Career Prospects

A world of exciting career opportunities

Few industries offer such a diverse and rewarding range of careers. Agriculture and Horticulture careers brings together cutting-edge technology, environmental protection, and animal welfare, creating roles that truly make a difference.

With opportunities spanning countless specialisms, there’s a place for everyone. Whether you’re new to the sector or bringing years of experience, and whatever your background or qualifications, you’ll find a career path that can grow with you.

Job Profiles

Agri-environmental advisor

An agri-environmental consultant provides advice and guidance to clients on a range of environmental issues and solutions. Clients range from small farming businesses to large estates and even government departments. Also known as: agri-environmental consultant, environmenta...

Agricultural engineer

Agricultural engineers apply engineering principles to machinery commonly used in the land-based sector. Also known as a technician, mechanic or fitter. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilitie...

Agricultural technology (agri-tech) operator

Agri-tech operators work with advanced farming systems and/or automated machinery to improve the efficiency, productivity and sustainability on farms. Also known as a precision agriculture operator. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. H...

Agricultural valuer

An agricultural valuer is a trusted adviser to farms, estates and others for matters to do with agricultural and rural property and business. Also known as a land agent, factor (Scotland), surveyor or land steward. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated ...

Agronomist

An agronomist’s role is to advise the farmer on the scientific aspects of growing crops and managing soils to ensure maximum productivity and help protect the environment. Also known as an agriculturalist (crops), crop scientist, crop director, agricultural consultant, agron...

Assistant stockperson (general livestock)

An assistant stockperson helps the farm management team meet animal health and welfare standards and supports good environmental practices. Also known as assistant stock keeper, stockman, livestock assistant, or general farm worker. This profile highlights the skills and kno...

Auctioneer

Livestock auctioneers are at the heart of the local agricultural community, enabling the sale of animals and machinery at public auctions. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities depending on...

Breeding stockperson (pigs)

A breeding stockperson usually supports the farm team in serving (breeding), farrowing (birthing), and weaning of pigs that are to be reared for meat or breeding. Also known as pig stockperson, pig stock keeper, livestock keeper, pig farm worker (breeding), assistant livesto...

Breeding technician

A breeding technician is responsible for the successful breeding programme of cows within a dairy herd to high welfare standards and to ensure a sustainable farm business. Also known as artificial insemination (AI) technician. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge...

Calf rearer

A calf rearer looks after the health and welfare of young cattle to help meet performance targets. Also known as youngstock assistant, dairy assistant, herd assistant, farm assistant or calf assistant. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role...

Catcher (poultry)

A catcher is in charge of catching, handling, and loading poultry safely and quickly, ready for transport. Also known as poultry catcher, chicken catcher or poultry handler. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have va...

Certification manager

A certification manager has responsibilities for reviewing audit reports, assessing non-conformances, and ensuring members meet certification requirements. Also known as a certification reviewer, technical scheme manager, certification officer or certifier. This profile high...

Crop technician

A crop technician is responsible for using the advanced and innovative technologies available to optimise agricultural and horticultural crop yields on farms. Also known as cereals technician, agriculture technician (arable), horticultural operative, arable technician, arabl...

Egg collector

An egg collector works on poultry farms and collects eggs from hens, geese, turkeys, and ducks. Also known as poultry worker and egg collector, poultry farm worker (breeder farm or egg production only), free-range egg collector, or egg collector and packer. This profile high...

Farm assessor

Farm assessors undertake audits on farmers and growers’ sites to ensure that their practices and produce meets standards required for industry assurance schemes. Also known as an agricultural inspector. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the rol...

Farm manager (crops)

The farm manager is responsible for producing crops successfully in a sustainable farm business that promotes good environmental practice. Also known as agricultural manager, arable manager, farmer, farm foreman, or crop manager.

Farm manager (livestock)

The farm manager is responsible for running a productive and sustainable livestock business that meets animal welfare and environmental standards. Also known as agricultural manager, livestock manager, farmer or farm foreman. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge ...

Farm manager (poultry)

A farm manager (poultry) looks after the daily management of a poultry farm or unit to meet high standards of bird welfare and environmental practices. Also known as a farm manager, unit manager, poultry supervisor, farm supervisor, or assistant farm manager (poultry). This ...

Farm secretary

The farm secretary plays an important role on the farm. Responsibilities can include maintaining financial records, managing staff records and payroll, the maintenance of health and safety records, livestock registrations and movements, cropping records, and, in more advance...

Farm vet

Large animal farm vets play an important role in supporting healthy livestock, optimising animal welfare and safeguarding public health. Most farm vets work visiting farms, but others have advisory roles in large organisations and may work in abattoirs. Also known as a large...

Farm worker

Farm workers carry out a range of tasks to support the productivity and environmental management of operations on a wide range of farms. Also known as farm assistant, general farm worker or farm technician.

Fieldsperson (pigs)

A fieldsperson advises unit managers on the techniques and management processes that will optimise production on the pig units. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities depending on level of t...

Finishing stockperson (pigs)

A finishing stockperson helps the farm manager raise the pigs, protecting their health and welfare. Also known as pig stockperson, pig stock keeper, pig stocksperson, livestock keeper, assistant livestock keeper, or pig technician (finishing pigs). This profile highlights th...

