Work with us

Soil Association is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use. If you are passionate about working to transform the way we eat, farm and care for the natural world, you’ve come to the right place.

About Soil Association

The Soil Association Group consists of four organisations, known as entities within the Group.  

• Soil Association Charity will celebrate our 80th year in 2026, having been established in 1946. The Soil Association is the charity working with everyone to transform the way we eat, farm and care for our natural world.

• Soil Association Certification was launched in 1973 and is now the UK's leading organic certifier. We offer a huge range of organic and sustainable certification schemes across food, farming, forestry, beauty & wellbeing, fashion & textiles and catering. 

• Soil Association Exchange started in 2022 for all farmers. We provide high-quality data on a farm’s sustainability impact, world-class agricultural advice on sustainable farming and help farmers take advantage of the financial opportunities available to farms which are farming more sustainably.

• Soil Association Land Trust is our sister charity founded in 2006 that safeguards legacies of productive land, providing a safe haven and preventing land being lost from farming and growing. 

At Soil Association, we help people build natural solutions together. Whether nurturing the land to grow food or nurturing individuals to develop connections in harmony with nature, our philosophy is focused on cultivating healthy connections and advocating a future that respects our environment. Together, we are a force for nature.

Across the Group, our people are united by a shared purpose and vision and our values.

What's it like to work at Soil Association?

Soil Association lives by our values of grounded, inclusive and nourishing.

• grounded: building trust from our practical, evidence-based approach      

• inclusive: through exploring differences and welcoming them, we promote justice and respect    

• nourishing: good things emerge from our approach – people and systems grow

Our Equality, Diversity & inclusion (EDI) strategy aims to develop a culture and working environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and realise their full potential.  The Soil Association Group recognises our responsibility to our colleagues, partner organisations and stakeholders as well as to the wider society, we acknowledge the profound impact of embracing EDI principles in our workplace. By fostering an inclusive culture, we not only enrich the Soil Association community but also attract and retain exceptionally talented colleagues who contribute to our collective success. Our EDI Policy sets out how we should all play our part in delivering this strategy.

Helen Browning, Chief Executive at Soil Association, says:

“Diversity is the secret to success in every area of the Soil Association's work. From diversity flows resilience, a better chance of responding to whatever shocks come our way, be they on the farm, in our forests, through our diets or in our businesses. To achieve that, we need diverse ways of thinking, of life experience; we need people from many different backgrounds around the table. For that to be possible, we must have an inclusive and fair culture, which respects and welcomes a range of perspectives, and which actively seeks out people who may not have had the opportunity or inclination to be part of our mission.” 

We hold a monthly Inclusive Action Group for all colleagues to discuss and share experiences on all EDI matters. The Group also advises on policies, strategies and practices.  There are a number of support network groups set up with communications channels for sharing experiences and good practices. Training and development in EDI are also provided. 

Wellbeing 

We want our colleagues to be healthy and safe in their work and are proactive about ensuring a safety culture. We support our colleagues’ wellbeing through a range of initiatives and activities under our wellbeing plan and as part of the people strategic plan.  This includes; wellbeing resources and information, access to Mental Health First Aiders, an Employee Assistance Programme that provides counselling and legal support 24/7. 

At Soil Association, we love bringing people together, and our colleagues play a huge part in making that happen. Whether it’s joining our social committee, dreaming up wellbeing activities, or helping organise festive parties and seasonal celebrations, colleagues get stuck in and shape the fun. From bake‑offs, yoga (in-person and online), run and book clubs and cosy winter get‑togethers, there’s always something happening. It’s a relaxed, community-minded organisation, where everyone’s ideas are welcome, and there are plenty of chances to connect with people across the organisation.

Benefits 

The Soil Association Group supports you working flexibly with core hours and flexibility on start and finish times.  We also operate a hybrid working policy that means, except for business reasons requiring office attendance, or for remote or home based colleagues, you are expecting to attend the office 40% of your working week on average over a month.

