Job Specification - Agri Academy Leader

Job Specification

Project: Farming Connect 

Programme: Agri Academy (Senior and/or Junior cohorts) 

Department: Rural Programmes 

Contract Type: Self‑employed (sessional / fixed‑term contract) 

Location: On location (residential delivery, overseas study visit, some remote support) 

Reporting to: Head of Lifelong Learning Future Generations and Succession 

Fee: £3750 (+ all travel, accommodation and eligible expenses for the Agri Academy residential sessions) 
Bilingual Skills: Highly desirable 

Background

The Agri Academy is Farming Connect’s flagship personal development programme, designed to inspire and equip the next generation of rural leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs in Wales. The programme places a strong emphasis on personal development, leadership, resilience, behaviour change and peer learning, delivered through intensive residentials, overseas study visits and structured reflection.

To strengthen delivery and maximise impact, the Agri Academy delivery model separates logistical coordination (Agri Academy Facilitator) from personal development and team building (Agri Academy Leader). This role focuses exclusively on participant development, enabling confidence building, positive team dynamics and skills development.  

It has two distinct cohorts -  

1. Senior Agri Academy: Leading change. Driving resilience

Intensive, character-building residential sessions for farming innovators and entrepreneurs aimed at achieving high-level strategy and personal resilience in the face of change.

   2. Junior Agri Academy: Carve out your career

Dedicated to the youth cohort (16–21 years old) for building a long-term professional career within the agri-food and landbased sector.

Purpose of the role

The Agri Academy Leader is responsible for coaching, mentoring and supporting participants as a cohort and as individuals, enabling them to:

• Build self‑awareness, confidence and effective communication capability
• Navigate change and uncertainty within farming and rural businesses
• Translate learning into meaningful personal and business action

The role is not logistical. Instead, it provides psychological safety, friendships, challenge, reflection and structured personal development, complementing the work of the Agri Academy Facilitator.

Key responsibilities

• Act as Team Leader to the Agri Academy cohort, fostering trust, openness and mutual support.
• Provide individual coaching and mentoring to participants throughout the programme.
• Support participants to identify goals, challenges and behavioural patterns, and to develop practical strategies for progress.
• Apply coaching and action‑learning approaches to stretch participants beyond their comfort zone while maintaining appropriate support.
• Facilitate reflective group discussions, peer challenge and shared learning during residential sessions.
• Create a safe, inclusive environment where participants feel confident to express ideas, concerns and ambitions.
• Encourage collaboration, accountability and learning between participants.
• Work closely with the Agri Academy Facilitator to shape the programme itinerary.
• Provide input into session design where relevant.
• Support learning before, during and after overseas study visits, helping participants connect insights back to their own context in Wales.
• Uphold high standards of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Ensure delivery aligns with Farming Connect values, equality and diversity principles, health and safety and biosecurity standards.
• Act as a positive ambassador for the Agri Academy and wider Farming Connect offer.
• Share driving responsibilities where relevant (for insurance purposes candidates must be over 25 and must have held their license for at least 2 years)

Skills and Experience

• Experience in coaching, mentoring, facilitation or leadership development.
• Strong understanding of personal development, behaviour change and reflective learning.
• Proven ability to build rapport and trust quickly with individuals and groups.
• Experience working with farmers, rural businesses or land‑based sectors in Wales or the UK.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to challenge constructively and support participants through change.
• Understanding of the Welsh agricultural sector and policy context (e.g. Farming Connect, sustainability, business resilience).
• Experience working with young people and/or emerging rural leaders.
• Ability to work bilingually (Welsh and English).
• Willingness to travel and stay overnight for residential sessions and overseas study visits.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other Agri Academy Leaders, facilitators and central programme staff. 

To apply for the Alumni Scholarship and the Agri Academy Leader role for 2026, please send a video, no longer than 5 minutes in length explaining how you would fulfil the requirements of the role.

Your video application and a copy of your CV should be sent to einir.davies@mentera.cymru. Videos may also be sent via WhatsApp to Einir Davies on 07985155514.

Who is the Agri Academy Facilitator? 

Elin Jones has recently been appointed as Agri Academy Facilitator, working with Mentera, who deliver Farming Connect.  

Based in Eryri, Elin brings a strong mix of practical farming experience, people‑focused programme delivery and high‑level organisation skills to the role. Alongside her professional work, Elin farms alongside her husband on a beef and sheep farm in Eifionydd, including a herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle and a flock of Welsh cross sheep. She is closely involved in both the practical day‑to‑day running of the farm and the administrative side of the business, including livestock records, movements and Rural Payments paperwork.

Prior to joining Mentera, Elin worked as Club Support Officer for Eryri Young Farmers, where she was responsible for supporting and developing the organisation’s work across the county. In this role, she coordinated and delivered a wide programme of activities for around 400 members aged 13–30, including large‑scale events such as rallies, competitions, field days and county shows. This involved complex logistics, volunteer coordination, budgeting, health and safety, safeguarding and working closely with a wide range of agricultural and rural partners.  

Elin has extensive experience organising residential activities and travel, including multi‑day trips, managing venues, transport, risk assessments and detailed schedules. She is known for her calm, practical approach to problem‑solving which means the Agri Academy logistics are in safe hands.  

Academically, Elin holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies from Bangor University, which underpins her strong understanding of personal development, learning, leadership and working with young people. She is fully bilingual, with Welsh and English at fluent level, and is trained in safeguarding and first aid.  

As Agri Academy Facilitator, Elin will be responsible for ensuring the smooth organisation and coordination of the programme, working closely with the Agri Academy Leader to create the right environment for participants to focus on learning, personal development and peer support. Her combination of farming insight, organisational strength and people skills makes her well placed to support a high‑quality Agri Academy experience.

The two main programmes remain in place, and the core Agri Academy structure and format remains unchanged.