Head of Central Operations RABI – the Farmers Charity
Join RABI and help strengthen the systems, insight and leadership that underpin our support for farming people.
* Location: Oxford with flexible working (minimum two days per week in the office)
Who we are
Farming people are skilled, tenacious and deeply committed to feeding the nation and caring for our countryside. Yet the demands of farming life cannot be ignored. Long hours, isolation, unpredictable weather, financial pressures and ongoing shifts across the sector can affect health and wellbeing, with too many farming people experiencing poorer mental and physical outcomes than the wider population.
Founded in 1860, RABI – the Farmers Charity has adapted alongside farming life for more than 160 years. What began as financial assistance for farming people has developed into a modern, evidence-led charity that continues to provide financial support while delivering professional wellbeing services, leading sector research and working with partners and government to strengthen support across the sector.
In 2021, RABI released the findings of the largest survey of its kind into the health and wellbeing of farming people. This research identified, for the first time, a measurable farming wellbeing gap – a disparity in mental and physical health outcomes between farming people and the wider UK population. The findings marked a significant moment in RABI’s evolution, highlighting the scale of mental health challenges across the sector and the barriers preventing people from accessing support. That evidence continues to guide our services and long‑term strategy.
Today, we provide:
* Practical support: advice, guidance and help accessing entitlements
* Financial support: targeted grants and responsive assistance
* Emotional support: free, professional counselling and wellbeing services
Alongside this support, we are increasingly focused on prevention, early intervention and improving access to help. Through this work, RABI contributes to the long‑term ambition to close the farming wellbeing gap by 2050.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced and thoughtful leader to join RABI as our new Head of Central Operations. This is a senior role at the centre of the organisation, reporting to the Director of People & Resources and working as part of the senior leadership team.
You will provide strategic leadership across finance, HR, estates and operational systems, while shaping and embedding a developing data and insights function.
Strong governance and financial stewardship remain essential. Beyond oversight, this role is about strengthening how RABI uses insight to inform decisions. You will help connect systems, people and data so that strategic choices are confident, transparent and evidence‑led.
With a new CRM in place and investment committed to strengthening data capability, you will:
* Build and embed a high‑quality data and insights function
* Strengthen reporting, forecasting and performance monitoring
* Improve cross‑organisational systems and operational coherence
* Support Trustees and senior leaders with clear, meaningful insight
This role is central to ensuring RABI remains sustainable, accountable and strategically focused as we deliver our 2025–2030 strategy.
Who we are looking for
We welcome candidates from a range of backgrounds, including data and insight, organisational performance, strategic operations or complex service environments.
You will bring:
* Senior leadership experience within a values‑led organisation
* A strong understanding of governance, compliance and risk management
* Experience implementing data‑informed approaches aligned to strategy
* Confidence presenting at board level and working closely with Trustees
* A collaborative and systems‑minded approach
You may not come from a specialist career in finance or HR, but you will be confident overseeing financial performance with the support of qualified colleagues and comfortable leading people and culture‑related functions.
Above all, you will be measured, clear‑thinking and purposeful in your leadership. You will share RABI’s commitment to strengthening the wellbeing of farming people and reflect our values in how you lead others.
A full UK driving licence is required, along with a willingness to travel where needed.
About us
From our formation in 1860, RABI has supported farming people across England and Wales. What began as financial assistance has evolved into broader, evidence‑led support for wellbeing. Financial help remains a structured and responsive part of our work, alongside practical guidance and free professional counselling.
In 2021, RABI published the Big Farming Survey – the largest survey of its kind into the health and wellbeing of farming people. It identified a measurable farming wellbeing gap between farming people and the wider population.
That evidence continues to shape our services and inform how we work with partners.
Our 2025–2030 strategy builds on this insight. We are focused on prevention, early intervention and improving access to support, while continuing to respond during periods of significant financial pressure.
Since 2019, RABI has:
* Expanded access to professional mental health support
* Increased awareness and reduced stigma around seeking help
* Strengthened partnerships across health, welfare and agricultural networks
* Developed a clearer evidence base to guide service development
Today, RABI provides:
* Practical support: advice, guidance and help accessing entitlements
* Financial support: targeted grants and rapid response campaigns
* Emotional support: free, professional counselling and wellbeing services
Our helpline provides 24/7 access to support whenever it is needed. Regional Support Officers work directly with farming people, coordinating tailored assistance and connecting individuals to wider services where appropriate.
RABI is strengthening wellbeing across farming communities, contributing to the long‑term ambition to help close the farming wellbeing gap by 2050.
Working with partners and stakeholders across agriculture, health and rural communities, RABI continues to strengthen how support is delivered to farming people. Our work focuses on understanding the complex challenges affecting wellbeing across the sector and ensuring support remains relevant, accessible and responsive.
Our 2019 strategy set the ambition to significantly expand the number of farming people able to access RABI’s support. That ambition was achieved ahead of schedule in 2023. Building on this progress, our focus now is on strengthening the quality, accessibility and reach of our services as we deliver the charity’s 2025–2030 strategy.
Over the next five years, we will build on the foundations developed since 2019. This includes strengthening our evidence base, reducing barriers that prevent people from seeking support, developing collaborative partnerships across the sector and continuing to shape services that focus on prevention and early intervention.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 13th April 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: By COB Tuesday 21st April 2026
First stage interviews (virtual): Tuesday 28th April 2026
Second stage interviews (in person, Oxford): Wednesday 6th May 2026
Peridot and RABI are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.
Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
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