Farm Advisor

Help farmers deliver healthier rivers and a more resilient farmed landscape

Do you have strong agricultural knowledge, experience of working with farmers, and a passion for finding practical solutions that benefit both farm businesses and the environment?

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Farm Advisor to join our growing team.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering practical, landscape-scale action across the Bristol Avon catchment. You will work with farmers and landowners to improve soil and water quality, enhance biodiversity and increase farm resilience through nature based solutions. The role combines practical farm advice, farmer engagement, project development and delivery, alongside an important role in bringing farmers together to develop collaborative action at a landscape scale.

You will help develop and facilitate Farm Clusters, organise farm events, talks and workshops, and build trusted relationships across farming communities.

A key part of the role will be supporting delivery of BART’s Upstream Thinking programme with Bristol Water and other partners, helping to protect drinking water quality at source through targeted action with farmers and landowners.

About BART

BART is an independent environmental charity working to restore and protect the rivers and landscapes of the Bristol Avon catchment.

We work at a catchment scale, bringing together farmers, landowners, communities, businesses, water companies, local authorities, statutory organisations and other partners to deliver practical action for healthy rivers.

Our work spans river restoration, water quality, sustainable farming, natural flood management, nature-based solutions, community engagement and landscape-scale nature recovery. Our work includes design and delivery of river and catchment initiatives alongside community engagement, and school education programmes.

BART is entering an exciting period of growth, increasing our capacity and the scale and impact of our work with farmers and landowners across the catchment.

About the role

As Farm Advisor, you will be a key member of BART’s catchment resilience and land management programme.

You will work directly with farmers and landowners to understand their businesses, identify environmental risks and opportunities, and develop practical, achievable solutions that improve water quality and deliver wider environmental benefits.

A strong understanding of the commercial realities of farming will be important. We are looking for someone who can provide credible environmental advice while recognising that recommendations need to be practical, affordable and workable within individual farm businesses.

You will also help develop collaborative approaches across whole farm clusters and landscapes, bringing farmers together to share knowledge, explore opportunities and develop collective action.

Your work will include:

• Undertaking farm advice visits and assessments, identifying sources and pathways of runoff, sediment, nutrients and other pollutants, and developing practical recommendations and Farm Plans.
• Working with farmers to identify opportunities to optimise land, soil and livestock management to increase the sustainability of the farm.
• Developing practical advice that supports both farm business objectives and environmental outcomes.
• Identifying and developing opportunities for nature-based solutions, habitat creation, natural flood management and wider landscape recovery on farms.
• Developing and facilitating Farm Clusters, bringing farmers together to identify shared challenges, exchange knowledge and develop collaborative projects.
• Planning and delivering farm events, workshops, talks, demonstrations and knowledge-sharing sessions.
• Building trusted, long-term relationships with farmers and landowners and supporting them to identify and access appropriate funding, advice and support.
• Playing a key role in delivering BART’s Upstream Thinking programme with Bristol Water and partners, translating catchment priorities into practical action on farms to protect drinking water quality.
• Supporting the development and delivery of wider BART farming, water quality and catchment programmes.
• Identifying opportunities for new projects and investment, and helping turn farmer and catchment needs into practical, funded delivery.
• Working collaboratively with organisations including South West Water, Bristol Water, the Environment Agency, Natural England, farming organisations, local authorities and other conservation partners.
• Monitoring and reporting on project progress, outputs and outcomes, ensuring projects are delivered effectively, to agreed timescales and within budget.
• Producing clear farm advice reports, Farm Plans, project reports and other technical and project documentation.
• Signposting farmers and landowners to relevant funding schemes, grants and specialist advice.
• Using GIS and spatial information, where appropriate, to help identify and target environmental risks, opportunities and investment.
• Helping to develop innovative approaches, practical trials and demonstration projects that show what can be achieved through collaborative working with farmers.

