The RoleWe're looking for an experienced Irrigation Manager to lead the planning, operation and continuous improvement of irrigation across our large-scale vegetable farming operation.Reporting to the relevant Farm Director, you'll play a key role in ensuring our crops receive the right water and nutrient applications to maximise yield, quality and sustainability. You'll oversee our irrigation infrastructure, lead a dedicated team, and work closely with Agronomy, Production and Engineering teams to optimise water use, improve system performance and support the delivery of high-quality crops.This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong technical knowledge, leadership skills and a passion for modern agriculture to make a real impact within one of the UK's leading fresh produce businesses.What You'll Be DoingDevelop and manage irrigation programmes based on crop requirements, soil moisture, weather conditions and agronomic recommendations. Monitor and optimise water usage to maximise crop performance, quality and resource efficiency. Oversee the operation, maintenance and continuous improvement of irrigation infrastructure, including pumps, reservoirs, pipelines, filtration, automated systems and fertigation equipment. Manage water abstraction, storage and distribution while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and water licences. Lead, coach and develop the irrigation team, planning workloads and supporting continuous improvement. Analyse irrigation data, soil moisture monitoring and telemetry to improve system performance and efficiency. Coordinate preventative maintenance programmes, contractor activities and accurate operational reporting. Ensure all irrigation activities comply with health, safety, environmental and food safety standards. RequirementsWhat We're Looking For· Degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Irrigation Technology, Agronomy or a related discipline. · At least 5 years' experience managing irrigation systems within commercial vegetable, horticultural or large-scale farming operations.Experience managing irrigation systems within commercial vegetable, horticultural or large-scale farming operations. Strong knowledge of irrigation scheduling, crop water requirements, fertigation and water management. Experience with irrigation infrastructure, including pumps, filtration systems and automated controls. Proven leadership skills with experience managing teams and contractors. Excellent planning, organisational and problem-solving skills. Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and irrigation management software. A proactive, continuous improvement mindset with a passion for sustainable farming. Technical ExperienceIrrigation scheduling, water management and fertigation systems. Drip irrigation, pump stations, reservoirs, filtration and distribution systems. Automated irrigation controls, telemetry, soil moisture sensors and weather monitoring technology. Water abstraction, environmental compliance and resource management. Preventative maintenance, asset management and performance reporting.BenefitsWhy work for Barfoots? Investors In People Silver Award status 24/7 On-line GP Company pension scheme Life Assurance Employee Assistance Program Benefits Platform Development opportunities Discounted leisure membership Discounted vegetable box scheme Cycle to work scheme Free onsite parking Approved training centre for Highfield qualifications Rapidly growing company Committed to Sustainability - Using our waste to power our site!
The Role
We're looking for an experienced Irrigation Manager to lead the planning, operation and continuous improvement of irrigation across our large-scale vegetable farming operation.
Reporting to the relevant Farm Director, you'll play a key role in ensuring our crops receive the right water and nutrient applications to maximise yield, quality and sustainability. You'll oversee our irrigation infrastructure, lead a dedicated team, and work closely with Agronomy, Production and Engineering teams to optimise water use, improve system performance and support the delivery of high-quality crops.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong technical knowledge, leadership skills and a passion for modern agriculture to make a real impact within one of the UK's leading fresh produce businesses.
What You'll Be Doing
- Develop and manage irrigation programmes based on crop requirements, soil moisture, weather conditions and agronomic recommendations.
- Monitor and optimise water usage to maximise crop performance, quality and resource efficiency.
- Oversee the operation, maintenance and continuous improvement of irrigation infrastructure, including pumps, reservoirs, pipelines, filtration, automated systems and fertigation equipment.
- Manage water abstraction, storage and distribution while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and water licences.
- Lead, coach and develop the irrigation team, planning workloads and supporting continuous improvement.
- Analyse irrigation data, soil moisture monitoring and telemetry to improve system performance and efficiency.
- Coordinate preventative maintenance programmes, contractor activities and accurate operational reporting.
- Ensure all irrigation activities comply with health, safety, environmental and food safety standards.
Requirements
What We're Looking For
· Degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Irrigation Technology, Agronomy or a related discipline.
· At least 5 years' experience managing irrigation systems within commercial vegetable, horticultural or large-scale farming operations.
- Experience managing irrigation systems within commercial vegetable, horticultural or large-scale farming operations.
- Strong knowledge of irrigation scheduling, crop water requirements, fertigation and water management.
- Experience with irrigation infrastructure, including pumps, filtration systems and automated controls.
- Proven leadership skills with experience managing teams and contractors.
- Excellent planning, organisational and problem-solving skills.
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and irrigation management software.
- A proactive, continuous improvement mindset with a passion for sustainable farming.
Technical Experience
- Irrigation scheduling, water management and fertigation systems.
- Drip irrigation, pump stations, reservoirs, filtration and distribution systems.
- Automated irrigation controls, telemetry, soil moisture sensors and weather monitoring technology.
- Water abstraction, environmental compliance and resource management.
- Preventative maintenance, asset management and performance reporting.
Benefits
Why work for Barfoots?
- Investors In People Silver Award status
- 24/7 On-line GP
- Company pension scheme
- Life Assurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Benefits Platform
- Development opportunities
- Discounted leisure membership
- Discounted vegetable box scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free onsite parking
- Approved training centre for Highfield qualifications
- Rapidly growing company
- Committed to Sustainability - Using our waste to power our site!
Growing is in our nature. Over 50 years ago, we started life as a small family farm with a handful of people and a modest range of crops. Today, we’re a global farming and food business working thousands of acres and employing thousands of people around the world to grow, process, pack and market a range of fresh produce. Supplying our premium produce to some of the UK’s leading retailers and restaurants, we are very proud of what we do and how we do it. With our impressive green credentials, we truly are committed to sustainability, demonstrating continued investment in the latest technologies to help maintain our carbon neutral footprint. We provide our people with the inspiration and opportunities to grow and develop through our programme of on-going training. Being truly passionate about what we do and how we do it, we provide a supportive and diverse environment in which people can learn new skills and improve their capabilities to become leaders and pioneer sin both their fields and ours.
Growing is in our nature. Over 50 years ago, we started life as a small family farm with a handful of people and a modest range of crops.
Today, we’re a global farming and food business working thousands of acres and employing thousands of people around the world to grow, process, pack and market a range of fresh produce. Supplying our premium produce to some of the UK’s leading retailers and restaurants, we are very proud of what we do and how we do it. With our impressive green credentials, we truly are committed to sustainability, demonstrating continued investment in the latest technologies to help maintain our carbon neutral footprint.
We provide our people with the inspiration and opportunities to grow and develop through our programme of on-going training. Being truly passionate about what we do and how we do it, we provide a supportive and diverse environment in which people can learn new skills and improve their capabilities to become leaders and pioneer sin both their fields and ours.
