Head Stockperson

Background

The Harewood Estate spans some 4000 acres and lies nestled between Leeds and Harrogate, set in the sweeping Yorkshire landscape designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown 250 years ago. The Estate has a diverse range of business interests including commercial units, residential properties, holiday cottages, arable and livestock farming, forestry, renewable energy generation, food production and hospitality. We are constantly working to protect our past while staying relevant for the future.

The Estate has embarked on a major 10-year landscape and heritage restoration and regeneration project (probably the biggest intervention since Brown's time), which will restore damaged and degraded historic structures, ecosystems and natural processes, create new habitats, encourage greater biodiversity and enhance natural capital functions. These works will see the restoration of historic landscape features, planting of over 17,000 trees, creation of 70 hectares of wildflower meadow and 250 hectares of wood pasture parkland and new livestock facilities and grazing regimes.

The ambitious project has been made possible via funding from a Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship scheme and the Estate is now looking to develop the current livestock operation further and take it to the next level.

We have recently erected a new cattle building and livestock handling system alongside a rotational grazing system to aid with pasture and meadow restoration and are now producing high quality grass fed beef, lamb and venison selling this through our own outlet and food business working closely with our onsite Chef.

We are looking for a self-motivated, inspiring, skilled and dedicated person with a passion for the environment, conservation and the outdoors, who want to play a part in initiatives that find solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises that result in improved landscapes for future generations.

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Role Profile

• Maintain the highest welfare, safety and health standards of Harewood's native and rare breed livestock. Activities will include:

o Daily Management of pedigree herds of Aberdeen Angus and Highland cattle

o Further Development of herds using EBV's for easy calving and growth rates.

o Further development of livestock facilities.

o Daily Management of Wensleydale and Hebridean sheep

o Rotation of grazing and outdoor systems, including electric fencing, pasture managementand record keeping

o Livestock feeding, Winter bedding and cleaning cattle sheds

o Diagnose and treat health issues and injuries

o Calving / lambing

• Livestock transportation

• Land management field works including weed control

• Assist with basic maintenance of building and equipment - eg water troughs, electric fences

• Construction, maintenance and repair of fences, gates and livestock handling pens

• Comply with all legislation relating to animal management

• Basic Machinery maintenance and safety checks

• Assist with Countryside Stewardship work

• Assist with supervision and guidance of work experience student's, apprentices and volunteers as required

• Assist as required with all other general Estate work and assist other departments as needed.

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Skills and Experience Required

• Experience in a similar role of outdoor livestock management and husbandry, with a thorough understanding of animal health, welfare and production practices

• rotational grazing and organic/conservation farming practices

• Appropriate qualification in agriculture and livestock management.

• Pedigree cattle herd development experience desirable

• Full, clean driving licence with experience of driving farm vehicles including tractors, trailers, telehandlers and quad bikes, farm machinery and equipment - essential

• Self-motivated and able to manage your own time to deadlines

• Strong problem solving skills and the focus to see the solutions to completion

• Experience of adhering to health and safety and risk assessment requirements

• Works well with a team in order to complete large scale projects

• Experience of managing apprentices or work placements is desirable but not essential

• Telehandler certificate desirable

• PA1/PA2 and PA6 spraying certificates desirable

• Livestock management software experience desirable

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What We Offer

• Competitive salary depending on experience

• 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays

• Pension scheme

• Discounts and benefits with selected Harewood businesses and retail

• The opportunity to develop within the role via formal training and on the job learning

• There will be some weekend working so we have a TOIL system in operation or there is the opportunity for overtime where agreed in advance.

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To apply please send a cover letter along with your CV to by 30th November with a view to role to start early December 2024.

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