Weed Management Specialist

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Job description

Location: Park Farm, Histon, Cambridge CB24 9NZ

Salary: £36,000 to £45,000

Ref: SVA1378

Full or part-time

ABOUT THE JOB

Join our team! Use your skills to increase understanding of weed / crop interactions and enable uptake of effective weed management in the UK.

We are recruiting a Weed Management Specialist to work as part of our Farming Systems and Agronomy Research team. You will deliver research on the biology and management of key UK weed species within (primarily) combinable crops and arable rotations, and share specialist technical and scientific knowledge, internally and externally, on the agronomy of combinable crops and arable rotations, as part of a group comprising Research Agronomists and Crop Specialists.

This role will focus on development and delivery of specialist information on weed biology, crop/weed interactions and weed management in the context of sustainable cropping systems. We are looking for a team worker with experience in a research / technical role in weeds / crop science, together with experience of field trialling and experimentation.

As Weed Management Specialist, your key duties include:

• Leading and managing research projects and commercial contract services with a particular focus on weed biology, crop/weed interactions and weed management, providing data interpretation and technical advice.

• Preparing and submitting proposals to develop new areas of research that bring value to NIAB's mission, with particular attention to farmer-focussed research and contract business studying weed management (direct and cultural control options), crop/weed interactions and farmland ecology.

• Developing and delivering knowledge exchange including presentation of technical information in engaging and accessible ways at meetings, demonstrations and events.

This role offers an opportunity to develop a programme of applied research and knowledge exchange in crop-weed interactions, weed ecology and management underpinning sustainable cropping systems.

The work will be mainly office based, using a range of IT systems, with some field work and frequent travel by car for indoor meetings or outdoor events, or visits to farms / trials sites across Great Britain. Some tasks can be physically demanding with a range of daily physical activity required - walking, standing, bending and manual handling of items up to 20 kg.

Salary: £36,000 to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience.

Contract: Permanent

Working hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday / part-time over five days (minimum 25 hours considered).

Flexibility in working hours will be required sometimes (e.g. for early morning starts, late finishes and evening meetings). We are happy to discuss flexible hours more widely.

ABOUT YOU

Essential requirements:

• Degree in a crop-focused applied biological or agricultural subject or equivalent qualifications/experience.

• Experience in a research/technical role in agricultural systems/inputs R&D, particularly weed biology/ecology, crop/weed interactions and weed management (this can include a relevant PhD).

• Good verbal and written communication skills.

• Good IT skills - email, word processing, spreadsheets, statistics, document sharing.

• Good organisational and planning skills, able to prioritise and organise time and work tasks.

• Flexibility - able to work independently and as part of diverse teams.

Ideally, you will also have:

• Postgraduate qualification related to crops or agronomy.

• BASIS Crop Protection (Arable).

• Experience in project and financial management.

• A driving licence - as frequent travel by car to farms / trials sites across Great Britain is a key part of the role. NIAB have a pool of vehicles for use.

ABOUT US

NIAB is a dynamic, research led and market driven plant bioscience organisation, with an emphasis on innovative applications for end-users in the agricultural, horticultural and food sectors. With over 100 years' experience of research and knowledge exchange, NIAB is a leading research centre for crop science and agronomy and also provides a range of technical services and training for agricultural industry. The Farming Systems and Agronomy Research team generates, collates and provides specialist technical and scientific knowledge, internally to NIAB and externally to a range of clients, on the agronomy of combinable crops and for arable rotations involving other crops such as potatoes, sugar beet, maize, short-term leys and field vegetables, together with the wider environmental and social impacts of farming systems.

LOCATION

The role is based at NIAB Park Farm, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9NZ, 4 miles from Cambridge city centre. Free on-site parking and linked by cycle ways and regular buses to Cambridge city centre and railway station. Close to Junction 32 of A14, with easy access to M11, A10 and A11. Cambridge Park Farm site:

BENEFITS

Benefits include 25 days' holiday plus public holidays and three days off during the Christmas period; some opportunity for flexible working; generous sick pay; attractive pension scheme; income protection; life assurance; employee discount scheme; free on-site parking.

TO APPLY

Informal enquiries are welcome. Please contact Elizabeth Stockdale by email:

Click the 'Apply' button or visit: for further details and to apply directly. In your application, please indicate your preferred working pattern (e.g. full-time; school hours in term time, with 2 full days per week in the holidays). Any questions? Email: or call Human Resources on: .

Closing date: 27 September 2024.

Interview date: 21 October 2024.

NIAB actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. As a Disability Confident Employer, we have a positive approach to employing people living with a disability.

You can also apply for this role by clicking the Apply Button.

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