Herdsperson – Harper Adams University

Working Pattern – This is a full-time position of 37 hours per week, on a 5-day working week across a 10 days on, 4 days off rota. Overtime may be available, at time or taken as TOIL. 

£28,381 to £30,805 per year, Overtime is extra

Commitment to your development with investment in training and courses.

Uniforms, PPE, wellies and other required equipment are provided.

Accommodation available depending on your circumstances

Newport, Shropshire

Essential Criteria:

• You must recognise the nature of the environment and have high regard for essential health and safety measures.
• Demonstrate experience in agriculture or a keen interest in learning

Our Farm & Business

Harper Adams University is the leading UK Higher Education (HE) institution focused on the land-based and food supply-chain sectors with an important national role in these subject areas. The farm team recently won the 2025 Gold Cup at Dairy Tech.

Harper Adams University has a variety of different livestock units, including dairy, sheep, beef and pigs, over 1000 acres. This role will be working within the dairy unit, which consists of 400 pedigree Holsteins who are milked three times a day through a 40 internal Rotary parlour, producing 13,000 litres. Our milk is supplied through a Muller, Morrisons contract. The herd is calved all year round, with all the data and records kept up to date using Uniform and Cow Manager software.

We are passionate about having a positive working environment for our team, so we have regular team meetings and discussions and a monthly farm coffee morning for the whole farm team.

Your role

This is a unique position where you will be working within an educational environment, which means communicating with students and keeping the utmost respect for animal welfare & on-farm safety.

As a Herdsperson, roles and responsibilities will include.

• Ensuring animal health & welfare is the top priority, reporting any observations to the senior team
• Milking to a high and consistent standard as part of a team
• Keeping basic records and compliance up to date.
• Keeping the overall farm tidy and safe to operate, adhering to health and safety protocols.
• Basic tractor & machinery driving, including maintenance of the farm equipment and facilities
• Liaising with vets for the farm
• Supporting the dry cow management, calving cows and colostrum protocols.
• Supporting on farm practical teaching sessions
• Hosting on farm visits
• General yard work including crapping & bedding of cubicle sheds
• Helping with other farm requirements when needed
• Assisting the dedicated youngstock team within the calf facility and heifers either in the youngstock shed or grazing infrastructure.

• A full UK Driving license.
• Proof of UK right to work
• DBS check will be required
• Be an organised individual who is a self-starter, a team player and has strong communication skills.
• Due to being on the farm while students are present, it’s important for you to be punctual, presentable and approachable at all times.
• This role has an official title of Technical Science Officer (TSO), but this is equivalent to a Herdsperson.

• Working Pattern – This is a full-time position of 37 hours per week, on a 5-day working week across a 10 days on, 4 days off rota. Overtime may be available, at time or taken as TOIL. 
• £28,381 to £30,805 per year, Overtime is extra
• Commitment to your development with investment in training and courses.
• Uniforms, PPE, wellies and other required equipment are provided.
• Accommodation available depending on your circumstances