Farm Operations Manager- Nr Barnham, Suffolk – RR1903

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Operations Manager to join a successful family Farming Business, nestled in the heart of East Anglia. The Farm has been thriving for nearly 100 years across four generations and continues to grow. The farm houses 44,000 high welfare, free-range hens, providing a continuous supply of premium eggs to their dedicated, on farm, egg packing facility.

The Operations Manager will be required to:

• Support the business owner with multiple, daily aspects of the farm and enterprise ensuring smooth operations across the various departments.
• Oversight of the day-to-day operations of the egg packing facility, ensuring optimal efficiency in the supply of the Farms branded eggs to a range of national retail multiples and other high end customers.
• Ensure compliance with the British Lion Code of Practice standards, RSPCA Assured and food safety regulations.
• Conduct regular audits of facilities to ensure hygiene, biosecurity, and quality standards.
• Ensure all audits achieve pass rates.
• Logistics and supply chain management of deliveries to customers, including retail multiples at depot level.
• Staff management, including reviews, training, support and coaching.
• Manage existing, and support with recruiting additional free range egg producers locally.
• Implement new and efficient systems in the packhouse.
• Manage all equipment, facilities and property maintenance, developing relationships with sub-contractors to ensure timely repair.
• Oversight of farm environmental programmes in line with current Defra schemes.
• Liaise with farm contractors.
• Have knowledge of all enterprises within the business to provide support to Assistant Managers when Managers are on holiday and at peak times.
• Assist with Business development.
• Develop and implement strategies for operational efficiency, cost control, and profitability.
• Prepare and manage budgets for farming and packing operations.
• Track operational costs, identify cost-saving opportunities, and manage supplier relationships.
• Manage contracts with suppliers including an inventory for packaging materials, and other essentials.
• Manage the businesses vehicle fleet maintenance to ensure consistent deliveries of high-quality eggs to retailers and wholesalers.
• Promote and enforce health and safety policies for staff and contractors.
• Oversee waste management and implement environmentally sustainable practices within the farm and packing operations.
• Develop and manage emergency response protocols for biosecurity risks, such as disease outbreaks.
• Oversee quality control processes for egg collection, grading, and packing.
• Ensure traceability from farm to packing, maintaining accurate records for audits and customer assurance.

This role requires strong multitasking abilities, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of all business enterprises.

The person must:

• Be able to demonstrate Critical thinking and Initiative with the ability to prioritise and deal with numerous issues as they arise.
• Have proven previous Operations Management experience.
• Have an understanding of the Agricultural and / or poultry sector.
• Be proactive, a great leader, organised and structured.
• Confident when it comes to using several types of software to efficiently manage farm operations.
• Be someone who is excellent at devising, implementing and managing systems, always striving to make procedures more streamlined and efficient
• Be trustworthy and exhibit the 5 core Farm values in their work: Passionate – Innovative – Adaptable – Collaborative and Respectful.

The Hours:

• 7am- 3.30/4pm
• Additional hours and weekends during peak periods

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to Rebecca – info@ruralrecruitment.co.uk