AHDB - Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Sector Council Member - Dairy (England or Scotland)
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Make a difference to your industry. Join the AHDB Dairy Sector Council
The farming industry is facing an uncertain future, with climate change, developing policy and markets putting huge pressure on farms and supply chains. The need for innovation, collaboration and resilience on farm is vital, and the risk of disinvestment in domestic supply chains is real.
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is a critical enabler for the industry and helps to shape the future of farming in the UK. When you work with AHDB, you won’t just be helping our farmers produce the food we eat and look after our environment, you’ll also be shaping the future of food production and leaving a legacy for the next generation.
We are now recruiting for Sector Council Members with experience in the dairy industry.
We would particularly welcome applications from those in England or Scotland but will also accept applications from those in Wales. You will support the Sector Council Chair in the effective delivery of the sector council’s core responsibilities, including levy payer engagement, advising what work should be funded for the sector, and determining the levy rate.
Sector Council Members play a crucial role in deciding what work should be commissioned for their sector and ensuring there is effective engagement between levy payers and AHDB. Members are required to abide by the AHDB Code of Conduct for board and committee members (the Code), which includes the Seven Principles of Public Life.
Appointments are for an initial three-year term from December 2026 and require up to two days per month of commitment per year, including attendance at sector council meetings.
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Responsibilities
- Attend sector council meetings and participate constructively to add value and stimulate development (typically five formal meetings per year plus additional interim meetings)
- Contribute to council debates and discussions to agree Strategic Sector Priorities
- Contribute to council debates and discussions in deciding which proposed activities and programmes will be funded, taking into consideration the results of levy payer voting
- Receive reports on progress against milestones and targets for the activities and programmes commissioned by the council and identify where progress deviates materially from plan so that the Chair can bring the issue to the attention of the AHDB board
- Propose a levy rate for the sector to the AHDB board, taking account of the activities and programmes the council wishes to fund, the sector’s reserves position and any apportioned costs which AHDB is legally required to pay
- Explain funding decisions through active communication, advocacy and discussions with levy payers at all opportunities, including the annual meeting
- Ensure that the voice of the sector levy payers is heard within AHDB by providing feedback to AHDB staff and the rest of the council
- Engage with levy payers, seeking feedback on their needs, AHDB’s performance and explaining the decisions of the council about what they have decided to fund
Essential Criteria
- Good, broad working knowledge of the dairy sector
- A demonstrable desire to work constructively for the long-term benefit of the whole sector and the purposes and goals of AHDB
- Ability to think strategically and critically
- Strong communication skills to convincingly work with levy payers and other stakeholders, and a range of public and private sector organisations
- Demonstrate an understanding of the issues facing levy payers and the wider food and farming industries
- Ability to work in a group with diverse opinions and build constructive relationships, working effectively with a team of people to make fully informed decisions
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Candidates who can demonstrate experience of more than one part of the sector and bring transferable skills or expertise from across business and/or outside agriculture in addition to industry knowledge will be highly valued.
Candidates with experience of driving change and innovation across industries and/or within public sector or membership organisations/trade associations are especially welcome.
The closing date for applications is 18 October, with an anticipated one-hour interview in person or via MS Teams during the weeks commencing 19 October, 26 October or 2 November 2026. All final appointments are subject to ratification via levy payer vote during November 2026. Any successful candidates will join for induction at our head office in Coventry on 13 January 2027.
Please note we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications.
At AHDB, you'll find we are committed to developing, maintaining and supporting a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. This applies to both our workforce and the practices we follow.
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