CAREER PORTAL: WORK WITH US
CAREER PORTAL: WORK WITH US
Head of Engagement - Cereals & Oilseeds
Join us as Head of Engagement for the Cereals & Oilseeds sector and help drive our engagement strategy. This is a national role requiring regular travel across the UK and leadership of a field-based team.
Reporting to the Cereals & Oilseeds Director, you will lead the delivery of the sector engagement strategy and business plan, ensuring AHDB provides meaningful value to levy payers. Working closely with industry stakeholders, the sector council and colleagues across the organisation, you will drive engagement, influence industry priorities and ensure the successful delivery of knowledge exchange activities.
You will be an experienced leader with a strong understanding of the cereals and oilseeds industry, who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery while comfortably leading teams, working with senior stakeholders and representing AHDB across the industry.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting the future of British agriculture and can translate industry needs into impactful activity that delivers value for levy payers.
About AHDB
We are the independent, impartial public body that unlocks success in British agriculture. Funded by a levy from over 100,000 British producers in the beef, lamb, pork, dairy and cereals sectors, we support and champion farmers, growers and processors, often where no one else can or will.
We share the expert, evidence-based research and reports that inform on-farm decision making. We promote British produce to the UK public through domestic marketing campaigns, and we identify and open new global export opportunities to help farm businesses grow.
We provide the evidence and information to help levy payers be more sustainable and profitable. Together, we deliver the insights, the influence and the impact that farmers need.
Vacancy Type
Permanent
Department
Cereal & Oilseeds Engagement
Work Base
Field-based
Location
National
Salary Range
£65,000 - £67,000 per annum, depending on experience, plus car allowance
Total Hours (per week)
35
Closing Date
23/09/2026
Responsibilities
- Lead the development and delivery of the Cereals & Oilseeds engagement strategy to deliver on the sector business plan, ensuring value for levy payers and alignment with sector priorities
- Provide leadership, direction and development for the Knowledge Exchange team, creating a high-performing and engaged culture
- Build and maintain influential relationships with levy payers, industry stakeholders, sector council members and partner organisations
- Ensure engagement activities, events and communications are coordinated, impactful and deliver measurable outcomes for the sector
- Manage budgets, performance measures and KPIs, ensuring effective delivery against business objectives
- Act as a senior ambassador for AHDB, representing the organisation at industry forums, events and stakeholder groups
- Provide strategic insight and advice to support sector decision-making, future priorities and business planning
- Develop strategic partnerships and champion collaboration across AHDB and the wider industry to maximise impact and value for levy payers
Essential Criteria
- Significant experience within the cereals, oilseeds or wider arable sector, having previously managed a team
- Proven experience of developing and delivering strategic plans
- Experience leading and developing high-performing teams
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Experience managing budgets and operational performance
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
The benefits…
We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work, so we have a great mix of benefits and opportunities to give you the recognition you deserve:
- 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday
- 33 days of annual leave plus one privilege day (inclusive of bank holidays)
- Life assurance cover (4x salary)
- A market-leading defined contribution pension scheme with Legal & General
- Enhanced pay of 20 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, subject to length of service
- A paid day each year to volunteer and make a difference in your community
- Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- Excellent training and development opportunities and an agreed development plan
- Recognition awards throughout the year
- Reward Gateway membership – this gives you a huge number of online discounts and savings
Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications. For any queries or support with your application, you can contact us at recruitment@ahdb.org.uk
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