About the job

Job summary

An exciting opportunity offered within the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) Farm. Although this role is administered and managed by the Education Department, the Farm Manager is technically a standalone role solely responsible for the MCTC Farm.

Are you passionate about animal welfare, sustainable agriculture, and ensuring compliance with regulations? Join our team as a Farm Manager and play a pivotal role in being responsible for our farm's operations! The Farm Manager role is both varied and gratifying.

Responsible for the management of the farm estate and the efficient delivery of farm related courses. You will be joining a fun and friendly team of dedicated military and civilian support staff. We look forward to welcoming you.

MCTC is an establishment that provides corrective training for service personnel sentenced to periods of detention; it is not a prison. The Education Department predominantly provides resettlement opportunities including trade training and civilian life preparation for those of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force who are to be discharged after their sentence.

The position offers 37 hours per week.

Job description

This post will suit a highly motivated individual who is keen to take the initiative and influence learners as well as the future of the Farm. There will be training and mentoring to support this as part of the role.

We will encourage you to efficiently provide the day-to-day management of the farm estate; including management of buildings, animals, medicine administration, stock & agriculture ensuring that all processes and activity is aligned with relevant legislation.

To achieve this, you will need to be proficient in the use of IT and Microsoft Office. We need someone with validated administrative skills, knowledge and experience combined with strong verbal and written communication skills! These are key to success in this role.

The nature of the job ensures variety, MCTC is a Tri-Service establishment that requires Civil Service support to deliver key objectives, Education being a main valued goal. We receive individuals who have been awarded a detention period from 14 days to 2 years. We are here to support those individuals throughout their sentence within a custodial and educational environment.

Versatility will be required to work in a collaborative working environment, the ideal candidate will need to possess external liaison communication ability underpinned by a desire to deliver an effective and efficient level of animal care. The Farm Manager is the face of the MCTC Farm. The Farm’s specific tasks are to:

• Contribute to purposeful activity for detainees through provision of meaningful work.
• Provide a therapeutic release for detainees who find other education and training difficult to cope with, through working outdoors alongside staff, colleagues and animals.
• Contribute to the resettlement of detainees through provision of qualification earning vocational training.

Duties and responsibilities within the MCTC Farm can be varied and this requires a positive approach! Flexibility and willingness to prioritise tasks in a methodical order.

The department promotes a positive, professional, and friendly image to all our customers and visitors and therefore candidates should maintain an appropriate and professional standard to reflect their position at all times.

Duties of the role include but are not limited to:

• Supervise and manage day-to-day farm operations, including animal care, feeding, and health management.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant UK legislation and industry standards concerning animal welfare, health, and safety.
• Develop and implement efficient farming practices to optimise productivity while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Develop and implement the Farm Action Plan to ensure the Farm is continuously evolving and improving to meet the needs of the detainee and staff cohorts.
• Oversee and maintain accurate records, including animal health, inventory, and regulatory compliance documentation.
• Train and supervise farm staff, ensuring adherence to proper protocols and safety measures.
• Develop and implement emergency response plans for potential crises, such as disease outbreaks or extreme weather conditions.
• Deliver, assess and initiate farm related courses for detainees and other individuals as directed by the SEO; actively analyse provision offered at the farm and propose/organise the changes require.
• Monitor detainee behaviour, dress, conduct and performance, completing the detainees’ reports in detail for those on prescribed courses; reporting issues and concerns promptly to relevant personnel.
• Monitor detainee development and ensure purposeful activity and direction is catered to individual needs.
• Remain qualified and up to date with current and emerging Civil and Military legislation pertinent to the task. This may include attendance at meetings or courses as appropriate.

Person specification

Essential:

• The ideal candidate will possess excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to positively influence and manage students on an individual and group basis to account for learners’ preferred learning styles.
• A self-starter who can generate new insights and approaches of Farm management and course delivery.
• Exhibit personal qualities and behaviours which are a role model for others – being open to receive challenge and feedback; value diversity and difference; and to work as part of a team to get the job done.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications and a good level of IT literacy.
• Be a standout colleague, ready to jump into the role and not be afraid to ask questions. We all work closely together, so collaboration is key.

 Desirable:

• Previous instructional experience with a recognised qualification in further education.
• Experience in farm management or a related agricultural field.
• Knowledge of animal husbandry, welfare, and agricultural regulations, in the UK.
• Proficiency in record-keeping and farm management software/tools.
• Experience of working in an educational environment or practice of supporting others.
• An understanding of the purpose of employability, resettlement, education and training to support those leaving the Military Services.
• European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) level of Level 2 IT skills or equivalent.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,641 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Applications will be sifted on two behaviours, but in the event of a significant number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the lead behaviour: Managing a Quality Service. In this instance the remaining elements will be tested at interview.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability. (500)

Please note that it is essential that your personal statement is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and recent practical experience for each of the following selection criteria in your application:

At application, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

At interview, you will be assessed against the above along with the following Behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Application sifting is scheduled to take place on 4/5th April.

Interviews will take place at MCTC on W/C 8th April. A minimum of 2 full working days notice will be provided for interviews.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

The sift will be completed within 5 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses for the interview.

The position offers 37 hours per week and requests to work flexibly will be considered, taking into account business needs.

This post does not offer any assistance with relocation allowances.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative, Making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.