Job Specification
Job Title: Sector Officer – Red Meat South West
Project: Farming Connect
Department: Rural
Line Manager: Sector Manager
Salary: £34,298
Aim
To support the innovative development and delivery of a high-profile Our Farms
network through recruitment, development, coordination, and knowledge transfer
dissemination of sector specific on-farm projects in line with Welsh Government
and the Farming Connect programme priorities.
Main Responsibilities
● Contribute to the development of a high performing team and to ensure
actions and work priorities within own region are aligned with the team's
goals.
● Plan the development, implementation, and coordination of Our Farms
Network projects in conjunction with the appointed industry expert,
ensuring there is no duplication, but rather enhanced complementarity,
between projects.
● Develop project proposals (to include evaluation methodology) in
conjunction with the KE Hub through ongoing discussions and
incorporation of literature reviews/project proposals recommendations as
required.
● Outline clear and achievable milestones and objectives of the projects.
● Coordinate work activities and track milestones and objectives via the Our
Farms system in the Delivery Management System and identify and
provide solutions to rectify issues in a timely and professional manner.
● Ensure appropriate reporting of progress of the project to farmers,
stakeholders, and management team.
● Ensure that the Farming Connect website is updated regularly with all
reports and updates from projects.
● Provide accurate statistics and information at the request of line manager
for Welsh Government Requests, dashboards, and industry updates.
● Ensure delivery of projects to the highest standard and timelines.
● Ensure effective communications of project outcomes via various
knowledge transfer dissemination routes.
● Ensure that the Welsh Government's strategies and policies are
incorporated into the Our Farms network activity.
● Proactively identify new opportunities for research, on-farm trials, and
knowledge transfer.
● Participate in external stakeholder events where appropriate and seek
opportunities to raise the profile of the teams, programme, and Mentera.
● As a minimum, is expected to continue their personal development,
knowledge and understanding of their specific sector.
● Research the sector priority areas in conjunction with the programme's
objectives.
● Expected to have knowledge of the budgets for projects and areas of work
under of which they work on but does not have budget authority.
● Attend meetings as requested by the Farming Connect management
team.
● Work closely with:
○ Line Manager and relevant Development Officers, ensuring the
effective planning and implementation of Demonstration Network
events within a specific area.
○ Marketing and Communications team to ensure that events are
promoted according to the integrated marketing and
communications strategy to the target audience in an effective and
timely manner.
○ Specialist and KE manager, pan-Wales projects manager and
specialist officers to support, as required, in the promotion,
recruitment, data collection and dissemination of results of the Pan Wales projects and try-out funds projects.
○ Service Centre to ensure that event registration and attendance at
events are recorded according to the Service Centre's registration
and attendance recording methods; and that these are submitted to
the Service Centre within five working days after event.
Other
● Ensure standards for quality, customer service, equality and diversity,
health and safety and biosecurity are met.
● Accept other reasonable duties and responsibilities as required.
● Represent Mentera as required.
Skills and Experience
Essential
● Educated to degree level, or equivalent, in agriculture or related subject.
● Strong relationships in the agriculture and scientific communities and
effective at networking.
● Demonstrable experience of working within the specified sector in the
agricultural industry in Wales.
● Extensive knowledge of agricultural and environmental strategies and
policies implemented throughout Wales, via The Agriculture (Wales) Act
2023.
● Evidence of project management skills.
● Ability to disseminate themes, research findings, and programme content
in a practical and clear manner relevant to the audience.
● Able to develop and integrate new services in an effective and timely
manner.
● Able to make difficult and timely decisions for the benefit of the business
and/or service, including raising appropriate concerns regarding service
delivery, budgets, and staff/sub-contractors.
● Advanced presentation and interpersonal skills.
● Proactive problem solver and team player.
● A self-motivator, accepting responsibility for setting and reviewing
priorities for achieving targets, with a clear focus on quality.
● The successful candidate should be based in the region.
● Excellent communication skills.
● Excellent IT skills including – Windows; Productivity software (email, word
processors, spreadsheets, file storage); Safe usage of computers and the
internet (searching and browsing the web, using websites and online
applications).
● If working from home for any period, you will be required to already have
a suitable internet connection.
● Full driving licence and use of a car.
● Knowledge of the Farming Connect Programme.
● Oral and written bilingual (Welsh/English) communication skills.
More information
If you would like an informal discussion about this post, please contact Siwan
Howatson on or
The requirements of this role means that it has been categorised as follows:
A driving licence and use of a car for business purposes:
• Essential
Welsh language ability:
• Listening/Speaking: Level 4
• Reading/Understanding: Level 4
• Writing: Level 4
Mentera provides language skills training to every staff member who wishes to
develop their use of Welsh.
How to apply
Applications for this post can be made by completing the application
form and equal opportunities monitoring form and returning them to
by 10 am, Friday, 06 March 2026
Interviews
We will hold the interviews for this position on week either 10 or 11 March 2026
at our Aberystwyth office. If these dates are not convenient, please state so on
your application form.
Equality and Diversity Declaration
Mentera is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to
creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved
through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many
different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the
community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans
identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In
supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their
personal lives, for most roles we will consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements