AHDB seeks new leaders for cereals and pork boards

The AHDB is looking to recruit two new board members, who will also become chairpeople, for its cereals and oilseeds and pork sectors.

The successful candidates – who have to gain Defra approval before taking up their posts – will then lead on delivering the new sector strategies, as set out in the AHDB’s recent Delivering the Future of Farming webinar in November.

See also: AHDB sector reports set out five-year spending priorities

For cereals and oilseeds levypayers, the emphasis is on activities beyond the farmgate, such as improving the Recommended Lists, making research more relevant, and enhancing market intelligence.

For the pork sector, there is a need to improve performance in the face of strong import competition, through better marketing campaigns, consumer education and export promotion.

Appointments to the AHDB board are made by the Defra secretary and the relevant ministers in the devolved administrations, and will commence on 1 April 2023 for an initial period of three years.

A further appointment of up to three years may be made, subject to a satisfactory performance assessment and at the discretion of ministers.

“Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate a good overview of the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture, recognise the value of cross-sector working, as well as have sector-specific insight,” said a Defra statement.

Salary 

Board members will receive a non-pensionable salary of £23,616/year, based on a time commitment of up to 72 days annually, and they can also claim reasonable travel expenses.

The successful candidates will replace Stephen Briggs as chairman of the cereals and oilseeds sector board, and Mike Sheldon as pork sector chairman.

Applications close at 12.00pm on Friday 6 January 2023, with interviews to be held in February.

More details are available on HM Government Public Appointments, or for an informal discussion, please contact Jackie Kay, AHBD HR director, at jackie.kay@ahdb.org.uk