Scheme Coordinator

To apply please download the application form HERE. Only application forms will be accepted for this post. Curriculum vitae will not be accepted.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary
• Enhanced Holidays
• Occupational Sick Pay
• Pension Scheme
• Company Bonus Scheme

Contract Type: Full-Time

Scheme Coordinator - Farming for Sustainability - Knowledge (Themed Groups)

Countryside Services Ltd wishes to appoint a Scheme Coordinator to assist in delivery of the Farming for Sustainability - Knowledge (Themed Groups) Scheme throughout Northern Ireland. The competition will also be used to compile a reserve list from which additional full-time or part-time staff may be appointed if required.

1. The Organisation:

Countryside Services Ltd (CSL) is wholly owned commercially independent subsidiary of the Ulster Farmers Union and provides a range of information, commercial and professional services to the farming and rural community. The Livestock Identification Division supplies livestock and other identification "tags" throughout the UK while the other services are delivered by the Rural Services Division which maintains a small team of technical and administration staff dedicated to delivery of these programmes.

CSL is a recognised Lantra training centre, and the Rural Services Division engages and manages a number of Training Associates to deliver a range of short skill and management courses. The Rural Services Team also works with other organisations in delivery of a number of programmes targeted at industry and individual development in the agricultural industry.

We have a long-term strategy to develop these activities and have recently been awarded the contract by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to support them in delivery of the Farming for Sustainability Scheme - Knowledge (2025 - 2030) Training and Themed Groups. The scheme is being managed through The College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) but delivered by CSL.

To service these programmes CSL now wishes to increase the core team of technical staff within the Rural Services Team by appointing a Scheme Coordinator to support the Contract Manager and Head of Rural Services in delivery of Lot 2 of the Farming for Sustainability - Knowledge (Themed Groups) Scheme.

2. SCHEME BACKGROUND

The Farming for Sustainability Scheme - Knowledge, aims to provide farmers and growers with a range of knowledge delivery methods to support the objectives of the SAP and support businesses to adapt to change. The Scheme is capable of reaching people across all farm businesses due to a range of intervention levels. It provides a structured pathway for Knowledge Transfer (KT) progression, meeting the needs of those requiring more complex decision making. This can be represented diagrammatically below:

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Due to the scheme several different KT layers incorporating varying depths of knowledge, there are a number of separate interventions that can be applied.

• Lower-level awareness information - available to all farmers in a variety of formats.
• Training - for training required by a significant number of farm businesses, DAERA will focus on delivery via e-learning courses. However, not all participants will have internet access, confidence or skills required to use this method, so additional face-to-face training is required.
• Business Sustainability Groups - longer term, whole farm approach, aimed at larger farm businesses.
• Themed Groups (TGs) - shorter term with a specific focus.

The Farming for Sustainability Scheme - Knowledge (2025 - 2030) Training and Themed Groups contract extends over 5 years and is being delivered and managed in 2 Lots:

• Lot 1 - Face-to-face training for groups of farmers
• Lot 2 - Themed peer-to-peer group facilitators

Lot 1 focuses on face-to-face training to individuals while Lot 2 seeks to deliver focused, high-quality peer-to-peer learning through Themed Groups (TGs), providing farmers and growers with specialist facilitation and mentoring on priority topics identified by DAERA. TGs complement Business Sustainability Groups by offering shorter-term, topic-specific support, enabling participants to share experiences, access expert guidance, and apply tailored solutions directly to their farm enterprises. The Scheme Coordinator will primarily be working to on the day-to-day delivery of the Themed Peer-to-Peer Groups (Lot 2) although may on occasions be required to support the Contract Manager in delivery and monitoring of Lot 1 delivery.

INTRODUCTION TO LOT 1:

Lot 1 contract has two key aspects:

• Training Event Management- administration, venue booking, marketing and promotion, recruitment, managing bookings (via CAFRE's online group booking system and telephone), helpdesk provision, event management on the day, and associated administration.
• Training Delivery- provision of suitably qualified trainers with the knowledge, expertise, and skills to deliver the specified training courses face-to-face to groups of participating farmers, aligned to existing CAFRE e-learning content.

Training courses to be delivered are:

• Soil Nutrient Health Scheme, including nutrient management planning. This course is fully developed and ready for immediate delivery
• Carbon Footprinting - understanding of carbon information and interpretation of farm data. This course is under development with the expectation of rollout within 3-6 months of appointment.
• Bovine Genetics - understanding genetic improvement and interpretation of data. This course is yet to be developed with the expectation of rollout within 12 months of appointment.

Training will be delivered to large groups (100+ attendees) and must replicate the e-learning version. All training content and materials are being provided by CAFRE. Some face-to-face training of smaller groups (25-49 attendees) may also be required, which will necessitate greater technical support from CSL due to increased discussion and questioning by the attendees. These groups may reflect specific enterprise types, e.g., pigs and arable enterprises which have a smaller number of farm businesses.

INTRODUCTION TO LOT 2:

Themed Groups (TGs) are a new development from the previous Business Development Group (BDG) scheme which operated under the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme and meets an identified need for shorter group duration with delivery focused on a specific topic/theme. The purpose of TGs is therefore to provide farm businesses with focused support and advice relating to specific themes and topics, therefore complementing BSGs which have a whole farm approach to sustainability and are aimed at larger, more intensive farms. TGs therefore meet a need for those farmers wishing to be part of a group learning experience but do not require a whole farm approach to address a specific issue. Knowledge delivered will be more in-depth compared to training in Lot 1 with some support offered to participants via mentoring.

General information relating to Themed Groups (TGs):

• TGs are short-term, topic specific peer-to-peer learning groups
• They are designed to provide farmers with technical knowledge and practical support focused on a specific topic.
• Groups will be recruited and formed by the CAFRE with CSL allocating facilitators to groups.
• These TGs complement Business Sustainability Groups (BSGs), which adopt a longer-term, whole-farm approach.
• Meetings: 5 and 12 meetings over the lifetime of the group (equivalent to 3-6 meetings per year, depending on theme).
• Groups size: Between 15 - 30 participants.
• Meetings will typically last 2-3 hours and will be held on members' farms. They will take place at a time that suits participants, with a significant proportion expected to take place in the evening to accommodate those working off farm.

TGs focus on priority themes linked to DAERA policy objectives and are summarised below:

Themed Group

Indicative Content

Suckler Cow Fertility

Reducing Calving Interval

Calving heifers at 2 years old Understanding fertility KPIs

Cow health

Water Quality

P-Balance

Genetic Improvement

Replacement Index

Terminal Index

Dairy Beef Index (DBI)

Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI)

Differs from Bovine Genetic training in Lot 1 as assumes that participants have completed this training and group delivery focuses on using the information based on farmers own herds to make breeding decisions.

TGs differ from conventional training in that they provide opportunities for farmers facing similar issues to come together, share knowledge and experiences, and learn from one another in a structured group setting. Knowledge transfer is supported by an experienced/ qualified facilitator who is also responsible for mentoring to help participants apply learning to their own farm business/ enterprise.

There is no formal assessment of learning within TGs. However, participants are expected to contribute to group discussions, share information about their farm practices, and use lessons learned to improve farm performance.

Facilitation

Facilitation will be delivered on a face-to-face basis on group member's farms . click apply for full job details