Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Job description

CoFarm Cambridge is looking for a special ‘plants and people person’ who loves the variety of working with people, plants and nature, all year round and in all weathers. The person we are looking for will be an experienced head grower and market gardener who thrives on enthusing, teaching and giving others the confidence and skills to grow food sustainably.  Warm, confident and highly collaborative, you will have a knack for putting people at ease and making them feel comfortable, valued and included.

Creating universal access to sustainable, nutritious food is something you will be passionate about. You will understand why and how a ‘just transition’ to agroecological food and farming systems across the UK  - and indeed globally -  is key to tackling climate change, biodiversity loss and health inequalities. 

Over the first 5 seasons, the horticultural leadership for CoFarm Cambridge was provided on a freelance, part-time basis. The horticultural lead to date will be continuing to raise all of the farm’s seedlings for this growing season on a freelance basis. The successful candidate will therefore be overseeing the planting of this year’s crops but will not be required to also raise this season’s seedlings, as this process is already well underway. 

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• Oversee and manage all aspects of the flagship CoFarm site in Abbey, ensuring its smooth operation and productivity, including crop planning, planting, cultivation, harvesting and distribution.
• Plan, implement and maintain sustainable, chemical free and nature-friendly farming and market gardening practices, prioritising soil health, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. 
• Manage resources effectively, including budget, equipment, supplies, and infrastructure, ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
• Maintain accurate records related to crop yields, staff and volunteer hours, finances, and other relevant data, providing regular reports.
• Ensure a safe and health-enhancing environment for all staff, volunteers, and visitors, adhering to health and safety policies, regulations and good working practices.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

FARM MANAGEMENT

• Develop, communicate and implement annual crop plans, ensuring a diverse and productive harvest as head grower.
• Oversee all aspects of farm operations, including planting, weeding, harvesting and distribution.
• Manage soil fertility and ecosystem health through sustainable practices like composting, cover cropping and nature-friendly integrated pest management.
• Maintain farm infrastructure, tools, and equipment and ensure the farm is tidy, well presented and aesthetically pleasing.
• Monitor weather conditions and adjust farm practices accordingly.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

• Lead, train, grow and supervise a team of farm staff, trainees and apprentices, fostering a positive, collaborative and productive work environment.
• Delegate tasks effectively - to colleagues and to volunteers - and provide ongoing support and mentorship to ensure efficient and effective work.
• Plan and organise the work rota for the team, ensuring adequate cover for CoFarming sessions and year-round horticultural tasks. 
• Collaborate with and support colleagues to foster a positive, safe, inclusive and well-managed volunteer environment.

ADMINISTRATION

• Maintain accurate records of farm activities, including inputs, crop yields, staff and volunteer hours, and financial transactions.
• Prepare reports and budgets.
• Manage farm finances, including purchasing and receiving deliveries of supplies, liaising with suppliers and contractors and paying bills.
• Liaise with existing and prospective customers and partners over farm orders & arrangements for collection, delivery and preparation of invoices.
• Meet with and communicate with colleagues - on and off-site - to make plans; review what’s working and what could be improved; identify opportunities and training needs and understand and support each other’s objectives and roles. 

COMMUNITY EDUCATION & ENGAGEMENT

• Lead educational farm tours for community members, subscribing organisations and community-based organisations.
• Contribute to the successful delivery of CoFarm’s annual World Food Day celebrations.
• Act as an ambassador for CoFarm at other key community events and festivals.

HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING

• Ensure that the farm is a friendly and welcoming place, where everyone feels emotionally and physically safe and included.
• Ensure, with guidance from Designated Safeguarding Leads, that CoFarm’s Safeguarding policies for children & young people and adults at risk are rigorously implemented.
• Take a lead on identifying; assessing; documenting; communicating and mitigating horticultural & farming related hazards and risks (e.g machinery, water harvesting and plant related hazards) and reporting all incidents and near misses according to CoFarm’s Health & Safety policy.
• Ensure that the farm; its property and equipment are secure and safely stored when the farm is unattended and be the first point of contact for site-based emergencies and enquiries.
• Provide pre-activity briefings and demonstrate safe handling and use of horticultural hand tools and how to safely maintain and store tools and equipment.
• Provide training, supervision and guidance to selected team members on the safe and effective use of specialist market gardening equipment, such as two-wheeled tractors and other machinery. 
• Administer Emergency First Aid to CoFarmers; visitors and colleagues and attend regular Emergency First Aid and Mental Health First Aid training.

GENERAL

• Be an ambassador for CoFarm’s vision, purpose and values.
• Uphold CoFarm’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion; safeguarding and other organisational policies and procedures.

Application information

For full details and instructions on how to apply please download a PDF copy of the recruitment pack by visiting https://www.cofarm.co/work-with-us

PLEASE NOTE: THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MONDAY 17TH MARCH 2025.

Interviews will take place between 26th and 31st March.

The successful candidate/s will be invited to start ASAP, subject to receipt of successful references.

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs