Pig Unit Assistant

Pig Unit Assistant

💰Salary: Up to £36,974 per annum (inclusive of contractual overtime) (dependant on qualifications and experience)

🕒Working pattern: Full time (rota based)

📍Location: Sparsholt Campus (Winchester) 

📅Closing date: 3rd June 2026  

🏡Subsidised onsite accommodation available

Overview ✨

The Pig Unit Assistant at Sparsholt College helps run a high-welfare, commercial-standard pig enterprise. Key duties involve daily stock husbandry, maintaining biosecurity, and supervising students during practical demonstrations. This dual-focused role balances modern farming practices with teaching the next generation of agricultural professionals.

Core Responsibilities: 🐷

1. Pig Husbandry

• Execute daily stock tasks including feeding, breeding, farrowing, health monitoring, weighing, and sorting.

• Maintain rigorous biosecurity and hygiene standards across all accommodation areas.

• Ensure farm assurance standards and strict environmental regulations are consistently met.

• Assist in ordering feed, managing stock levels, and undertaking essential estate/facility maintenance (e.g., fencing, housing repairs).

2. Education & Student Supervision

• Supervise, mentor, and guide Agriculture and Animal Management students during practical on-farm duties and demonstrations.

• Collaborate with academic staff to deliver experiential learning linked to the curriculum.

• Act as a role model, adhering to professional standards and strict health and safety protocols while students are on the unit.

3. General Farm Duties

• Assist with recording of physical and financial data related to the operation of our farm business

• Provide wider support across the College Farm as required, including relief duties for other livestock (e.g., dairy, sheep) or machinery operations.

Your skills: 📋

• Experience: Hands-on experience working on a commercial pig unit would be advantageous, with a solid understanding of modern, high-welfare pig production.

• Education/Qualifications: Ideally Level 3 qualification (or higher) in Agriculture, Animal Management, or a related land-based subject.

• Training: Ideally have relevant training / hold qualifications in Telehandler, Tractor, PA1/PA6

• Communication Skills: Ability to instruct and inspire college students

• Health and Safety: must maintain and follow safety and safeguarding standards at all times, and demonstrate excellent levels of Animal Welfare.

• General: Must hold a full UK driving license, have a proactive and adaptable approach to work and be flexible to participate in our rota-based farm hours

Why Join Us? 🌱

If you’re passionate about farming, and have the qualifications and experience that we’re looking for, we want to hear from you! Apply now and make a lasting impact!

College Benefits: 🎓

• Eligibility to join the NEST Pension Scheme

• Free on-site parking

• Occupational Sick Pay & Maternity Pay schemes

• Flexible Working Policy

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

• Free on-campus gym at Sparsholt Campus

• Opportunity to purchase Sparsholt-grown produce: plants, fresh fruit & veg, fish, and game

• Discounted hair treatments at the Andover campus salon

• Wide range of CPD events, plus support with professional qualifications

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.