Director of Farming Services

Soil Association Exchange

Bristol or London with hybrid working

£60,000 - £75,000 pa

Full Time

• Fixed Term

Closing on Sun, 13th Jul 2025

Food, Farming & Horticulture Sustainability

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About Us:

Soil Association Exchange is a new service for all UK farmers to help them farm in a way that improves the climate and protects nature and enhances their profitability. SA Exchange works with farmers to measure the environmental impact and provides advice and financial incentives on how the farm can improve.

Soil Association Exchange is a fast-paced, commercial startup that spun out of the Soil Association charity in 2022. Exchange sells its services to a variety of customers including retailers (e.g. M&S and Sainsburys), processors (e.g. Riverford and Arla) and financial institutions (e.g. Lloyds Banking Group). Through these companies we are now working with 1000 UK farmers.

About the Opportunity:

Lead Soil Association Exchange's farm-facing work as Director of Farming Services. You'll be our credible farm ambassador, managing our operations team and overseeing high-quality contract delivery. Shape our programmes like Exchange Market and Excel, steer scientific direction with our advisory group, and convene our Farmer Advisory Group. Work closely with our tech team on digital platform development, deliver strategic farm advice to high-profile clients, and be the main contact for our farming community. Own the operations budget and lead farmer experience development. This role puts you at the heart of transforming UK farming toward climate-friendly, nature-positive, and economically viable futures.

About You:

You have deep practical understanding of UK farming systems (arable, livestock, mixed) across conventional and regenerative approaches. Proven leader with team management experience, ideally of farm advisory teams. Strong track record building trusted farmer relationships in advisory/support contexts. You understand farm business models, economics, and sustainability metrics. Experience designing scalable farmer-facing programmes essential. You're farmer-first minded, a credible communicator comfortable in barns and boardrooms, mission-driven about farming's role in climate solutions. Collaborative leader who builds trust and brings clear vision. Curious, solutions-focused with bias for action. Skills in strategic planning, team management, budget oversight, stakeholder engagement, and data-informed decision making required.

Benefits:

• We offer a range of financial and lifestyle benefits to all our employees, including:
• 27 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days with length of service plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
• Pension scheme with ethical investment options and employer contribution increasing with length of service
• Free membership of the Soil Association and discounts on organic produce
• Volunteer days to give back to the local community or support green initiatives
• Family friendly policies and flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Sociable and engaging workplace of professionals that share a passion for healthy, sustainable lifestyle and produce

If you are passionate about sustainable farming and possess the required skills and experience, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our dynamic team!

Location

London or Bristol hybrid working (40% office based)

Hours & Contract

37.5 hours per week

Fixed Term Contract - 12 Months

Salary

£60,000 - £75,000 pa

Closing date for applications

13th July 2025


#s1-Gen

You have deep practical understanding of UK farming systems (arable, livestock, mixed) across conventional and regenerative approaches. Proven leader with team management experience, ideally of farm advisory teams. Strong track record building trusted farmer relationships in advisory/support contexts. You understand farm business models, economics, and sustainability metrics. Experience designing scalable farmer-facing programmes essential. You're farmer-first minded, a credible communicator comfortable in barns and boardrooms, mission-driven about farming's role in climate solutions. Collaborative leader who builds trust and brings clear vision. Curious, solutions-focused with bias for action. Skills in strategic planning, team management, budget oversight, stakeholder engagement, and data-informed decision making required.

Soil Association Exchange is a new service for all UK farmers to help them farm in a way that improves the climate and protects nature and enhances their profitability. SA Exchange works with farmers to measure the environmental impact and provides advice and financial incentives on how the farm can improve. Soil Association Exchange is a fast-paced, commercial startup that spun out of the Soil Association charity in 2022. Exchange sells its services to a variety of customers including retailers (e.g. M&S and Sainsburys), processors (e.g. Riverford and Arla) and financial institutions (e.g. Lloyds Banking Group). Through these companies we are now working with 1000 UK farmers. About the Opportunity: Lead Soil Association Exchange's farm-facing work as Director of Farming Services. You'll be our credible farm ambassador, managing our operations team and overseeing high-quality contract delivery. Shape our programmes like Exchange Market and Excel, steer scientific direction with our advisory group, and convene our Farmer Advisory Group. Work closely with our tech team on digital platform development, deliver strategic farm advice to high-profile clients, and be the main contact for our farming community. Own the operations budget and lead farmer experience development. This role puts you at the heart of transforming UK farming toward climate-friendly, nature-positive, and economically viable futures.


• We offer a range of financial and lifestyle benefits to all our employees, including:
• 27 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days with length of service plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
• Pension scheme with ethical investment options and employer contribution increasing with length of service
• Free membership of the Soil Association and discounts on organic produce
• Volunteer days to give back to the local community or support green initiatives
• Family friendly policies and flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme
• Sociable and engaging workplace of professionals that share a passion for healthy, sustainable lifestyle and produce