Genetic consultant

A genetic consultant uses the application of genetic technologies, such as optimising breeding strategies and enhancing desirable characteristics, to improve animal and plant traits in agriculture. Also known as a genetics adviser or breeding consultant.

Growing manager (horticulture)

The growing manager is responsible for the successful production of crops in a sustainable farm business which promotes good environmental practice. Also known as horticulture growing manager or crop production manager.

Harvest operations manager

A harvest operations manager is responsible for harvesting and storing crops. They also help run a sustainable farm business that meets high environmental standards. Also known as operations manager, harvest manager, agricultural manager or arable manager.

Hatchery operative

A hatchery operative helps run the hatchery and look after day-old chicks. Also known as poultry hatchery operative, chicken hatchery operative, hatchery worker or hatchery assistant. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs wi...

Herd manager

A herd manager manages the cattle herd on the farm, making sure they are well looked after, and works towards key performance targets, including environmental and financial goals. Also known as herd supervisor, senior stockperson, assistant herd manager, stockman, stock keep...

Hoof trimmer (Livestock)

A hoof trimmer's role involves the use of tools, specialist mechanical/electrical equipment and expert knowledge to safely maintain the hooves of (mainly) cattle to improve overall health and productivity. Also known as a cattle foot trimmer. This profile highlights the skil...

Horticultural production operative (protected planting)

A horticultural production operative helps produce protected crops to a high standard in a sustainable and profitable nursery (plant growing) business. Also known as production operative, horticultural production worker, assistant grower or growing assistant. This profil...

Horticultural production operative (vertical farming)

A vertical horticultural production operative uses cutting-edge technology to produce crops to a high standard in a protected (indoor) environment. Also known as vertical farming production operative, vertical horticulture production worker, assistant grower (vertical farmin...

Horticulture field operative

As a horticultural field operative, you will help produce outdoor crops to a high standard. You will work as part of a business that is growing crops, utilising technology, and supporting the environment. Also known as field operative, farm operative, vegetable picker, fruit...

Irrigation assistant

The irrigation assistant is responsible for ensuring all crops/plants on the site are adequately watered, and all the associated equipment is correctly maintained. Also known as a horticultural assistant, glasshouse worker, technician, or irrigation operative.

Livestock scanner

A livestock scanner's role is to use ultrasound technology to check if animals are pregnant, how many offspring they are carrying, and when they are expected to give birth. Also known as pregnancy scanner, livestock ultrasound technician, livestock sonographer or veterinary ...

Milk recorder

Milk recorders play a crucial role in the dairy chain by testing for bacteria and sending samples to labs for analysis, ensuring that milk meets the required quality standards for customers to buy. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. Ho...

Milker

As a milker, you’ll be responsible for milking dairy cows while maintaining a high standard of animal welfare and hygiene. Also known as dairy hand, milking assistant, assistant dairy person, dairy farm assistant, dairy worker, relief milker or dairy farm worker. This profil...

Potato grading operative

A potato grading operative helps grade the potato crop to ensure the farm produces a crop that meets the customer's requirements. Also known as potato grader, potato sorter, potato packer, or potato farm worker. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated wit...

Poultry farm assistant

A poultry farm assistant helps the poultry farm management team with daily operations. Also known as poultry assistant, farm assistant, poultry worker, farm worker (poultry), stockman or stockperson. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role...

Rural banking manager (agribusiness and finance sector)

A rural banking manager is responsible for overseeing financial operations related to the agricultural sector. This role involves offering financial support to farmers and agribusinesses, as well as evaluating loan applications and ensuring compliance with banking regulation...

Soil scientist

A soil scientist works in the laboratory and in the field to study the physical properties of soil, as well as its chemical and biological makeup, evaluating data to inform land use and land management decisions and to help land users choose practices that are good for agric...

Sprayer operator

A sprayer operator applies crop protection products safely and correctly to different crops. Also known as arable operator, crop sprayer, pesticide sprayer, plant protection operator, sprayer operative, or farm machinery operator.

Stockperson (sheep)

A sheep stockperson helps the farm manager meet high animal health and welfare standards. Also known as shepherd, shepherdess, stocksperson, stock keeper, stockman, flock assistant, or livestock assistant. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the ...

Tractor driver

A tractor driver safely operates and maintains farm tractors and other farm machinery to carry out various farm activities. Also known as agricultural machinery operator, farm machinery operator, tractor operator or tractor operative.

Unit manager (pigs)

The pig unit manager is responsible for running a productive and sustainable unit. Also known as agricultural manager / livestock manager / farmer. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities dep...

Veterinary technician

Veterinary technicians work in large animal livestock practices, assisting the vets in delivering technical aspects of herd health work. This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities depending on l...

Vineyard manager

Vineyard managers oversee all the processes and tasks required to maintain the healthy growth of grapes on vines within a productive vineyard. As a vineyard manager, you may also be involved in the wine-making process if working for a small business. Also known as vineyard m...

Vineyard operative

Viticulture operatives typically work on all the tasks required to maintain the healthy growth of grapes on vines within the vineyard. As a vineyard operative, you may help with some of the processing of the grapes into wine once the grapes have been harvested. Also known as...