Senior Farm Advisor

Post Grade: 4
Purpose: To deliver high quality farm advice across several farmer engagement projects. To develop LRT’s future farmer engagement programme.
Reports to: Trust Manager
Location: Hybrid. Working from home and from LRT’s office near Kirkby Lonsdale. Arrangements are flexible, with the general aim of working from the office 2-3 days per week. Frequent site work will be required at locations across LRT’s operational area.
Hours: Full-time 37.5 hours per week. Flexible working hours.
Contract: 12 month fixed term contract (with potential to extend)

The Lune Rivers Trust is a small but ambitious environmental charity dedicated to the protection and enhancement of all the rivers and tributaries in the Lune catchment. We cover a large area, from Tebay in the north, to Ingleton in the east and Pilling in the south. We have secured funding from the Environment Agency, United Utilities, Wyre Council, and RSPB Cumbria Connect to support our ongoing farmer engagement activities.

A recent staff departure has left a gap in LRT’s delivery capacity, and we are seizing this as an opportunity to step up our capabilities in providing farm advice and farmer engagement. We are seeking an experienced farm advisor to join our team and to lead these activities into the future. Our experience over the last 6 years has proven the benefits of farmer engagement and particularly our approach to it. We believe that there are considerable opportunities to continue to develop our farmer engagement programme and secure additional funding.

The Senior Farm Advisor will be key in running this programme, securing additional funding and further developing the farm advice & engagement activities that we can offer. Whilst oversight will rest with the Trust Manager, it is anticipated that the Senior Farm Advisor will have significant leeway in deciding the strategic development of the farmer engagement programme. Currently the Senior Farm Advisor will not have direct line management responsibility for other LRT staff members, but this will be open to review in the future depending upon the Senior Farm Advisor’s performance and the development of the programme.

The Senior Farm Advisor will take on the financial and time management of the farmer engagement projects, along with ensuring that deliverables are achieved and reporting to donors is provided on time. These aspects will be coordinated with the Trust Manager.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team and make a direct contribution to developing our future programmes. It would be a perfect for someone who has cut their teeth with providing farm advice and is ready to take the next step in their career. Experience of providing farm advice from the perspective of an environmental charity/ organisation would be considered a big advantage.

We have quoted a salary range for a Grade 4 post. The salary offer we make will depend upon the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

We operate a flexible working hours/ Time Owed in Lieu system. We also work a mixture of based from home, based from our office near Kirkby Lonsdale, and on site across our catchment. Arrangements are reasonably flexible, with the general aim to be in the office 2-3 days per week.

We envisage this to be a full-time role. However, we are aware that some candidates may wish to combine the role with running their own farm business. Hence we are open to considering whether this role could be carried out on a part-time basis. If part-time, it would need to be a minimum of 50%-60% (i.e. 2 ½ - 3 days per week). If you would like to explore this possibility, please mention it in your application.

Duties and Responsibilities

• To lead LRT’s farm advice activities, providing high quality farm advice to individual farmers/ landowners.
• To work closely with LRT’s Senior Engagement & Project Manager to develop and deliver a coordinated approach to farmer engagement and provision of farm advice.
• In coordination with LRT’s Senior Engagement & Project Manager, set up and lead/ facilitate local farmers groups.
• In close cooperation with LRT’s Trust Manager, develop a strategic approach to expand LRT’s farmer engagement activities.
• Work with the Trust Manager to identify potential future funding opportunities.

Person Description

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they are exceptionally self-motivated and are passionate about improving the environment and working with farmers and landowners. They must have considerable previous experience in delivering farm advice. They must be a good communicator with a strong background in project development and delivery within the environmental sector. A good knowledge of the Lune catchment and the functioning of river catchments would be beneficial.

Essential

• Degree level or equivalent related experience in agriculture/land management or relevant environmental topic.
• Extensive experience in providing farm advice (7+ years).
• In depth knowledge and understanding of agriculture and farming practices.
• In depth knowledge of agri-environment schemes such as Catchment Sensitive Farming capital grants and Sustainable Farming Incentive.
• Proven success in applying for and securing agri-environmental grants.
• FACTS and BASIS (Soil & Water) qualified.
• Proven experience in preparing farm assessment reports such as Farm Infrastructure Audits and Nutrient Management Plans.

Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of upland management systems and upland habitats.
• Experience of financial and time management.
• Lives in, or is relocating to, the Lune catchment.

If you would like more information or an informal chat about the post, please contact Tim Pitt (Trust Manager) on 079 49 24 26 55 or [email protected] before the 13th June. Please note that Tim is on leave from the 13th June until the closing date, so will be unable to respond to requests for information during this period.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on Sunday 28th June 2026.