Dairy Farm Manager

The Opportunity

We are recruiting

The successful candidate will oversee a 1,000-cow spring block calving, genomically tested herd, alongside youngstock and land-based operations, leading an established team and acting as the key link between the Farms Director and the Dairy Team.

This is a hands-on leadership role suited to a dairy professional who is passionate about stockmanship, performance, sustainability and developing people.

Key Responsibilities

Farm Operations & Livestock Management — Oversee daily farm activities, ensuring exemplary stockmanship, productivity and animal welfare.

Milk Output Optimisation — Implement strategies to optimise milk yield while maintaining herd health, fertility and feed efficiency.

Grassland & Seasonal Rotation — Lead rotational grazing, forage crop rotations, and grass /cloverley management to maximise feed resources.

Wintering Systems & Housing — Manage on-off wintering systems and the mix of cubicle wintering, slats and bedded courts for comfort and efficiency.

Sustainable Fertiliser Use — Optimise chemical nitrogen application through effective use of on-farm slurry.

Herd Register & Compliance — Maintain accurate herd records, breeding logs and compliance with Red Tractor and other customer-led assurance standards.

Stocktaking & Cattle Movements — Responsible for all stocktaking and cattle movements with accurate documentation and full compliance.

Team Leadership & Development — Train, mentor and motivate farm staff; liaise with other departments and oversee administrative tasks.

Infrastructure & Facilities — Manage infrastructure and oversee the maintenance and development of farm buildings, water systems, roads and fencing.

Fertility & Breeding Programme — Execute mating strategies, AI, heat detection and ensure herd fertility targets are met.

Calving & Youngstock — Supervise calving, colostrum management, and rearing of replacements through to entry into the herd.

Herd Health & Biosecurity — Work closely with the veterinary team to maintain a disease-free, low-intervention herd with robust monitoring and records.

Sustainability & Environment — Ensure effective slurry management, optimise nutrient cycles and minimise environmental impact.

Machinery & Infrastructure Maintenance — Oversee maintenance and repair of all farm machinery, parlours, cow tracks, fencing, farm roads, drainage and water supply, and the proper operation of slurry systems, cubicle sheds and milking facilities.

Data-Driven Decision Making — Analyse farm performance metrics and use agri-tech tools for continuous improvement.

Long-Term Business Success — Work alongside the Farms Director to deliver profitability, sustainability and growth.

The Ideal Candidate

• Proven track record managing a large-scale dairy unit, ideally with spring block calving experience

• Strong leadership, communication and people-development skills

• Sound knowledge of grassland management, forage systems and rotational grazing

• Confidence with breeding programmes, genomic data and herd performance KPIs

• Commercial awareness with a data-driven, continuous-improvement mindset

• Commitment to high standards of animal welfare, biosecurity and environmental stewardship

• Hands-on, problem-solving approach with the ambition to drive the unit forward