Sustainable Food Job jobs

Farm Assistant - Livestock & Estate Support

Salary: £27,000 p/a

Location: Dartmoor Estate, PL20 6LG

Working Pattern: Monday - Friday, 08:00 am - 16:30 pm

Role Overview

This is a hands-on farm and estate support role focused on the day-to-day care and welfare of livestock, alongside practical support across the wider estate.

The role suits a switched-on, capable individual who enjoys working outdoors, takes pride in doing things properly, and is keen to action & develop their skills across animal care, maintenance, and estate operations. The role requires initiative, reliability, and the ability to follow systems accurately..

The Farm Assistant works under the direction and oversight of the Land Team, supporting conservation grazing, rewilding, habitat improvement, and biodiversity objectives, while also helping maintain excellent livestock welfare standards, clear records, and cost-effective systems and contributing flexibly to wider estate needs.

Who We Are

Beden is a 220-acre Dartmoor estate combining conservation-led land management, outdoor education, creative enterprise, and residential tenancies. Livestock play a key role in supporting biodiversity, land stewardship, education, and food production.

We value thoughtful systems, calm & healthy communications, high welfare standards, and collaboration across disciplines.

Key Responsibilities

Animal Welfare & Daily Operations (Primary Focus)

• Own the daily morning and evening animal rounds, ensuring consistency, quality, and continual improvement
• Follow established checklists and routines to ensure consistent animal care
• Ensure all livestock (goats, poultry, cattle, ponies) are fed, watered, sheltered, and managed to high welfare standards
• Maintain familiarity and calm, safe handling of livestock
• Assist with movement of livestock between fields and paddocks
• Ensure milking of goats is carried out hygienically and safely
• Carry out and oversee daily visual health checks, identifying early signs of illness, injury, or stress and reporting & recording any concerns promptly - escalating any health or welfare concerns to management or veterinary professionals
• Coordinate veterinary input where required and ensure follow-up actions are completed
• Carry out seasonal tasks such as worming, vaccinations & weather-related welfare adjustments
• Monitoring animals for signs of heat, planning breeding cycles, and potentially carrying out artificial insemination.
• Looking after pregnant animals, being present during births (calving, lambing, farrowing), and providing care for newborn offspring.

Livestock Records & Systems Support

• Accurately record animal rounds, treatments, movements, and observations using Monday.com
• Undertake upkeep of livestock records and compliance documentation
• Follow and help maintain established systems and processes
• Flag gaps, issues, or inefficiencies in systems to line managers
• Undertake and support the delivery of:
• Breeding programmes
• Slaughtering scheduling and logistics
• Animal acquisition and movement

Estate & Maintenance Support

• Carry out general estate maintenance, including:
• Fencing repairs
• Shelter upkeep
• Water troughs and basic plumbing
• Tree guards and field infrastructure
• Assist with small build projects under guidance (e.g. livestock enclosures, gates, shelters etc)
• Carry out daily estate checks such as:
• Path and access clearance
• Leaf clearance
• Damage or defect spotting and reporting
• Waste removal
• Assist with basic machinery use and maintenance (e.g. tractors, ATVs)

Collaboration with Land & Estate Teams

• Work closely with the the Land team to ensure livestock support:
• Conservation grazing
• Rewilding and landscape recovery
• Biodiversity outcomes
• Support land-based projects
• Provide practical support to other estate roles when required (e.g. land, house, gardening, maintenance)
• Work collaboratively as part of a small, flexible team, recognising that priorities can shift
• Take pride in helping the estate run smoothly and safely day to day
• Communicate clearly and ask for help or clarification when needed

Woodland & Land Support

• Support the Land team with woodland management activities, including habitat improvement, thinning, and general forestry tasks
• Assist with the sustainable harvesting, processing, and movement of logs and timber to support estate needs and wood supply
• Contribute to work carried out in line with any woodland management obligations, land management agreements, and conservation objectives
• Assist with brash clearance, coppicing, tree protection, and related woodland maintenance tasks
• Operate tools and machinery safely and responsibly, following agreed procedures

Essential Requirements

• Practical experience working with animals, farming, estates, or outdoor environments
• Strong work ethic and reliability
• Comfortable following systems, routines, and checklists
• Open to using digital systems for administration and process management
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to research, propose, and implement solutions to problems or inefficiencies
• Practical skills across basic maintenance and repairs
• Calm, sensible approach to animal handling
• Full UK driving licence
• Positive, professional and proactive attitude

Desirable Experience

• Experience working with livestock in low-density or mixed systems
• Exposure to conservation grazing or land-based work
• Progressed skills in plumbing, fencing, carpentry, or construction
• Experience supporting estate or farm maintenance
• Experience working in woodland, forestry, or conservation environments
• Chainsaw proficiency (relevant certification desirable)
• Understanding of habitat management and sustainable land practices
• Experience supporting woodland thinning, coppicing, or log processing

What Success Looks Like

• Animals are well cared for, calm, and healthy
• Daily rounds are completed reliably and recorded accurately
• Issues are spotted early and escalated appropriately
• Records are consistently accurate and up to date
• Estate infrastructure is kept safe and functional
• Systems are followed consistently
• The team can rely on you to turn up, pitch in, and get things done properly

Development & Progression

This role offers opportunities to:

• Develop animal husbandry skills
• Build confidence across maintenance and estate work
• Learn structured systems and processes
• Progress into more senior responsibilities over time

Benefits

• Health & Wellness Package
• Comprehensive BUPA Wellbeing Package with 24/7 support and access to scheduled counselling sessions
• Aviva Pension Scheme
• 28 days holiday, inclusive of bank holidays
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Perkbox Membership
• Company Events & Team Activities
• Work in a stunning natural environment with hands-on, nature-based learning opportunities

Pay: £27,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person