Sustainable Agriculture Officer
Purpose: The aim of this role is to help businesses develop solutions to meet the target of sourcing fresh food from areas with sustainable water management. The Courtauld 2030 initiative will work collaboratively with other initiatives that are operating across Norfolk and the Cam & Ely Ouse river catchments, acting as a catalyst for system changes that support growers and producers in their move towards regenerative farming practices. The role will be a key resource to share knowledge and engage with the whole supply chain, from the growers and producers through to the retailers and customers.
Reports to: Farming and Land Management Team Leader. Responsible for: Assistant project officers where applicable.
Location: Office at Bayfield near Holt, with travel across North Norfolk
Job term: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Annual Leave Entitlement: 25 days (plus 8 days bank holidays pro rata)
Salary details: £25,787 to £32,742 (9% Employer Pension Contribution)
The East of England is a key area for the growing and production of root vegetables, fresh produce and pork, despite receiving the lowest annual rainfall across the UK. The impact of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns – with wetter winters and dryer summers – is causing significant challenges for sustainable food production. Heavy winter rainfall over short periods of time can often lead to high soil loss, water pollution, and reduced aquifer recharge. Furthermore, the reduced storage of water in aquifers, together with dryer and warmer summers, can lead to greater water scarcity.
Norfolk Rivers Trust’s Water Sensitive Farming work will engage with retailers and businesses that have signed up to address these issues through Courtauld 2030 and other initiatives, including a direct partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation, and corporate partnerships with WWF (including Tesco, Carlsberg, John Lewis, Aviva, AirWick and Finish).
Job description
Principal Responsibilities:
- Engage and collaborate with key supply chains to improve water-use efficiency and sustainable production.
- Identify and develop bespoke solutions to tackle water risks to agri-food businesses.
- Provide targeted farm advice across key sectors to deliver practical on-farm measures that protect soils, improve water retention and infiltration.
- Communicate wider biodiversity and improve the resilience to the water environment by implementing Nature-based solutions.
- Lead the water stewardship board with external stakeholders to develop policy, showcase private sector engagement and improve wider water security.
- Development of tools to improve understanding of water risks and solutions – amongst growers, producer orgs and retailers.
- Leverage in additional funding from WRAP signatories and other businesses or funds.
Education
- Minimum HND/FdSc/BSc or other relevant experience.
Experience and Knowledge
- Experience of working with agri-businesses and/or food and drink supply chains.
- Understanding of hydrology and risks to water resources in the East of England.
- Knowledge of agri-business, production methods and industry drivers.
- Experience of industry accreditation and/or stewardship schemes is desirable.
- Experience of using GIS is desirable.
Personal Skills and Qualities
- Clear commitment to vision and values of Norfolk Rivers Trust.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Good organisational and reporting skills.
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary organisation.
- IT skills/maintaining a filing system.
- Exceptional listening and communication skills, with a proven ability to influence multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to build and maintain relationships with partners and stakeholders.
- Project management skills and development.
- Awareness of the need for confidentiality and sensitivity.
- Full UK driving licence with own car covered by business insurance is essential.
Applications
To apply, please send your completed job application form and a covering email to [email protected] by 9am on Monday 6th November 2023.
Please note, this role is also being advertised internally.
If you have any questions regarding this role, please contact: Sam Hurst on 07944 443652.
