Grazing Officer

Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a conservation charity for everyone who cares about nature in
Sussex. We focus on protecting the wonderfully rich natural life that is found across our
towns, countryside and coast. By working alongside local people we create opportunities for us
all to connect with nature and for nature to thrive in even the most unlikely places. 

We are now in a critical decade for change to protect and restore nature with the help of more
people taking action for wildlife. Now is the time for an ambitious action plan to match the
scale and urgency of the challenges we are facing. Our new Strategic Plan – Our Wild
Sussex – was launched in April and sets out our vision and commitment to turning the
tide for wildlife so that by 2030, nature in Sussex will be in recovery.

To deliver our new strategic aims, we have recently completed a comprehensive restructure of
the charity to align to our goals. This restructure has generated a suite of new roles and
opportunities which will enable us to achieve our ambitions of restoring and protecting at
least 30% of Sussex land and sea for nature, inspiring one in four people in Sussex to take
meaningful action for wildlife, building a stronger more inclusive and diverse organisation and
becoming a net zero and climate resilient organisation.

In order to encourage diversity and inclusivity within the environment sector, we particularly
welcome applications from people who have an ethnically or geographically diverse background,
who are non-graduates and/or are living in economically deprived areas

The Role

You will be part of a team that manages the Trust’s livestock and delivers grazing on reserves
across East and West Sussex. The trust currently runs nearly 300 head of cattle, 1000 head of
sheep and a small group of goats and ponies, all of which help deliver conservation objectives
across the trust’s nature reserves.

The trust is continuing to increase the quality and number of stock available to deliver our
conservation objectives, as well as developing a sustainable grazing operation that is capable
of being financially self-sufficient.

We block calve outdoors in the spring and this year have put 120 cows to the bull, we run this
consecutively with lambing which we operate both an indoor and outdoor system, this year we are
hoping to tup at least 600 ewes. A major part of the role therefore will be to carry out
lambing and calving and all the husbandry that goes along with it, from tagging and castrating
right up to giving the ewes and cows an MOT before bulling/tupping.

The role will include daily livestock checks, bedding up and feeding in the winter, carrying
out basic animal husbandry, moving stock out onto reserves and gathering again at the end of
the season ready for sale or to come back to the “home” farm.

We currently make all our own straw and silage so a knowledge of and experience using tractors
and tractor mounted equipment would be desirable. As well as experience towing trailers on and
off road, both with the tractor and 4×4.

Please note this role is 35 hours a week and is on a rota with the rest of the team to provide
7 day a week cover. You will be required to work one weekend in four, having the Friday before
and the Friday after your weekend off.

The Person

A passion, love of livestock, farming and conservation is essential for this person. You will
be carrying out tasks with livestock in all weathers, at all times of the day or night and at
all times of the year.

Things rarely go to plan when working with livestock, a good sense of humour, flexibility and a
tenacious approach to work are vital for this person.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to work for an organisation that passionately believes
conservation and farming cannot exist in isolation of one another.

Although experience in a similar field would be a bonus, we are willing to consider all
candidates that have a real interest and love for this kind of work. If you are at all unsure
whether this is the right role for you or have any questions about the job, please feel free to
give the grazing manager a call to discuss the role. Tom – 07884496807

Benefits 

• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays each year (pro-rated for part time staff)
• Pension – company contribution from 6% and employee contribution of 3% 
• Life Assurance – Pension Scheme Members 2 x Salary, Non-Pension Scheme Members 1 x Salary
• 2 days paid leave for volunteering each year
• Flexible working policy
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• EAP
• Employee discounts
• Informal car share arrangements
• Annual out of hours working premium of £1200
• Monthly dog allowance for those that have working sheep dog