Our benefits include:

• 27 days annual leave (which increases every 12 months of service up to 30 days maximum) plus bank holidays – this is pro rata for part time colleagues 

• Employee Assistance Programme 

• free Soil Association Membership

• a platform to view all benefits and access independent financial advice, webinars, workshops, shopping discounts and more

• Salary Sacrifice schemes including pension and cycle to work 

• defined pension scheme with contributions increasing with length of service

• hybrid working, with a model of 40% of weekly working hours in the office

• discounts on organic produce

• volunteer & personal growth days

• family paid leave: enhanced maternity, paternity or shared parental leave policy

• sick pay

• we cover £30 cost for eye test and up to £45 for glasses that are for screen use only

• professional subscriptions, if you need professional membership for your role, from either a legal or professional point of view, we’ll cover the cost of your membership fee

• loyalty awards

• flexible working

• living wage employer

• regular lunch and learns sessions

• Bristol office - Spear House, 51 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6AD

• Edinburgh office - 20 Potterrow, Edinburgh, EH8 9BL

• welcoming, supportive and inclusive office spaces, with shower and changing room facilities

• transparent pay policy

• winter shut down, the organisation shuts down for the Christmas period

• buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave

Working in the Charity 

As well as the benefits listed above, the Charity operates at a 35 hour working week. 

Working in Certification 

As well as the benefits listed above, Certification provide 2 additional winter wellbeing days.

A pay progression framework is in place, with clear opportunities to grow your salary as you develop in your role. 

Certification works a 37.5 hour week. 

Working in Exchange 

Exchange works a 37.5 hour week and operates an annual incentive scheme. 

Working for the Land Trust 

The Land Trust is based at Woodoaks Farm and operates a 35 hour week. 

Applying for a job with us  

We want everyone to feel confident in applying for our roles and want you to perform at your best and have a positive experience. If there is something in your life that creates a barrier in applying or attending a job interview, we want to work with you to find a solution.  

Examples of adjustments we can provide upon request: 

• accessible interview room

• virtual or in-person interviews

• additional information about what to expect from the interview process

• interview questions or themes can be provided upon request

• bringing notes and taking notes in the interview

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and if you have any specific adjustments or accessibility requirements, please get in touch with the Recruitment Team.

It is quick and easy to apply for a role at Soil Association. We strongly encourage you review the job description before you apply for the role and use your supporting statement to demonstrate how you meet the essential experience, knowledge, skills and abilities listed there.

Our accreditations, partnerships and commitments

We’re proud to be recognised for how we support our colleagues, act responsibly and champion equality. These accreditations and partnerships reflect our commitment to creating a fair, inclusive and values-led workplace.

Best Companies 

We annually survey our colleagues on their engagement using Best Companies, a measurement framework designed to cover the full spectrum of engagement drivers, including learning and development, wellbeing and pressure, manager performance and team cohesion. We are currently a 1* rated Company, ranking in the Charity’s top 25 companies to work for, 50 best companies to work for in the South West and UK’s 100 large companies to work for when we last surveyed all our colleagues. 

Disability Confident employer 

We’re a Disability Confident Committed employer, actively supporting accessibility, inclusivity, and equal opportunities for all.

Good Business Charter 

We are signed up to the Good Business Charter, committing us to care for our employees, suppliers, clients and the environment, while paying our fair share of tax. In practice, this means we: 

• commit to ethical sourcing 
• offer space for open feedback 
• have programmes of work dedicated to wellbeing, the environment, and diversity and inclusion 

Real Living Wage Employer 

We’re proud to be a Living Wage Employer, ensuring our colleagues earn a fair wage that reflects the real cost of living.

Bristol Equality Charter 

We are also signatories of the Bristol Equality Charter, a city-wide project created by over 20 organisations. It reflects the city’s values and The Charter invites everyone to work together for continuous improvement in equality.

Racial action for the climate emergency (RACE) report 

We participate in the annual RACE report that collects data to develop actions to address the  need for greater diverse representation in charities and funders working on environmental and conservation issues. 

Unite union  

We are proud to work in partnership with our recognised trade union, Unite.