What a typical week might look like

No two weeks will be the same. You might:

• Visit a farm to assess soil, runoff and water quality risks and develop a practical action plan with the farmer.
• Meet with a group of farmers to develop a new Farm Cluster and identify opportunities for collaborative action.
• Organise and deliver a workshop on soil health, nutrient management or water quality.
• Work with Bristol Water colleagues to identify priorities for Upstream Thinking delivery.
• Map environmental risks and opportunities across a priority catchment.
• Develop a proposal to secure funding for a package of farm interventions.
• Work with a farmer and project partners to deliver nature-based solutions or pollution-reduction measures.
• Prepare a farm advice report or project update and contribute to wider BART programme development.

Essential knowledge, skills and experience

• Good knowledge and understanding of agricultural practices and farm businesses, and their relationship with water quality, soils, biodiversity and the wider environment.
• Relevant degree, or equivalent qualification, or substantial relevant professional experience in agriculture, farming or land management.
• Experience of working directly with farmers and/or landowners in an advisory, conservation or land management context.
• Understanding of agroecology, regenerative and organic farming, as well as conventional farming systems.
• Understanding of the impacts of agricultural runoff, sediment, nutrients and other diffuse pollution on rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
• Experience of translating technical environmental or agricultural issues into practical and achievable advice for farmers.
• An understanding of the commercial realities of farming and the ability to develop recommendations that work alongside farm business objectives.
• Experience of developing and maintaining strong relationships with farmers, landowners and other stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of audiences.
• A collaborative and diplomatic approach, with the confidence to facilitate discussions and bring people together around shared objectives.
• Experience of delivering environmental or land management projects from development through to delivery and reporting.
• Good project management and organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines.
• Experience of planning and delivering meetings, workshops, events or training sessions.
• Understanding of relevant agricultural and environmental regulation and good practice.
• Knowledge or experience of Natural Flood Management, Nature-Based Solutions or landscape-scale nature recovery.
• Ability to identify opportunities, develop practical solutions and use initiative.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports and project documentation.
• Good IT skills and confidence using standard office software.
• Understanding of health and safety, risk assessment and lone-working procedures.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle suitable for work across the catchment, with appropriate business-use insurance.

Desirable knowledge and experience

• BASIS Soil and Water qualification.
• FACTS qualification.
• Experience of providing advice on nutrient management, soil health or agricultural inputs.
• Experience of working with Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Land Management schemes or other agri-environment funding.
• Practical farm management experience.
• Experience of developing or facilitating Farm Cluster Groups.
• Knowledge of the Bristol Avon catchment and its farming communities.
• Knowledge of freshwater ecosystems and catchment management.
• Experience of working with water companies, particularly around drinking water quality or catchment management.
• Experience of using GIS and spatial data to inform advice or project delivery.
• Experience of securing funding or contributing to successful funding applications.

What we can offer you

BART is a growing organisation with an ambitious programme of work across the Bristol Avon catchment. You will have the opportunity to make a tangible difference to rivers and the farmed landscape while working alongside a committed and expanding team.

We offer:

• 37.5-hour working week, with flexible working arrangements. We are open to considering part-time arrangements for the right candidate.
• Hybrid working, with home and Bristol office-based working and regular travel throughout the Bristol Avon catchment.
• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
• 9% employer pension contribution through the River Trust Pension Scheme, subject to eligibility.
• Flexible working and TOIL for occasional evening and weekend work.
• 55p per mile mileage reimbursement and reasonable business expenses.
• Opportunities for professional development and relevant training.
• The opportunity to work across a diverse portfolio of farming, water quality, nature recovery and catchment-scale projects.
• The opportunity to work closely with farmers and landowners and see practical environmental improvements delivered on the ground.
• The chance to play a key role in an ambitious programme of catchment recovery across the Bristol Avon.
• We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment and welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

The person

We are looking for someone who is practical, approachable, knowledgeable and passionate about farming and the environment.

You will be someone who enjoys being out on farms, talking to farmers and finding solutions. You will be confident working independently but equally comfortable collaborating with colleagues, farmers and partners.

Most importantly, you will be able to build trust. Our work depends on developing long-term relationships with farmers and landowners and supporting them to make changes that deliver genuine benefits for their businesses, their land and the wider catchment.

If you are excited by the opportunity to combine farming, conservation, farmer engagement and landscape-scale river recovery, we’d love to hear from you.