Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Director

Job summary

A senior leadership role shaping the future of UK cereals and oilseeds.

This is a rare opportunity to join AHDB’s leadership team at a pivotal moment for British agriculture and play a defining role in the future of the cereals and oilseeds sector.

As Cereals & Oilseeds Sector Director, you will be one of the most influential voices in the industry. Working alongside AHDB’s executive leadership team, you will help develop the sector's strategy and priorities, driving real impact for levy payers. With a new CEO joining in January 2026, you will play a key role in AHDB's leadership and the future direction of the organisation.

This is a UK based role where you will be highly visible across the industry, building strong relationships with farmers, processors, retailers, exporters and policy influencers, while also working hand-in-hand with AHDB’s expert internal teams.

At its heart, this role is about leadership. You will lead and inspire a high-performing team, create clarity and focus, and bring people together across AHDB to deliver as one organisation. You will oversee a significant budget and work with the sector council to ensure levy money delivers measurable value and long-term sustainability for the industry.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for a confident, results-driven leader with deep knowledge of the cereals and oilseeds sector and a strong track record of leading people and delivering change. You’ll be politically astute, comfortable working with ambiguity and skilled at influencing senior stakeholders. Most importantly, you’ll be passionate about agriculture and motivated by making a lasting difference.

Why AHDB?

AHDB is the independent, impartial public body supporting British farmers, growers and processors. Funded by industry levy, we provide trusted research, market intelligence, domestic marketing and global export support that helps agriculture thrive.

Working at AHDB means more than delivering programmes — it means shaping the future of food production, strengthening farming businesses, supporting the environment, and leaving a positive legacy for the next generation.

If you want a senior leadership role with real influence, national visibility and the chance to shape the future of UK cereals and oilseeds at a critical time, this role offers exactly that.

Job description

• Provide strategic leadership and direction, acting as a visible and inspirational figure, fostering a high-performing culture that supports professional development
• Act as a trusted adviser and thought leader, serving as a key conduit between the wider sector stakeholders, AHDB Board and sector council to ensure we deliver value for levy payers
• Work with the leadership team to create a collaborative culture across AHDB, demonstrating and promoting cultural values and behaviours
• Oversee and manage a large budget, working in partnership with the sector council to deliver relevant and sustainable value for levy payers, demonstrating a return on investment
• Develop and maintain a strong profile and connection with the cereals and oilseeds sector – networking and building supply chain relationships
• Drive focus and delivery across the sector, leading on cross-functional collaborative and shared learning across AHDB to deliver activity as one team
• Develop strong internal and external awareness to identify opportunities that enhance reputation and growth
• Facilitate effective cross-functional collaboration and champion open communication and knowledge sharing to maximise impact

Person specification

• Significant experience in the cereals and oilseeds sector, with a clear ability to shape and deliver vision
• Proven people manager with a strong background in operational leadership, known for consistently delivering results and driving performance improvements
• Ability to think strategically with experience of working at a strategic level and evidence of delivering on vision
• Exceptional communicator with a proactive approach to sharing insights, ideas and solutions
• Strong networking capabilities, with a proven track record of building credible relationships across teams, stakeholders and board-level audiences
• Full UK driving licence with the flexibility to travel across the UK

Benefits

We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work, so we have a great mix of benefits and opportunities, to give you the recognition you deserve:

• 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• 30 days of annual leave plus one privilege day and bank holidays
• Life assurance cover (4x salary)
• A market-leading defined contribution pension scheme with Legal & General
• Enhanced pay of 20 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, subject to length of service
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent training and development opportunities and an agreed development plan
• Recognition awards throughout the year
• Access to the Government’s tax-free childcare scheme
• Reward Gateway membership – this gives you a huge number of online discounts and savings

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

To apply, simply upload your CV and Cover Letter via our careers portal by clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this page. Our hiring managers will review your application, and we’ll be in touch with the outcome shortly after the closing date.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial interview via MS Teams. If successful, a second-stage face-to-face interview will be held at our HQ in Coventry, Warwickshire, following our competency-based framework.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Emma Sudworth
• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk
• Telephone : 07500 578583

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles of the Civil Service, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Head of HR via email: hr@ahdb.org.uk