Sustainable Farming Officer – Scotland

Sustainable Farming Officer – Scotland (Maternity Cover)

Hours: 3 days per week (negotiable as to which days)
Contract: Minimum 9 months, with possibility of extension
Salary: £18,540 pa (pro rated from an FTE of £30,900)
Location: Home based in Scotland with travel for meetings, events and farm visits
Start date: Preferred between 12 and 19 October 2026 to ensure a comprehensive handover (maternity leave commences 2 November)

The Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) is a farmer-led organisation helping farmers restore the balance between farming and nature. We support farmers by sharing knowledge, resources, and case studies to boost food production, protect wildlife, and build climate resilience. We influence policy to secure fair rewards for farmers who care for nature and connect like-minded farmers across the UK.Our network is open to all – farmers, the public, and organisations.

This role is a maternity cover role.

We are seeking an organised, enthusiastic and proactive individual to provide maternity cover and coordinate NFFN Scotland’s Knowledge Exchange (KE) programme of activities.

The successful candidate will have a sound understanding of Scotland’s farming and crofting sectors, strong organisational and communication skills, and the ability to maintain and develop relationships and inspire change. This role involves hitting the ground running,  working closely with farmers, crofters, partner organisations, and the wider NFFN team to deliver a programme of impactful events, grow the network, and support knowledge sharing to accelerate the adoption of nature friendly farming practices.

This maternity cover role will play a key role in delivering NFFN Scotland’s KE strategy, contributing to the growth of our network and raising awareness of nature-friendly farming across the country. They will work closely with the NFFN Scotland Manager and the farmer-led steering group, as well as other NFFN staff involved in farmer and public engagement, to ensure alignment with the wider organisational strategy. Strong communication skills and the ability to engage confidently with a range of audiences are essential, as is a proactive and collaborative approach to working across teams and with external partners.

This is a home-based role based in Scotland, and the successful applicant must be willing and able to travel to farms, meetings and events across the country, including occasional overnight stays. Valid UK driving licence, or an equivalent licence permitting you to drive in the UK is essential.

Full role profile here

Closing date for applications: 2 September 2026 at midday (12pm)

Interviews: 8 and 9 September 2026