Regional Support Officer

Job Description

Role:                    Regional Support Officer
                            (Eastern Counties - Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex)

Location:              Home-based with travel and flexible working expected*
                            Candidates must be based in either Norfolk, Suffolk or Essex.

Hours:                  Part-time (17.5 hrs / 2.5 days a week)

Salary:                 £15,000 at 17.5hrs a week (£30,000 per annum pro rata)

Contract:              18 month fixed-term

Reporting to:        Regional Manager (South East and East Midlands)

Date Prepared:    March 2026

The  Farming  Community  Network  (FCN)  is  a  UK-wide  charity  and  voluntary
organisation  providing  support  to  farming  families  facing  difficulties  in  the  farm
business or in the home, which are causing them stress and anxiety. FCN volunteers
understand the unique pressures and challenges involved in farming.

We have been described as a ‘lifeline’ and a ‘trusted friend’ by people we have helped,
and support over 10,500 people in agriculture each year with a wide range of issues.

We  are  recruiting  a  part-time  Regional  Support  Officer  (Eastern  Counties)
reporting to the Regional Manager (South East and East Midlands). You will be part of
a team of Regional Support Officers (RSOs) and staff covering England and Wales.

You will be working closely with colleagues and volunteers across Norfolk, Suffolk and
Essex. You will also be working closely with other RSOs, in particular staff based in
the South East FCN region – supporting one another as and when needed. You will
be  ensuring  FCN  provides  an  excellent  and  sympathetic  service  to  the  farmers  we
support.

This will involve facilitating and conducting training, managing the allocation of case
work,  working  with  Volunteer  Coordinators to support  the  volunteer  recruitment  and
induction processes and playing a key role in developing awareness of FCN amongst
the agricultural and horticultural community. You will also be assisting with local PR
opportunities  and  developing  fundraising  and  training  opportunities,  working  closely
with other colleagues with oversight of these areas.

Now is an exciting time to be joining FCN – we are currently delivering upon our three-
year strategy (2025 - 2027) and we are working with a wide range of stakeholders to
create a resilient farming future for the next generation of farmers.

You will be working under your own initiative for much of the time, and will need a valid,
clean, driving license and own transport. Mileage expenses are reimbursed.

Principal Tasks:

You will play a vital role in supporting volunteers and helping to bolster the reputation
of FCN. Using your extensive knowledge of the farming sector, you will be the primary
contact  for  volunteers  in  the  region,  providing  supervision  and  acting  as  a  point  of
contact between volunteers and the national office team.

You  will  also  work  with  and  support  local  volunteers  to  connect  with  farmers,
farmworkers, and others who live and work in the farming community and their families
at  marts,  shows  and  other  occasions  as  appropriate.  You  will  have  excellent
communication and presentation skills and be confident in front of audiences. You will
have strong organisational skills and experience of communicating and working with
large groups spread across multiple sites and locations.

Key responsibilities for this role include:

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Case  work  management  allocation,  referral  and  follow  up  (liaising  with
Volunteer Coordinators and case work volunteers).
Oversight/management of cases in the region.
Facilitate and conduct training for FCN County Groups.
Be  the  link  with  professional  consultants  and  regional  agencies  via  the
Professional Services Network.
Support and liaise with volunteers, Volunteer Coordinators, other members
of  staff  and  manage  volunteer  recruitment  and  induction  process  and
develop best practice.
Ensure volunteer DBS and safeguarding requirements are fully assured.
Conduct inductions, annual volunteer support and development appraisals.
Provide regular reports to the management team.
Support emergency response on a regional basis e.g. weather events and
disease outbreaks.
Assist  in  delivery  of  internal  and  external  training,  working  alongside  the
Head  of  Partnerships,  Head  of  Operations  and  Communications  and
training team, and identifying and developing fundraising opportunities.
Partake in new proactive initiatives and projects that FCN is developing and
implementing.

Job specification Regional Support Officer (Eastern Counties):

Essential criteria:

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A passion for farming and the wellbeing of people who work within it.
Extensive knowledge and connections with the farming industry.
Able to provide leadership to volunteers when required.
Full, clean driving licence and access to own vehicle.
Confident, personable, able to promote FCN and adapt to the culture of the
charity.
Excellent face-to-face and online communication skills.
Good PR skills and able to develop relationships with the press and develop
fundraising opportunities.
Proficient at using MS Office suite programmes including Word, Excel and
PowerPoint.

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Excellent project management skills and can work to deadlines.
A  team  player  who  is  motivated  and  able  to  work  independently  for
prolonged periods.
Ability to be home-based and work in a mobile and flexible fashion.
Is  used  to  working  effectively  in  small  teams  and  through  remote
technologies such as Zoom.

Desirable to have qualifications:

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A  background  in  farming  or  associated  businesses  –  able  to  discuss
farming matters knowledgably.
Has worked in the charity sector previously.
To  have  completed  Higher  Education  (A-Levels,  HNC,  HND,  foundation
degree, bachelor’s all considered).

*At times you will be expected to visit and attend  all-staff meetings (usually once or
twice  per  year)  at  FCN’s  national  office  at  Bragborough  Hall  Business  Centre,
Northamptonshire.  You  may  also  be  requested  to  support  surrounding  regions  if
required in emergency situations or to cover annual leave or absences. There may be
occasions when it is necessary to attend evening or weekend events. In these cases,
compensation will be considered on a case by case basis in the form of time-off in lieu.

To  apply  for this  role please send  a  CV  and an  expression  of  interest  / cover  letter
to  Mark  Newman  on
highlighting  how  you  meet
resources@fcn.org.uk.

the  criteria  outlined

FCN is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from anyone supportive of
our mission, ethos and work helping to create a thriving future for farming in the UK.

Closing date: Friday 27th March.

Please note if demand for this role is high we may close applications early.

Successful  applicants  will  be  contacted  if  shortlisted  for  interview.  We  are
unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.