Livestock Manager

Reference: DEC
Location: RSPB Nene Washes, PE7 nr Whittlsey
Salary: £32,022.00 - £36,731.00 Per Annum, Pro Rata
Contract: 8 months (until 30 November 2025)
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week
Benefits: Pension, Life Assurance and Annual Leave

Introduction

The Nene Washes is a large washland for the River Nene, in Cambridgeshire. The RSPB look after 800 hectares of the 1,500+ hectare site, and it's one of the few remaining areas of washland in the UK. In the summer, the area is a rich mosaic of grassland ranging from rich hay meadows through to swampy meadows, while come winter, much of the area is flooded, providing haven and foraging for thousands of birds.

We manage the site during the summer with over 700 cattle that belong to graziers in the district that are keepered by the RSPB staff. The operation maintains the SSSI in favourable condition for the thousands of birds that visit including important species such as Snipe, Black-tailed godwit and Crane. We require a competent and capable individual to manage our livestock operation for the 2025 season.

What's the role about?

The post holder will be responsible for maintaining the health of the cattle throughout the grazing season and ensuring grazing delivers habitat objectives. Working with the site team, you will be the leading staff member responsible for liaising with our graziers and managing movements of herds during the season to align with the site management plan.

You will lead a small team and be responsible for the safe and compliant running of the grazing operation. You will ensure that associated infrastructure is maintained, manage relationships with our graziers and ensure recording keeping is accurate and legally compliant.

What we need from you:

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• High level knowledge and experience of cattle and sheep husbandry.

• Thorough knowledge and application of regulations and cross compliance issues.

• Proven capability to keep accurate farm records and accounts.

• Experience leading Health and Safety issues associated with this type of role.

• Staff management and ability to lead a small team.

• Livestock handling, including experience of working confidently with livestock in the field and in pens and handling facilities.

• Computer literacy.

• Able to work alone with minimal day-to-day supervision.

• Livestock transportation.

• Off Road 4x4 certificates, tractor driving experience.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of the type of farming associated with the reserve, e.g. lowland wet grassland

• Ability to communicate effectively particularly with tenants and livestock owners.

• An understanding of agricultural and conservation land management;

• Relevant ecological knowledge relating to grazing as a management tool;

• Proficient and competent in a range of land management tasks related to the grazing operation

Additional Information

• This is a Fixed-Term role until 30 November 2025 at 37.5 hours per week.

• You will be required to work on site at the Nene Washes and from our office in Whittlesey

• Some weekend working will be required as part of a rota.

• Accommodation may be available.

• The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

Closing date: 23:59, Friday 21st February 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 3rd March 2025.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature's side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

For further information please contact

You can also apply for this role by clicking the Apply Button.