Location: Eastmoor Farm, Sutton on the Forest, York
Salary: £37,206.75 per annum
Hours of Work: 48 hours per week, 6 days out of 7 (8 hours per day)
On-site accommodation provided as part of the role
Who are we, and what do we do?
You may not have heard of us, but there's a good chance you've enjoyed our products!
Avara Foods is one of the UK's leading food businesses, supplying high-quality chicken and turkey products to major supermarkets and popular restaurants across the country.
We own and manage our entire supply chain, from farms to factory and all the way to our customers' doors. This allows us to offer a variety of rewarding career opportunities across agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, engineering and business support functions.
With major processing sites across England and Wales and an agricultural network of over 350 farms, we're proud to play a vital role in feeding the nation.
About the Role
We are looking for a dedicated and motivated Turkey Farm Manager to join our Agricultural Team at Eastmoor Farm, Sutton on the Forest, York.
As Turkey Farm Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the farm, ensuring the highest standards of bird welfare, health and safety, biosecurity, environmental management and team leadership are maintained at all times. You will lead your farm team to achieve operational, welfare and business targets while maintaining compliance with company standards and industry regulations.
This is a hands-on role requiring strong leadership skills and a commitment to maintaining excellent production and welfare standards.
What's in it for you?
- Competitive salary of £37,206.75 per annum
- Company pension scheme
- Life assurance cover
- Employee benefits and discount platform
- Ongoing training and career development opportunities
- Opportunity to complete NVQ/Diploma in Poultry Production Level 3 (if not already attained)
- A supportive and collaborative working environment
- The chance to play a key role within one of the UK's leading food businesses
Hours of Work
- 48 hours per week
- 8 hours per day
- 6 days out of 7
- Weekend working required
- Additional hours may be required to meet the needs of the business
- Participation in on-call and emergency alarm call-out duties as required
What will you be doing?
Poultry Management
- Manage turkey health and welfare to the highest standards at all times.
- Regularly inspect birds, monitoring health, welfare and production performance.
- Ensure feed and water provision meets flock requirements and company standards.
- Monitor and maintain temperature, ventilation and environmental controls.
- Weigh stock regularly and adjust feeding programmes accordingly.
- Follow all company management systems, controls and production programmes.
- Maintain accurate daily records and farm documentation.
- Ensure compliance with internal and external audit requirements.
- Respond to emergency alarm call-outs when required.
Environmental and Site Management
- Ensure all feeders, drinkers and farm equipment are functioning correctly.
- Maintain appropriate stock levels of feed, bedding, fuel, vaccines, medications, PPE and farm supplies.
- Identify and report equipment faults requiring specialist attention.
- Manage site hygiene and cleaning programmes.
- Test alarms, generators and fail-safe systems weekly and maintain records.
- Ensure farm buildings, stores, offices and surrounding areas are kept clean and tidy.
- Plan and coordinate farm maintenance activities.
- Maintain site security and visitor management procedures.
- Lead crop turnaround activities, including cleaning and disinfection processes.
Reporting and Performance Management
- Complete all required farm management systems and records accurately.
- Support and participate in internal and external audits.
- Correct any audit non-conformances promptly.
- Ensure flock records are maintained and stored in accordance with assurance requirements.
- Monitor farm performance against budget and operational targets.
- Ensure deliveries, stocks and receipts are recorded accurately.
- Manage holiday and absence reporting for direct reports.
- Support people management processes in line with company policies.
Communication
- Develop effective working relationships with veterinarians, hatcheries, feed suppliers and support teams.
- Ensure contractors carry out their duties to required standards.
- Report welfare, health or production concerns immediately.
- Attend Farm Manager meetings and communicate key messages to the team.
- Promote company communications and initiatives across the farm.
Leadership and Team Management
- Lead by example and promote positive behaviours.
- Coach, support and develop farm team members.
- Manage and motivate permanent and temporary staff working on site.
- Address team issues appropriately and escalate where necessary.
- Conduct regular performance reviews and feedback discussions.
- Ensure training requirements are identified and completed.
- Support a culture of continuous improvement and development.
- Act as a professional ambassador for Avara Foods.
- Work alongside the team to support physical farm duties where required.
Health & Safety
- Ensure the farm remains a safe place to work for employees, visitors and contractors.
- Proactively manage risk through hazard and near-miss reporting.
- Investigate and report accidents within required timescales.
- Ensure safe working practices and appropriate PPE usage at all times.
- Coordinate training and onboarding activities for new and existing staff.
- Ensure company procedures and training records are maintained.
What we're looking for
Experience & Qualifications
- Previous poultry or turkey farming experience is desirable.
- NVQ/Diploma in Poultry Production Level 3 (or willingness to complete through the company).
- Good standard of education.
- Full UK driving licence preferred.
Skills & Abilities
- Strong organisational skills.
- Good literacy and numeracy skills.
- Effective communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Basic IT skills including Microsoft Outlook and Excel.
- Ability to manage a farm with minimal supervision.
- Strong leadership and people management capability.
Personal Attributes
- Flexible and adaptable.
- Reliable and dependable.
- Forward-thinking approach.
- Team player.
- Committed and hardworking.
- Conscientious with excellent attention to detail.
- Positive attitude and strong work ethic.
- Strong leadership skills.
Key Performance Measures
- Achievement of budget and performance targets.
- Team coaching, training and development.
- Audit results and compliance standards.
- Bird welfare and quality performance.
- Health, Safety and Environmental compliance.
- Control of mortality, feed usage, waste, energy and water consumption.
- Staff retention and attendance.
- Zero accidents and incidents.
- Compliance with all company policies and procedures.
- Successful demonstration and maintenance of role competencies.
What happens next?
Once you've applied, a Resourcing Officer from our Hereford team will contact you to discuss your application and CV. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the role.
If you're ready to join a supportive team and build your career in agriculture, apply today!
🚫 Important: Due to bird welfare regulations, applicants must not keep avian pets, poultry, or pigs.
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.