Vacancies

lead grower (Permanent)

Deadline for applications:

18th February 2026

Interviews to be held:

week of 2nd March 2026

Conditions of Employment

• Start Date: Immediate

• Hours: 30 hours per week spread over 4 days per week, ideally 9am until 5pm, although on harvest days an earlier start may be required.

  The working day is 8.0 hours including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.

  There is the option to increase hours to 5 days, 37.5 hours per week during the peak harvest season in the summer

• Probationary period of 3 months.

• Pay: £12.21 per hour rising to £12.71 from 1st April.

• Holiday entitlement 22.4 days per year.

• Work on some weekends and Bank Holidays might be required.

• 20% discount on purchases from the shop.

Growing with Grace is an expanding enterprise. We grow a wide range of stock-free organic vegetables and fruit in our 2.5 acres of glasshouses. We also bring on vegetable, fruit and herb plug plants for sale. These, along with a large range of organic groceries, are sold through our delivery service which serves around 400 people and through our farm shop.

As Lead Grower you will play a key role in one of the most successful and long-running organic vegetable farms in the north of England. You will be responsible for vegetable production and harvesting and will ensure production of high-quality crops which meet the needs of our markets and conform to Soil Association organic standards and Vegan Organic Network stock-free requirements.

You will have experience of organic food production and/or horticulture and a passion for locally grown food. You will demonstrate interest and enthusiasm for learning. You will be a self-motivated individual looking for a position of responsibility.

Job Description

Crop Planning

• Produce an annual propagation and planting out plan accounting for the need for crop rotation, crop spacing, succession sowing and optimum timings.

• Monitor trends in sales of fruit and vegetables through our delivery scheme, box scheme and farm shop to inform future years planning.

Harvest Management

• Harvest crops during the week at the best time to ensure optimal timing and quality for shop and delivery scheme customers.

• Store crops appropriately in the chiller and keep harvest records.

• Produce a weekly crop availability sheet for the Fresh Produce Coordinator, accurately predicting the following week's yields.

Vegetable Production

Day-to-day responsibility for growing organic stock-free vegetables under 2.5 acres of glass, incl.

• Timely propagation and planting out in line with your propagation plan.

• Plant care including pest management, irrigation, weed control, supporting and training.

• Glasshouse management including ventilation and irrigation.

• Soil management, fertility management and bed preparation.

• Procure equipment as required, manage a budget and process invoices in a timely fashion.

Volunteer Supervision

• Plan a range of tasks for volunteer workdays which play to a wide range of abilities, are interesting and engaging and relevant to your weekly priorities.

• Ensure volunteers are engaged, happy and safe during workdays.

Record Keeping

• Keep all necessary records relating to propagation, treatments and harvest for internal production and yield monitoring and Soil Association standards.

• Prepare for and be present at the Soil Association inspection, providing the necessary data to the inspector.

Other

• Such other duties as required to ensure the smooth running of the enterprise.

Person Specification

Essential:·

• Relevant qualification in or experience of organic food production.

• Understanding and experience of crop production planning including rotation planning, propagation planning, fertility management and seed ordering.

• Knowledge and experience of the common pests and diseases of fruit and vegetables and their management.

• Experience of protected cropping including irrigation and ventilation

• Experience of record keeping relating to propagation, harvest, sales and quality management.

• Excellent time management skills and the ability work systematically and to prioritise tasks.

• Excellent team and communication skills.

• Consistently punctual and reliable.

• Physically fit as agility, lifting and working in hot and cold conditions is required.

• Self-motivated and driven, able to work creatively to demanding targets.

• Experience of procuring tools and equipment and of working to a budget.

• Enthusiasm for good food and food culture.

• Knowledge of food sustainability issues.

Desirable:

• Understanding of the Soil Association Organic standards and experience of keeping and preparing documentation relating to Soil Association inspections

• Knowledge or experience of stock free organic production systems.

• Experience of supervising and supporting volunteers, preferably in a farming environment.

• Experience of working in a co-operative.

• Knowledge of risk assessment and health and safety issues relating to farms particularly relating to working with volunteers.

• IT literate and confident in Excel, Word, Publisher and using email and the internet.

• Clean driving licence.

• First Aid qualification.

If you are interested in any advertised roles, please send a copy of your CV and a filled in application form to farm@growingwithgrace.org.uk

Other Roles

If you think that you would be interested in working with us then please email us at farm@growingwihtgrace.org.uk and we will be happy to keep you on record for when positions become available.

Alternatively we would welcome your help as a volunteer