Job Description

Location : Belfast
Job Ref: UDF/2025/309
Employment : Full-Time Permanent
Closing Date : 24 September 2025 05:00 pm

Dale Farm Cooperative is a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1200 dairy farmers who supply us with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.


At Dale Farm virtually every career discipline is represented in our workforce, from production, engineering and distribution, to sales & marketing and food technology/quality assurance, to Finance, HR and IT through to general management. Our standards are high and when we recruit we are looking for those with energy and drive, who are keen for responsibility and motivated to succeed with a record of achievement and with the potential to develop as the company grows.

Culture

Our culture is based on setting best in class standards, working to-wards and delivering on committed objectives, striving for constant improvement and involving everyone in the company. We strive to develop our people and harness everyone's contribution to deliver a winning team.

Equal Opportunities

The company is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to a safe, inclusive and relationship based workspace.

Benefits

In return, we offer a high degree of responsibility, plenty of challenge, good opportunities for learning and personal development and rewarding benefit packages, all within a fast moving and results oriented environment.

Dairy Technical Specialist

Reporting to the Producer Services Director, we are seeking to appoint a dedicated and technical skilled professional to lead the development and ongoing management of our future strong programme to ensure alignment with emerging customer expectations and government regulations. The successful candidate will oversee the programmes implementation year-on-year, ensuring its relevance, effectiveness and scalability across our farming operations. Analysing farm data to provide actionable insights that support internal decision-making. Additionally, the successful candidate will provide expert technical advice and cost of production insights to the executive team and board as and when required.

Key Responsibilities

As a Dairy Technical Specialist, you will be required to:

Lead adviser on dairy technical efficiency - linking financial gains to carbon savings. Providing meaningful KPI's to producers to enhance business management. Provide tailored advice and best practice to drive performance across four main milk production systems supplying Dale Farm. Efficiently promote milk yield and quality improvements to producers to meet co-op requirements. Provision of support to producers on aspects of housing design/ cow welfare & financial planning. Research the ability to commercially exploit the Dale Farm sustainable milk pool. Assist Dairy Herd Management and Farm Liaison teams to promote milk recording and associated services through showcasing financial gains and carbon savings. Assist Tankcare and Farm Liaison teams to promote improved hygiene (bactocount/thermodurics) and cost-effective cooling solutions by showcasing financial gains and carbon savings.

Communicating Technical Advice & Training

Provide technical articles for bi monthly Dale Farm View magazine, linked to

promoting group wide services to enhance carbon reduction on farm.

Technical training/ updates for Dale Farm/ United Feeds farmer facing staff. Revision of new entrants technical handbook. New entrant focused workshops - to assist start up and business development.

General

Point of contact for milk suppliers regarding on farm technical advice Attend range of internal/external stakeholder meetings eg. NAP, climate change ammonia, carbon calculator programme etc. as and when required. Keep up to date with new dairy farming technical developments -investigate and advise on potential future services

About You

Essential Criteria


Applicants must be third level educated, with a degree preferably in Agricultural Science, or equivalent related qualification. Candidates should be able to demonstrate an interest in the interaction of practical dairy farm management and the environment.


Other essential criteria are that the candidate has a flexible and positive approach to work and has accomplished IT skills in Word, Powerpoint & Excel.


Desirable Criteria


Ideally applicants have 5 years senior management experience in a similar role and have experience in advising and conveying technical dairy messaging to individuals and farmer groups.

Why Dale Farm?

We have a lot to offer our employees at Dale Farm and we are committed to everyone's learning and development journey. In addition to a competitive salary commensurate with the role, as well as standard benefits such as 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and contributary company pension, we also offer additional benefits such as Life Assurance, full wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme, and enhanced Maternity and Paternity leave.


We promote an open and supportive culture which is based on our core values

Teamwork | Positivity | Resolve | Ambition | Curiosity | Accountability

You can find out more about life at Dale Farm on our LinkedIn and Facebook Career pages, and on our company website.


linkedin.com/company/dale-farm-ltd/


facebook.com/DaleFarmCareers/


dalefarm.co.uk/careers


The closing date for applications is

5pm

on

Wednesday 24

th

September 2025.

Please apply

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer


Only applications from EU Nationals or those with a valid permit to work in the UK will be accepted


No unsolicited CVs from Agencies