life assurance scheme
• Flexible working
• Laptop and phone provided
• Mileage at 0.45p/mile

Hours 37.5 hours/week. Full-time. 3 years fixed term

Job Purpose: The Agriculture Advisor will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the project and ensure that it achieves the agreed milestones. The project officer will work with partners to identify and assess priority areas within the Franklaw Safeguard Zone (SGZ) before working with land managers and landowners to agree a programme of farm visits, this will lead to the development of a series of standalone reports identifying opportunities to reduce ammonia inputs to watercourses.

The project officer will also work closely with stakeholders and farm cluster groups to deliver engagement events, raising awareness of the issues posed by ammonia inputs within the SGZ. These events will take a range of forms including, face to face meetings, farm walk and talks, lunch and learns and attendance at a range of partnership meetings to promote the project. Finally, the project officer will assist the project manager in the production of a report which outlines the results of the project, priority areas for future monitoring and suggestions for a range of mitigation measures based upon the PINPOINT reports.

Person Description: The successful candidate will be an exceptional self-starter with the motivation, vision and passion to help and advise farm businesses on how to become more sustainable and resilient and make the river Wyre a cleaner and healthier environment. They must have a willingness to learn on the job, expand their horizons and undertake training courses. They must be a good communicator with a passion for conservation and some knowledge of catchment science. The candidate should have a good working knowledge of:

• The agriculture sector, ideally in NW England and Lancashire including upland beef, sheep, and dairy farming.
• The ability to engage with land managers in a manner which is beneficial to them, their families and their businesses.
• The importance of confidentiality and diligence when dealing with farmers, landowners and land managers.
• UK food production and the importance of a functioning natural environment to sustainable and resilient food production.

Responsibilities:

• To report the day-to-day delivery of the Franklaw Ammonia Project to the project manager and assist in the preparation of reports for programme sponsors.
• Work closely with WRT staff to develop relationships with participating land managers and to develop your knowledge of farm advice on a range of topics.
• Develop and deliver a programme of farm visits within the project area. These visits should focus on identifying issues which may impact water quality. Produce detailed reports for each visit which identify opportunities to reduce ammonia inputs to watercourses.
• Develop and deliver a programme of land manager engagement throughout the lifetime of the project. Work closely with existing partners to raise awareness of the project.
• Working closely with the project manager and project board to ensure that all key deliverables as outlined in the project plan are delivered on time and to a gold standard.
• Ensure that all key elements of risk are managed in accordance with instruction from the project manager
• Expand your knowledge of on farm reports and project reporting by undertaking training and via peer-to-peer learning.
• To ensure that project plans are adhered to and that the works are delivered in accordance with all relevant legislation and the aims of the project.
• Work in close conjunction with partners and community groups to evaluate opportunities for multiple benefit projects within the Wyre catchment.
• Use data and other information to inform the development of delivery plans for measures to reduce ammonia inputs.
• To undertake relevant safeguarding training for work with children and adults at risk.

Individual Requirements:

Essential:

• Qualification in land management, catchment management or other appropriate agriculturally focussed subject or an aspiration to gain a qualification at degree level or higher in the aforementioned subjects.
• A willingness to undertake training courses as part of the role and a willingness to learn on the job.
• Based in or near the project area, with a knowledge of the area and its surrounds.
• Experience of working with farmers, landowners and land managers, either whilst living and working on a farm, or through your education/interest.
• A knowledge of the tools and resources available to farm advisors when working with farmers.
• An appreciation of the funding streams which are available to farmers and a willingness to learn more about them.
• A good understanding of the importance of stakeholder engagement in the delivery of catchment scale projects.
• Good working knowledge of catchment science, soil management techniques, freshwater and upland habitats and species.
• A willingness to develop good presentation and interpretation skills.
• Possessing good inter-personal skills, both face to face and over the phone.
• Reliability, good attendance, and work performance.
• Excellent organisational and administrational skills with the necessary due diligence.
• Excellent IT skills to include record keeping, filing and have the awareness of confidentiality and general data protection rules.
• A passion for the restoration and conservation of catchments and the flora and fauna which reside within them.
• Valid driving licence and full access to a vehicle which is insured for business use.
• This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check at an enhanced level.

Desirable:

• GIS skills.

Anyone we appoint is expected to support policies on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, Health & Safety, IT, GDPR and contribute to a respectful and inclusive working culture. If you have any questions which aren't answered on our website or in this job description, please contact Thomas Myerscough at [email protected]

Closing date: Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Interviews are planned for week commencing 9th of May and will be held in-person at Myerscough College, Lancashire.