Head of Food, Farming and Environment
NFU · Direct employer
Job Title: Head of Food, Farming and Environment
Salary: Circa £90k to £100k plus competitive benefits package including company car or car allowance
Location: Stoneleigh Based - Agile working and travel as required
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Shape the Future of UK Food, Farming and the Environment
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) represents 43,000 farmers and growers across England and Wales, producing over 60% of the UK’s food and managing 75% of its land. As a trusted and influential voice, we work to ensure policymakers and the food supply chain support British farming.
The NFU plays a pivotal role in shaping attitudes towards British farming and driving progress on the most critical issues facing food, farming and rural communities. With a strong presence in Westminster and the media, and a nationwide network of regional and county offices, we deliver real change for our members where it matters most.
The opportunity
We’re seeking an experienced, inclusive leader who can translate complex policy into clear, compelling messages. You’ll thrive in a fast-paced, political environment and bring a strong track record in policy development, advocacy and strategic influence.
You will enjoy the challenge of leading multi-disciplinary teams and want to be involved in highly topical, politically charged issues that will impact the nation’s food and environmental resilience.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead NFU policy across food, farming, animal and plant health
- Drive work on key issues including food security, supply chains, farm assurance, and climate and environmental policy
- Strengthen relationships across the food supply chain and ensure farmers’ voices are heard
- Provide strategic leadership across policy teams and support NFU governance and boards
- Influence government policy to deliver fair outcomes for farmers
Tasked with giving strategic oversight and leadership to the NFU’s sector and cross sector policy department, you will ensure that the NFU delivers effective and relevant representation on all policy issues to farmers and growers throughout England and Wales.
You will lead engagement with NFU governance structures, including Officeholders, Sector Boards and the Food, Farming and Environment Board, ensuring timely support, effective decision-making and strong contribution to cross-cutting policy development.
About you
Acting as a vital connector, you’ll bring together expert policy insight, member priorities and external influence—ensuring that the experiences of farmers on the ground shape policy development, and that NFU positions are both credible and impactful.
You will lead a large team and believe in taking people with you, wanting to motivate and inspire your team to deliver the best outcomes for our farming members.
If you are motivated by challenge and want to make a tangible difference to UK food, farming and environmental policy, this is a role where your leadership will have real impact.
Why choose us?
Join us and you’ll find an organisation that encourages and enables you to achieve your full potential. In return you will be rewarded with a full range of benefits including:
- Company car or car allowance
- Private Health insurance
- Generous holiday allowance (30 days a year pro rata + Bank Holidays), plus 1 annual company day
- Option to buy and sell annual leave
- Company funded health Cashplan
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave
- Performance-related pay
- Competitive Pension and Life Assurance (4x salary)
- Access to interest-free loans for cars, bikes, season tickets and driving lessons
- Employee Assistance programme to help you deal with life’s challenges
- Discounts on new vehicles, holiday rentals, wellbeing and lifestyle and many more
- Attractive, modern office, with on-site restaurant and free parking
Join us
We’re committed to recruiting a diverse and highly talented workforce. We’ll support you by providing extensive learning and development opportunities and the opportunity to build a career that balances your professional ambitions with your personal commitments, including agile and flexible working.
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. If we decide we’ve found the right person, we reserve the right to close this advert early.
REF228 799
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