Weed Management Specialist

Location: Park Farm, Histon, Cambridge, CB24 9NZ (other locations in England may be considered)

Closing date: 27 September 2024 with interviews being held on 21st October 2024

Working hours: 37 hours per week, Monday-Friday; part-time over 5 days, minimum 25 hours considered.

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. The role 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 to NIAB, 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, and who is able to develop and deliver technical information in engaging and accessible ways at meetings, demonstrations & events.

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 & events.

The 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.

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 (e.g., to fit around caring roles).

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.

Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Elizabeth Stockdale (Elizabeth.stockdale@niab.com).  

Benefits include 25 days’ holiday plus public holidays and 3 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.

ABOUT YOU

Essential requirements

Ideally you have:

• 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.

See full Job Description on our website for more details.

ABOUT US

NIAB – Plant science into practice

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.

Further information.

About agronomy research at NIAB: https://niab.com/research/agronomy-and-farming-systems

Cambridge Park Farm site https://www.niab.com/about/locations/park-farm

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.

TO APPLY

Click the ‘Apply’ button 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 jobs@niab.com or call Human Resources on 01223 342282.

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