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Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Assistant Land Worker (Growing)

Northern Roots, Oldham
Oldham, Greater Manchester

Posted: 24 Mar 2025

Deadline: 8 Apr 2025

Compensation: £24,000 pro rata

Living Wage employer

Paid Part-time Flexible hours Fixed term / contract

Job description

• Salary: £24,000 pro rata
• Contract: 37.5 hours per week, 7-month contract
• Location: Northern Roots Urban Farm and Cabin, Oldham, OL8 2BJ

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Northern Roots project. Northern Roots is transforming 160 acres of urban greenspace into a destination for learning, leisure and growing. The project aims to benefit the environment, and to improve the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of local communities.

The Northern Roots site runs from Alexandra Park near Oldham town centre to Ashton-under-Lyne. Two thirds of the site is forested. The habitat is varied from lowland mixed deciduous to plantation forest; heathland to diverse grassland; freshwater to amenity grassland. This landscape creates a varied wildlife corridor and includes a Site of Biological Interest.

The urban farm is woven into the landscape, following principles of organic and ecological growing. Currently sitting at approximately 4.5 acres productive growing, the ‘farm’ model also encompasses the wider 160 acres for production of materials such as timber, coppice products and foraged produce. The farm includes perennials (trees and shrubs) grown alongside annuals, with a focus a developing landrace that grow well in Oldham. Over the next few years, it is set to expand to a total of 10 acres.

Towards the north of the site Northern Roots is developing Visitor Centre, Forestry Skills Hub, a farm and sports pitches, while the southern part of the site, along the River Medlock, is focused on nature recovery.

As an Assistant Land Worker, you will be part of our land-based team including our Growers, Rangers and the Urban Farm and Landscape Manager. We work as a holistic Land Team, prioritizing different tasks seasonally. Your focus will be primarily on growing and developing the second phase of the farm, but you will also be asked to take part in conservation work across the wider site.

We complete jobs as a team and a willingness to work outside your regular hours/days will be part of the job, subject to prior discussion. We also seek a person who is confident work outdoors in all weathers and all terrains; willing to muck in to get the job done and take on new tasks they may not have done before (with support). This is an experience in which you will have the opportunity to try your hand at many different tasks, with some flexibility to learn a multitude of land skills from the existing team and possibly teach some yourself!

As part of the role there is the opportunity to take-part in the Organic Growers Alliance Trainee pilot program. This will include in-field learning with our growers, a syllabus provided by the network to follow and study, opportunities to visit farms, access to online webinars and an opportunity to join a trainee Whatsapp group to connect and network with peers to gain knowledge and share experience's. Find out more on their website - https://organicgrowersalliance.co.uk/oga-training-network/

Application information

Please read the Job Description and Person Specification carefully before applying. Have a question? Please reach out via info@northern-roots.uk

Application deadline: 12 midnight on Tuesday 8th April 2025

To apply: please return a completed Application Form, Equal Opportunities form and your CV to info@northern-roots.uk before the deadline. These can be downloaded from our website. 

Interviews will be held on Monday 14th April at Northern Roots, and the successful applicant must in be post by Monday 12th May.

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs