Area Manager - Farm Services - Northern England

The Area Manager – Farm Services is responsible for driving profitable sales growth of the Dairy Hygiene portfolio within the assigned territory. The role exists to translate technical expertise and on-farm insight into commercial outcomes by developing high-performing dealer partnerships, growing and retaining farm customers, and positioning GEA as the trusted partner of choice for dairy hygiene and herd performance solutions.

Through proactive territory management, the role delivers sustainable revenue, improved milk quality outcomes for customers, and long-term market share growth.

• Take full accountability for sales performance and revenue growth of the Dairy Hygiene portfolio within the assigned territory, working in close partnership with appointed dealer networks to deliver agreed targets.

• Develop and execute a territory sales plan focused on new customer acquisition, share of wallet growth and retention within the farm customer base.

• Build strong, influential relationships with dairy farmers, positioning GEA as a trusted technical and commercial partner through proactive on-farm engagement, best-practice advice and value-led product recommendations.

• Use technical expertise to diagnose and resolve on-farm challenges (including bactoscan, mastitis, udder health, lameness and milking hygiene), converting identified issues into commercial opportunities and sustainable product solutions.

• Drive dealer performance through joint farm visits, pipeline development, training and coaching, ensuring dealers are equipped to sell effectively and represent GEA’s solutions to a consistently high standard.

• Establish and leverage relationships with local veterinary practices, milk quality advisors and farm consultancies to generate leads, referrals and collaborative sales opportunities that support territory growth.

• Maintain accurate sales forecasts, pipeline reporting and activity tracking, providing clear visibility of opportunities, risks and performance against target.

Minimum Requirements

• Level 3 (or equivalent) qualification in Agriculture, Animal Science, Dairy Technology, Farm Management, or a related discipline.

• Strong knowledge of dairy farm operations, milk quality, herd health, and milking hygiene practices.

Preferred / Advantageous

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, Agribusiness, or related field.

• Additional training in Sales, Business Management, Technical Sales, or certifications in udder health, mastitis control, milk hygiene, or herd health consultancy.

Experience & Expertise

• Strong technical expertise in dairy hygiene, udder health, mastitis management, milk quality testing (e.g., bactoscan), lameness, and milking practices.

• Proven sales and territory management experience within the agricultural/dairy sector, with a track record of achieving or exceeding revenue targets.

• Experience working with dealer networks, farm advisors, service providers, and veterinary partners to deliver integrated technical and commercial solutions.

• Solid understanding of agricultural markets, competitor activity, and customer needs, with the ability to translate insights into actionable strategies.

• Experience in project management, marketing initiatives, or promotional campaigns within a technical or agricultural environment.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong communication and influencing skills; fluent in English and able to build trusted relationships with farmers, partners, and internal teams.

• Commercially astute and customer-focused, with the ability to convert technical expertise into revenue growth and long-term loyalty.

• Analytical problem-solver, capable of diagnosing complex farm issues and interpreting data to deliver practical recommendations.

• Highly organised, self-motivated, and able to manage a field-based territory autonomously while balancing technical and commercial priorities.

• Effective mentor and collaborative team player, supporting capability development across partners and colleagues.

• Full UK driving licence, willingness to travel extensively, and flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends in line with farm operations.