Cereals & Oilseeds Director

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.

• 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

• 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

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.

• 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